Community Calendar

Nonprofit bylaws are not only necessary under the California Nonprofit Law, but also essential to obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status. Aside from the legal and tax requirements, bylaws serve as an important roadmap to guide board governance, operations and decision-making. However, just mention the need to revisit or revise this important document, and most nonprofit board and staff members will shudder! Join us for this engaging discussion with Roy Schneider, Esq. and Jessica Villar, Esq., who will address bylaw basics, required provisions, and the process of taking on bylaw changes, then explore best practice approaches for streamline your governance practices.

Topics will include:

Why Bylaws Matter!
What is required by California law?
Key components of effective bylaws -- what should (and shouldn’t) be in the bylaws
The difference between bylaws and policies
Best practices for revising, amending and/or restating your organization’s bylaws, whether you are a membership or non-membership organization
Resources and checklists to help you navigate this process

Attendees are encouraged to bring a copy of their current bylaws and submit confidential questions for Roy to address during the workshop session.

Those who rank the most influential speeches of all time consistently place “I Have a Dream” as one of the most powerful orations of history. But what else did Martin Luther King, Jr. say? As an icon of the civil rights movement, he spoke in public almost constantly. Which of these other speeches really characterize his worldview and his movement? What kind of impact did these speeches have? In this two-part lecture, we’ll go beyond “I Have a Dream” to really examine both Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speaking style and his principles that he discussed in his speeches––ultimately coming to understand what made him such a powerful orator.

This lecture can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

This mini-lecture series provides an overview of some of the great ancient civilizations of Central Mexico from the earliest cities in the 2nd millennium BCE through first contact with the Spanish invaders (ca. 1502 CE).

The Olmecs, Teotihuacan, and the Aztecs have fascinated public and scholarly audiences the world over. In this two-part lecture, we will explore the rise of these civilizations and address several false claims attributed to the beliefs of the peoples of Ancient Mexico that are entrenched in the popular perception of these civilizations.

The Ancient Mesoamericans developed intricate calendrical, architectural, and ideological systems. This two-part lecture seeks to present the true nature of these ancient civilizations as they are understood from the archaeological record, ancient texts, and Colonial-era documents.

This lecture takes place virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

On September 3, 2025, in a show of unity against the West, China hosted a celebration commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un joined Chinese President Xi Jinping for this solemn and symbolic occasion. Two days earlier, the leaders of China, Russia, and India met in Tianjin China as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The changing global order reflected by these meetings sent an unequivocal message to Western leaders and America in particular: China is a global superpower and, along with its allies North Korea and India, is in lock-step with Russia against the Western effort to isolate Putin over his invasion of Ukraine. How did the United States and more broadly, its Western allies arrive at what by all accounts is a decisive and, as some would argue, dangerous moment in foreign affairs? Do these developments reflect what some scholars and public policy specialists are calling “a new Cold War?” This course will take a closer look at these recent events and what they might signify for the future of American foreign relations. It will offer suggestions about how to make sense of a new and rapidly evolving world order.

This course can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

With Katie Deutschman

Perfect for expanding your grant writing skills, this intermediate workshop dives into the art of proposal writing by exploring the planning phases and each component of a winning proposal. This hands-on workshop will give you the opportunity to learn about how proposals relate to strategic and program planning, grant writing terminology and the basic components of a proposal. You will apply your new knowledge right away as you develop a draft proposal.

Come prepared to write! Please bring copies of your organization’s mission statement, project descriptions, and background materials. Please also bring paper and pen/pencil or a laptop.

Note: This workshop is designed for individuals who have had at least some experience writing and submitting grant proposals. Please register here: https://www.callutheran.edu/centers/nonprofit/workshops/event/2026-01-20-intermediate-proposal-writing-three-module-series

Part I: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Part II: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Part III: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Were Homer’s epic poems myth, or did they describe real historical events? This two-part lecture series dives into the question of Homer's authenticity, comparing key passages from the Iliad and the Odyssey with the latest archaeological evidence from Greece. We'll analyze Homer’s vivid descriptions of palaces, armor, and burial rites against the backdrop of the Mycenaean Bronze Age (c. 1600-1100 BCE). Emphasis will be placed on recent, groundbreaking discoveries that bring Homer’s passages to light. By linking the epic poems' memory of a heroic age with the material reality unearthed by modern excavations, this course explores how a seemingly mythical tradition may preserve the "kernel of truth" from a magnificent, lost civilization.

This lecture can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

On September 3, 2025, in a show of unity against the West, China hosted a celebration commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un joined Chinese President Xi Jinping for this solemn and symbolic occasion. Two days earlier, the leaders of China, Russia, and India met in Tianjin China as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The changing global order reflected by these meetings sent an unequivocal message to Western leaders and America in particular: China is a global superpower and, along with its allies North Korea and India, is in lock-step with Russia against the Western effort to isolate Putin over his invasion of Ukraine. How did the United States and more broadly, its Western allies arrive at what by all accounts is a decisive and, as some would argue, dangerous moment in foreign affairs? Do these developments reflect what some scholars and public policy specialists are calling “a new Cold War?” This course will take a closer look at these recent events and what they might signify for the future of American foreign relations. It will offer suggestions about how to make sense of a new and rapidly evolving world order.

This course can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

Workshop with Terry Kang and Pamela Perkins-Dwyer.

Effective stewardship demonstrates to donors that you value their individual support and see them as an integral part of your community, growing their loyalty and trust in your nonprofit over time. Securing donors’ long-term support is critical for your nonprofit to continually fund its mission-driven initiatives. This workshop will empower development professionals, nonprofit leaders, and board members to strengthen donor relationships through stewardship strategies.

Participants will learn how to turn stewardship theory into everyday practice, creating personalized, mission-driven experiences that deepen donor engagement year-round. The workshop emphasizes building trust through transparency, gratitude, and storytelling while showcasing meaningful engagement opportunities such as behind-the-scenes access, intimate gatherings, and customized communications that highlight donor impact. Attendees will hear about real-world examples to assist in enhance their own donor relations programs.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to craft a stewardship plan that fosters a culture of appreciation, improves donor retention, inspires greater giving, and contributes to long-term organizational success.

Were Homer’s epic poems myth, or did they describe real historical events? This two-part lecture series dives into the question of Homer's authenticity, comparing key passages from the Iliad and the Odyssey with the latest archaeological evidence from Greece. We'll analyze Homer’s vivid descriptions of palaces, armor, and burial rites against the backdrop of the Mycenaean Bronze Age (c. 1600-1100 BCE). Emphasis will be placed on recent, groundbreaking discoveries that bring Homer’s passages to light. By linking the epic poems' memory of a heroic age with the material reality unearthed by modern excavations, this course explores how a seemingly mythical tradition may preserve the "kernel of truth" from a magnificent, lost civilization.

This lecture can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

As the leading figure of an entire movement, Andy Warhol is synonymous with the development of Pop Art in America. Beginning his career as a commercial artist, Warhol rose to fame in multiple media. His vast works are an homage to the everyday world, but also comment seriously on the transience of celebrity and the power of mass media. This lecture will be an overview of the career of Andy Warhol.

This lecture can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.