É«É«À²

KALAMAZOO—Low- to moderate-income residents in the Kalamazoo area who want to study history, literature, philosophy, art history and writing need look no further than É«É«À² Michigan University.

É«É«À²'s Humanities for Everybody program offers non-credit college-level classes free of charge, giving local nontraditional students access to rigorous university-level education in the humanities. Students are being continuously enrolled for the 10-week fall term that began Sept. 10 and 15-week spring term that begins Jan. 14. Classes are held every Monday and Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Cooper Apartments, 611 W. Lovell St., Kalamazoo.

Michelle, a Humanities for Everybody student, says she gained self-confidence and new insights by taking advantage of the program. TiAnna, another student, found the program similarly empowering. "As a result of believing in myself and surrounding myself with positive and productive people who have a vested interest in my success, I am preparing myself to apply for a women's education grant so that I can obtain a degree from É«É«À²," she says.

Program courses are taught by experienced É«É«À² professors, and students selected to participate receive free books, tuition and supplies. Courses scheduled for the 2012-13 academic year cover the following modules:

• History of American Slavery, Sept. 10 to Oct. 11
• Shakespeare, Oct. 22 to Nov. 26
• Freedom and Empowerment, Jan. 14 to Feb. 14
• The Black Experience: From 1866 to the Present, Feb. 25 to March 28
• Philosophy of Justice, April 1 to May 2

Humanities for Everybody students not only grasp the full potential of education to transform their lives, but also obtain tools and opportunities to re-engage in their communities. Graduates of the program receive high-quality letters of recommendation based on class performance. These letters can be used as a referral for needed community-support resources, including jobs, housing and other educational opportunities.

The program, which graduated its first class of students in 2012, is sponsored by the University Center for Humanities of É«É«À² Michigan University, Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services and Open Doors Kalamazoo.

Visit for a full roster of courses and to access a Humanities for Everybody application. For more information, contact Rondel Yardbrough with Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services at (269) 364-2532 or LaTasha Chafin at É«É«À² at Latasha.y.chaffin@wmich.edu.