Lifelong learning programs have their place in Towson.
“Life is forever evolving. Just when you think you have it figured out, there’s something new you can learn.” Lisha Galloway knows whereof she speaks. As Edenwald’s Vice President of Resident Services and Institutions of Higher Education, she has purview of our community’s senior learning programs and co-generational partnerships, each of which promises to rise to new levels of importance with Edenwald’s coming expansion and evolution into a University Retirement Community (URC).
Lisha notes there are already a number of innovative lifelong learning and co-generational programs in place here at our senior living community.
OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute comes to Towson.
Through our partnership with Towson University, Edenwald is able to offer our residents access to classes from OSHER, a nonprofit foundation that offers non-credit courses specifically designed for people over age 50. OSHER conducts classes one day a week at Edenwald on topics that have ranged from U.S. history to American Sign Language.
Musician-In-Residence
Given our community enjoys a culture so steeped in the arts and education, it should come as little surprise to learn Edenwald has a Musician-In-Residence. Nicholas Wynn is a student at Peabody Conservatory, where he is pursuing a doctoral degree in musical arts with a concentration in viola. He lovingly performs concerts for residents and groups throughout our community. He brings joy and beauty into our everyday lives, and in return, we provide him with room, board and a very appreciative audience. Lisha notes that this senior living co-generational program has been in place here for over seven years.
The Lost Arts Program
Sewing. Knitting. Crocheting. Woodworking. These once-common skills have largely fallen off the radar of younger generations—and the schools they attend. At Edenwald, we’ve created a program that allows our residents to teach these “Lost Arts” to neighboring Goucher College students. We’ve also developed an initiative that pairs some of our centenarian residents with students, who use the residents’ life stories to create an art project. The benefits of this kind of co-generational programming to the students are obvious, but these sorts of connections also allow our residents to gain a deeper understanding of student culture and what’s on the minds of young people today.
One Maryland One Book
If you thought your book club could get unruly at times, imagine one with over 10,000 members. One Maryland One Book is a state-wide program that selects one book each year and allows anyone to participate by reading the book and attending discussions. This year, participating Edenwald residents, staff, and Goucher College faculty will read Myriam J.A. Chancy’s novel, “This Storm, This Thunder.” We’ll then host a discussion group here at Edenwald and another at Goucher College.
Co-generational Brainstorming
Lisha reports that the Edenwald Residents’ Association has been particularly busy lately. The group, which meets monthly, offers residents the opportunity to express their opinions and play an active role in governing our community. Lately that has included sharing thoughts on defining and prioritizing potential programs that could be offered through Goucher College. As our evolution into a URC approaches, the Residents’ Association has been “brainstorming what our co-generational relationship will look like,” says Lisha.
“Give me more!”
Lisha reports that many Edenwald residents are primed for living in a URC. “We have an eclectic group of residents,” she says. “A lot of our residents here, their backgrounds are education, business owners, doctors. I think that they all gravitate to education and learning. They thrive on wanting to know more. Give me more! Give me more! Give me more!”
Living in a URC means all Edenwald residents will soon be able to access Goucher College to audit classes, use the campus library, attend cultural performances and sporting events, even participate in international study abroad programs.
Lisha says our residents are already excited about our coming expansion. “Everything is running high right now.” she says. This includes an ever-increasing interest in the opportunities for even more lifelong learning and co-generational programming. “Emotions are high, and I think with this expansion, we’re going to see a lot more of that.” To learn more about lifelong learning at Edenwald, click here.
Lisha Galloway joined Edenwald in the spring of 2010. She was quickly given the role of Volunteer Manager and subsequently the Programming Director for Edenwald’s Independent Living in 2017. Currently, Lisha serves as Vice President of Resident Services and Institutions of Higher Education. In her current role, Lisha oversees campus-wide Resident Services, In-Residence Programs, Osher Lifelong Learning, and Co-generational partnerships.
Lisha obtained her BASW from Millersville University in Lancaster, PA. Additionally, she holds certifications as a National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate. Lisha plans to pursue her master’s degree in social work in the fall of 2025.
