Ebenezer’s Life Long Learning Initiative is a collection of coordinated arts and education programs designed to foster growth and creativity for seniors. Life Long learning is the process of keeping your mind, body and spirit engaged—at any age—by actively pursuing knowledge and experience.

Learning and growing helps everyone at every stage of life, and for seniors the benefits are endless. Research has shown that with opportunities for self expression and discovery, seniors experience vibrant living, artistic growth, and improved mental and physical health. Life Long learning also helps our residents stay connected to their world-both locally and beyond.

Ebenezer offers numerous opportunities for Life Long Learning, including:

• Visual arts
  Many sites offer watercolor and finger painting. Resident art decorates our walls and has been featured in a Twin Cities Public Television (tpt) documentary, as well as public exhibits and art shows.
• Creative writing
  Memoir writing and poetry classes help resident record their ideas on paper.  Resident response to the program at Loren on Park was so great that in less than a year they held a public reading, “Stories We Love to Tell,” and printed a book by the same name.
• Kairos Dancing Heart
  This pioneering, nationally recognized and evidence-based program blends dancing and movement, storytelling and singing to improve cognitive and physical health, delay progression of dementia, and engage participants socially and emotionally. 
• Continuing education
  Programs include Augsburg’s College of the Third Age, interdisciplinary discussions hosted by retired professors which help educate residents on a wealth of topics ranging from the history of Baroque Europe to topics on multiculturalism and world religions.
• Horticultural Therapy
  Horticultural Therapy programs serve more than 300 people yearly with plantings, outings, tending courtyard and indoor gardens, and one-on-one visits. In 2001 it was honored with the Aging Services of Minnesota “Most Innovative Program of the Year” award.
• Spiritual care
  Programs provide residents with the opportunity to explore and celebrate their spiritual self. Staff chaplains are available on our campuses at any time to provide spiritual comfort.

Other programs include monthly presentations on health topics, ballroom dance classes, computer classes and much more.

Make a Difference
Help us make a difference in the lives of older adults at Ebenezer. Support Arts and Life Long Learning by calling the Ebenezer Foundation today at 612-672-7715 .

Ebenezer Foundation
2722 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55407