FOR MORE INFORMATION

Phone: 816-235-2870

(New) Email: umkc-spark@umkc.edu

Visit our (New) Website: http://info.umkc.edu/spark/

SUMMER 2017

Schedule of Courses and Activities

Classes Begin June 5th

Senior Peers Actively Renewing Knowledge

Where learning encompasses a lifetime…

SPARK is an affiliate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City

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WHAT IS SPARK?

SPARK is Senior Peers Actively Renewing Knowledge. We are a lifelong learning organization for older adults. SPARK has been offering classes and other activities in the Kansas City area for over 24 years. We are a non-profit organization with over 200 members and an affiliate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Our Mission

SPARK’s mission is to provide lifelong learning opportunities, through intellectually stimulating, cultural and/or social experiences which enhance the quality of life for SPARK members.

Who Are We?

We are “Happy Wonderers” – interesting, curious, educated persons with a passion for continued learning, meeting new people, sharing time and experiences and pursuing an active, stimulating life. SPARK is a volunteer organization that relies on the participation of members to promote and achieve its mission. Classes are held four semesters a year, two hours a week for three to six weeks. There are no tests or exams. SPARK also offers several social activities throughout the year. All classes are held at the SPARK Office unless otherwise noted. Individual class fees range from $20 to $30 per semester.

Membership dues are $40. Annual membership renewal is in January. Members joining after June 30th during any year pay $20 and will need to pay full membership the following January. Membership is REQUIRED to enroll in our classes and activities.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPARK CLASS REGISTRATION INFORMATION (pages 13 – 15)

Monday, June 5 Pages Psychology of Gender Differences and Aging .................... 4 Performance Art: Reader’s Theater .................................... 4 Genealogy: Uncovering your Family’s History .................... 5 Shakespeare: Lecture Series ............................................ 10

Tuesday, June 6

Kansas City Gems ........................................................... 6-7 Politics: Understanding the Trump Administration ............. 8

Wednesday June 7

Politics: Understanding the Trump Administration ............. 8 American Indian Art: How it Speaks to Us ......................... 9

Thursday, June 8 Art: Watercolor Journaling ............................................... 10 Nelson-Atkins Museum Art Tours ..................................... 11

SPARK Clubs

Lunch and a Book (meets 1st Monday) ................................. 12 Margaret Sturges’ Book Club (meets 3rd Monday) ................ 12 Thursday Book Club (meets 4th Thursday) ........................... 12 “Let’s Eat Out” Group (meets Fridays) ................................... 12 Information About:

Class Registration ............................................................. 13 Parking, Scholarships & Friends ....................................... 14 Calendar of Classes & Events .......................................... 15 Officers, Board of Directors & Committees ....................... 15

How to Contact us ................................................................ 16

The deadline for registering for Summer Classes is May 24. You must pre-register before the first day of classes.

See pages 13–15 for instructions and registration deadlines. Please also reserve your parking tags before the first day of class.

Please refer to specific pages for class details

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PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER DIFFERENCES AND AGING June 5 – June 26 (4 weeks)

Mondays, 10:00 – Noon

The past 15 years have greatly increased our understanding of gender differences. The fields of gender neuroscience, gender psychology and gerontology have contributed significant, science-based findings regarding gender differences. This class takes a look at the interesting and thought-provoking field of gender studies. Specific emphasis is placed on how gender differences manifest in the aging process. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to interact and become acquainted with their fellow students through small group work and open class discussions.

Class $30

Instructor: Sandra Lyke is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Master’s Degrees in both Social Work and Counseling. Retired after 35 years as a psychiatric social worker, she has additional work experience as a hospice worker, hospital chaplain, licensed Unity teacher and adjunct instructor at Park University and Avila University.

Week 1: 6/5 The study of brain differences

Week 2: 6/12 Life stages of men and women

Week 3: 6/19 Gender disadvantages, advantages and misunderstandings

Week 4: 6/26 Gender relationships

READER’S THEATER June 5 – June 26 (4 weeks)

Mondays, 1:00 – 3:00

Join other SPARK members as we take actors’ roles in reading aloud three contemporary plays. We will explore themes, productions, playwrights and critic responses. While there is no homework or theater experience required, some members may choose to dress for their parts – entirely optional, of course.

Class $30

Coordinator: Susan Sarachek has worked as a psychotherapist, teacher, film maker and journalist. In her retirement, she continues to find fire in live theater and movies. She has participated in many Reader’s Theater opportunities.

PERFORMANCE ART

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GENEALOGY

GENEALOGY: UNCOVERING YOUR FAMILY’S HISTORY June 5 – June 19 (3 weeks)

Mondays, 1:00 – 3:30

Please note: this is a 3-week class for 2.5 hrs. each. Warning: genealogy is very addictive !!

It is no surprise that genealogy is becoming one of the top hobbies in America. Finding our family’s roots is fascinating, extremely gratifying and a wonderful gift for your family. Join us in this introduction to researching family history. We’ll look at available records, sources, methods and pitfalls. We’ll discuss the ten most productive documents you can find. You will learn how to systematically get started, build your family tree and keep going! Bring some names and approximate dates, and we’ll determine how to find your family origins and research them. Censuses, passenger records, military records, and city directories all tell stories about your ancestors’ lives. We will explore simple ways to pull this information together for your history. Dr. Corcoran welcomes all those who have taken her past SPARK classes and looks forward to continuing to help them in their searches for their family roots.

Class $25

Instructor: Mary E. Corcoran, Ph.D. is a management consultant in private practice, specializing in a wide variety of training and consulting for Fortune 500 companies, as well as non-profits, small businesses, and federal and state agencies. Her B.A. degree and Master of Arts

and Doctorate in counseling were granted from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is an avid genealogist, and her family trees number over 10,000 individuals. She is currently completing a book about her family history on the Dakota prairie in 1897. It involves cowboys, settlers, dance hall girls, Native Americans, mystery and murder.

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KANSAS CITY GEMS

KANSAS CITY GEMS June 6 – June 27 (4 weeks)

Tuesdays, 1:30 – 3:00 Different Topics – Different Presenters – Each Week In the Kansas City Gems we explore the stories and descriptions of a variety of topics that highlight a unique aspect of Kansas City. Guest speakers are experts on their own topic and will share their interest in bringing these stories to life.

PLEASE NOTE: Each class is scheduled for one and one-half hours. Participants may enroll in all four classes for $15 or “drop-in” for those classes that most interest them for $5.00 each. Please pre-register for all Gem classes that you plan to attend. We need to determine the possible attendance at Gem classes. We will cancel a class due to low enrollment. If a class is cancelled, you will be notified and receive a refund or credit.

$15 for all four classes. $5 to pre-register for individual classes or to “drop-in”.

Non-members may come to any or all Gem classes for $5 each.

Week 1: 6/6 (1:30 – 3:00) COMING TO AMERICA: PANEL SPARK members: Berit Lindboe, Monique Lewis, Herman Schaller, Heinz Wehner

“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” — Franklin Roosevelt

What was it like to be an immigrant to America and, in some cases, a refugee from the war-torn Europe of WWII? Four SPARK members will share their experiences of living in Germany, Norway, Belgium, London, Bavaria and Peru during and after WWII. What do they recall from those tumultuous times? When and how did they arrive in America and finally Kansas City? Our panel will include: Berit Lindboe who was born in Norway during the occupation by the Nazis. She will share her stories and those of relatives left behind. Monique Lewis lived in Belgium during the invasion by Germany, escaping with her family to England. Herman Schaller was born in West Germany where he attended elementary, secondary school and college. He remained there during and following WWII until 1972. He lived three years in France before coming to the US in 1975. Heinz Wehner was living in Peru and expatriated to Germany. At age 17 he fled Communist-controlled Germany, escaping back to Peru. Join us to hear these amazing stories.

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KANSAS CITY GEMS

Week 2: 6/13 (1:30 – 3:00) SONNETS Presenter: Dr. Robert Willson We will examine the origin of the sonnet form and concentrate on Shakespeare’s changes to it. We will also discuss biographical clues that many critics have found in the conceits. For instance, who is the “Dark Lady” of the sonnets? What constitutes proof of Shakespeare’s authorship? These and other questions posed by participants will, it is hoped, result in an interesting, informative and entertaining class. Dr. Willson is Professor Emeritus of English at UMKC, having served as Chair of the Department for fifteen years. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His fields of specialty are Shakespeare and Renaissance English Literature as well as literary criticism, poetic form, and dramatic criticism.

Week 3: 6/20 (1:30 – 3:00) AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A KANSAS CITY ARTIST Presenter: Watercolorist Jim Hamil Jim will tell us about his long career as an artist, spanning college pen and ink drawings of fraternity and sorority houses, corporate work at Hallmark, to every artist’s dream — a gallery of his own. As an avid traveler, Jim has looked for beauty in the United States, Mexico and Europe. Jim has co-authored five books with his wife and father. Jim Hamil has a degree in Art from KU. He followed graduation with 15 years at Hallmark, plus free-lance and corporate contracts until he opened his own gallery in the mid-1970s. Jim’s son Alex, also an artist, is involved with the Brush Creek Art Walk and will assist with this class.

Week 4: 6/27 (1:30 – 3:00) PERSONAL SAFETY PROGRAM Presenter: Major Diane Mozzicato, KCMO Police Dept. The Personal Safety program features a PowerPoint presentation discussing preventive measures and a video demonstrating several simple techniques that individuals (men and women) can use if they find themselves under attack. The presentation will also include precautions against scams and home safety tips. Major Mozzicato is a 28-year veteran of the KCMO Police Department. She has lived in Kansas City since 1982 and has a degree in Business Administration. She is currently the Executive Officer of the Investigations Bureau.

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POLITICS

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION June 6 – June 27 (4 weeks)

Tuesdays, 10:00 – Noon

The same class will be presented on Wednesdays June 7 – June 28 (4 weeks) Wednesdays, 10:00 – Noon

This course will trace and analyze the Trump administration from its inception to the present. It will be organized thematically around discussion topics that in-clude: foreign policy, the personal style of the president, the Cabinet and his advisors, immigration, healthcare, the economy, the EPA and global warming, Russian influence in the presidential campaign, and the plans to reorganize the government based on the President’s priorities. I will lead the first discussion on foreign policy. Class members are encouraged to volunteer for subsequent topics. Each class, with the exception of the first, will include a ten-minute presentation by the moderator, who will then lead a 40-minute discussion by presenting thought-provoking questions or statements designed to sow contro-versy. Each week a series of articles will be emailed to participants in advance of the topic under discussion. All students are encouraged to investigate the theme on their own to enrich class discussion. Moderators for all topics will be chosen on the first day of class.

Class $30

Instructor: Carol McCavitt has been teaching for SPARK for nine years.

Before moving to Kansas City, Carol was a high school teacher on Long Island, where she taught Advanced Placement in European History for 20 years. Educated as an undergraduate at SUNY at Stony Brook, Carol completed her Master’s Degree at Queens College in NYC and did her doctoral work at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Pre-Registration for this Class is Required. Registration is limited to 40 in each class. To ensure your place in the class, please register early. Class registration deadline is May 24th.

Because this class is very popular, you must pre-register. We need an accurate enrollment before classes begin. No registrations will be accepted on the first day of class. The comfort and safety of our members is paramount and therefore we want to avoid an over-crowded classroom. You will need to register for either Tuesday or Wednesday. If on occasion you need to attend the alternate day, that is permissible but hopefully the exception.

If you wait until the class registration deadline,

this class may be FULL.

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AMERICAN INDIAN ART: HOW IT SPEAKS TO US June 7 – June 28 (4 weeks) Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:30

This course will explore Native American art

and culture during the Colonial period in

America. Instructor Gil Nichols will share his

appreciation and interpretation of Native

American Art and culture as it is found during

this period of our history.

In the first three weeks we will examine the

American Indian tradition of making things and

the issues of visual expression. There is NO

word in any Native American language that

can be accurately translated to the word “art”.

Native American material culture historically was, and in many cases

still is, a reflection of native consciousness to that which is spiritual. The

instructor will describe Native American art items using slides and

objects from his personal collection to demonstrate how they are an

expression of native spiritual tradition.

During the fourth week, we will meet at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to briefly examine examples of European art with emphasis on Impressionism as a bridge from European Art paradigms to Native American interpretations and aesthetics. We will meet in the Bloch Lobby before beginning our tour.

Class $30

Instructor: Gil Nichols has been a lifelong student of North American Indian cultures as well as participating in Lakota and Dakota tribe ceremonies for over 35 years. He holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Missouri. He taught high school social studies for 30 years, followed by teaching American Indian Studies at William Jewell College for years and UMKC for over 14 years. Mr. Nichols currently serves as a tour guide at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

AMERICAN INDIAN ART

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ART CLASS

WATERCOLOR JOURNALING June 8 – June 29 (4 weeks) Thursdays, 10:00 – 12:00

This class teaches you how to capture a "moment", not just with a camera but also with sketches and paint! The "kit" you take with you weighs less than a pound and won't bother you as you trek around Europe, the Caribbean or Kansas! We will be working outside (as weather permits) at nearby venues, starting indoors for theory then sketching outside. This class is for all levels of artists from beginner to experienced. Please bring $10 to class for supplies.

Class $30 Instructor: Liz Vargas began drawing and painting while working as an electronics and communications engineer for Sprint in Mexico City. When her husband, also a Sprint engineer, was transferred to the United States in 2014, she was able to spend more time exploring her art. In cities all over the country, she has taken classes, shown her work in local exhibits and created a distinctive collection from simple materials and personal experiences.

HEART OF AMERICA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Lecture Series: June 5 – June 26 (4 weeks) Mondays, 1:30 – 2:30

SPARK, in cooperation with HASF and the Kansas City Public Library offers a lecture series on the summer production of Hamlet presented in Southmoreland Park, June 13- July 2, 2017. This series Know Your Shakespeare! will be Monday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. in the Cohen Room, part of the Truman Forum on the lower level of the Plaza Library. There is no fee or advance registration needed. Week 1: 6/5 Introduction to Hamlet Presenter: Alyson Germinder, Dramaturg Week 2: 6/12 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Presenter: Adam Potthast, Park University Week 3: 6/19 Putting on the Show Presenter: Sidonie Garrett, Exec. Director & cast member Week 4: 6/26 The Play’s The Thing Presenter: Dr. Robert Willson, UMKC Ret.

For more information: www.kcshakes.org or pearson@kc.rr.com 816 531 7728 or 816 444 6651

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NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM ART TOURS June 8 – June 29 (4 weeks) Thursdays, 11:15 – 12:30

ART TOURS

Week 1: 6/8 Artful Conversation about Attributes Another tour suggested by a docent. Know the subject’s status by the buttons, badges, swords, background, and other attributes in the work.

Week 2: 6/15

Untold Stories You may remember Docents Tracy & Nicole, who suggested a tour that tells us the back-story of the works we are seeing. When they research a tour for us, there is even more that they can tell us.

Week 3: 6/22

Color and Line Artists used color and texture to represent the world in a natural way and to explore abstraction.

Week 4: 6/29

Hidden Meanings and Symbols What does the skull signify, what about the woman’s rolled up sleeve, what about that particular plant? These things are chosen for a reason. They were known then, but are a mystery to us now.

Class Facilitator: Jane Harrell, 816-523-2620 Class Location: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Lunch after the tour in the Rozzelle Court (Optional)

Parking at the museum is $8.00, but free

to the members of Nelson-Atkins Art

Museum. There is free parking in a small

lot on the corner of 45th & Rockhill Road.

The lot is entered from 45th Street.

Museum entry is through the glass doors

on the north side of the Bloch Building.

Class $30

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BOOK & LUNCH CLUBS

LUNCH AND A BOOK CLUB You are invited to join this group and enjoy lively conversation and good food. We meet at 1:00 on the first Monday of each month at the Grand Street Café, 4740 Grand St., Kansas City, MO.

If you would like to attend this Book Club Please contact the SPARK Office 816-235-2870

Please Note: There is no class fee to SPARK members to attend the book club or Let’s Eat Out group, but you need to be a member and register with the SPARK Office for each session.

MARGARET STURGES’ BOOK CLUB

Our group meets at 1:00 on the third Monday of each month at the Grand Street Café, 4740 Grand St., Kansas City, MO. We have two slots open for new members. Contact Nancy Wilson if interested.

The facilitator is Nancy Jonas Wilson, njonaswilson@att.net

6/19

7/17

8/21

9/18

Eleanor Brown

Simon Winchester

TBD

Gloria Steinem

The Weird Sisters

Pacific

Book Selection 2018

My Life on the Road

THURSDAY BOOK CLUB This group meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 12 noon at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 4501 Walnut, Kansas City, MO.

The facilitator is Sue Habiger, 816-942-3431

6/22

7/27

Emma: A Modern Retelling

The Sunlit Night

Alexander McCall Smith

Rebecca Dinerstein

LET’S EAT OUT!

This lively group meets at a different restaurant each Friday at 11:30 a.m. Members will select various restaurants to try. Please call Caroline Sanders at 816-524-8314 to make a reservation by each Wednesday.

Join us Friday, June 9th at the Grand Street Café on the Plaza.

6/5

7/3

8/7

Philip Roth

Edna Ferber

Denis Johnson

Counterlife

So Big

Tree of Smoke

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SPARK CLASS REGISTRATION

MEMBERSHIP AND CLASS FEES

Annual Membership ························ $40 (renewable in January)

New Members joining after June 30 ··· $20 (first year only)

(4-6 weeks) ·· $30

Humanities Classes (3 weeks) ···· $25

(2 weeks) ···· $20

Tours ············································ Varies, depending on tour.

Parking Tags ·································· $ 3 (per tag/per day)

Please make your check payable to SPARK.

You must be a member to enroll in classes and activities. All classes are held at the SPARK Office unless otherwise noted.

Please help SPARK by registering and mailing in your completed enrollment form and payment by May 24. You may register at the Desserts Delight Event on May 18th or you may access an electronic enrollment form on the SPARK website or complete the printed one within this schedule and mail it to:

UMKC SPARK 4825 Troost, Room 214D Kansas City, MO 64110

Phone: 816-235-2870 (New) Email: umkc-spark@umkc.edu

(New) Website: http://info.umkc.edu/spark/

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Class registration forms must be received

by the SPARK Office prior to the first day of class.

The SPARK Board of Directors is requesting that members enroll and buy parking tags (see next page) before the first day of classes. This will allow Jim Fisk, our Office Coordinator, to prepare an adequate number of handouts and assist instructors setting up audio-visual equipment. If you are sending registrations by mail, please be aware it may take five to seven days for mail to reach the SPARK Office through the UMKC postal system. Jim will no longer be able to register people before class during the first week of classes or to sell parking tags. However, if you have pre-registered, he will be available after class to assist you and accept payment. We appreciate your help to make the first week of classes begin smoothly.

Some classes will have a minimum and maximum enrollment.

Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled.

For classes with a maximum enrollment, participants should pre-register

as early as possible.

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INFORMATION ABOUT PARKING FOR SPARK CLASSES

The SPARK Office and classrooms are located at 4825 Troost, Room 214D, on the

UMKC Campus. There is a UMKC parking lot adjacent to the SPARK Office which

requires a Parking Tag or Pay and Display receipt. If you plan to use parking

tags, we highly recommend that you purchase them when you register for classes.

There are two options for parking on the UMKC campus:

• You can purchase UMKC Parking Tags. With the tag you may park in any lot

on the UMKC campus. Tags are $3.00 each and good for only ONE day.

Purchase parking tags at the Summer Event on May 18th (see page 16) or

from the SPARK Office. They can be ordered on the class enrollment form

when you register for classes. If ordered by Wednesday, May 24, the first tag

will be mailed to you before classes begin. The rest of your tags will be left on

the table and clearly identified on the first day of class. Please submit your

payment with your class enrollment fees or pay after the first class.

• Another option is to purchase a Pay and Display receipt from the machine

next to the main (south) entrance into the building. This allows you to park for

your desired amount of time. Display the receipt on your dashboard.

ACCESSIBILITY: Handicap parking is available in the SPARK parking lot.

You may access the 2nd floor via the elevator located in the northeast

corner of the building.

FRANCES MCLAREN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

SPARK has assistance available to SPARK members needing some extra help with class fees. The Frances McLaren Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Frances by her family and through donations to the fund. If you would like more information or to request assistance, please contact Jan Parks at parksj3271@gmail.com

All requests are confidential.

PARKING, SCHOLARSHIPS & FRIENDS

BRING A FRIEND: Introduce Someone to SPARK

Invite a guest to a regular or GEM class one time for FREE.

Just email or call Jim Fisk at SPARK so we know to expect your guest. If class size is limited as with Carol McCavitt’s class, guests will be unable to visit. For tours, you may invite a friend to accompany you at the regular tour fee. If there is a limit on enrollment, current members will receive priority. Be sure to check with the SPARK Office about class or tour availability.

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CALENDAR OF CLASSES & EVENTS

Officers Board of Directors

President: Jay Upright President Elect: Gil Nichols Secretary: Linda Landis Treasurer: Jay Upright

Wanda Adkins Baila Goldstein Joni Green Jane Harrell * George Heiser Bill Hirsch

Judy Kirk Virginia Lambright Symie Menitove Barb Stillman Linda Wade

Committee Chairs Publications

Curriculum: Judy Kirk Events: Baila Goldstein Marketing: Jan Parks * Membership: Linda Wade * Past President

Class Catalog: Jodi Upright Patty Fuller Monthly Events Calendar: Jodi Upright Jan Parks

Members are always welcome to attend Board meetings and Committee meetings. Check out dates of meetings in the Monthly Events Calendar emailed to members each month.

SUMMER 2017 May Desserts Delight

Country Club Congregational United Church of Christ 205 W. 65th Street, Kansas City, MO Thursday, May 18 (RSVP by May 15)

Classes: June 5 – June 29 Register by May 24

FALL 2017

Fall Picnic: (Venue to be announced) Thursday, September 7 (RSVP by August 30)

Classes: September 25 – November 2 Register by September 14

WINTER 2018

Chili Luncheon: Central United Methodist Church 5144 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO

Annual Meeting – Election of Board of Directors Thursday, January 4, 2018 (RSVP by December 27, 2017)

Classes: January 22 – March 2 Register by January 11

BOARD MEETINGS 2017

The Board usually meets on the third Friday of even-numbered months at 9:30 in the SPARK Office. SPARK members are welcome to attend.

April 21, June 16, August 18, October 20, December 1

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HOW TO CONTACT SPARK

If you have questions or need help completing the registration form, please contact Office Coordinator Jim Fisk at the SPARK Office.

Phone: 816-235-2870 (New) Email: umkc-spark@umkc.edu

UMKC SPARK 4825 Troost, Room 214D Kansas City, MO 64110

Visit our (New) Website: http://info.umkc.edu/spark/

The SPARK Calendar of Events is published the first of each month

• watch for it in your email.

Weekly Email Updates During the summer class session you will receive a weekly email update from SPARK with news or special announcements about upcoming classes.

If your contact information changes, notify the office to be sure you receive Class Schedules, announcements and news from SPARK.

SPARK is an affiliate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City