Miss out an any interesting classes in high school? Now you have the chance to take all those electives you neglected in high school right here in Logan Square.
Learnapalooza, a grassroots initiative dedicated to bringing commerce to neighborhoods and helping people learn, expanded for its fourth year to include a third and final day in Logan Square on Sept. 22. The first two segments took place in Wicker Park and Lakeview during this summer.
“People love free classes,” says Stephen Barker, Learnapalooza coordinator.
More than 500 people throughout Chicago and neighboring cities and states are anticipated to attend the final event.
Free Classes in Logan Square
Volunteers and businesses plan to offer their talents and expertise in 60 classes held in 10 venues along Milwaukee Avenue from Diversey to Armitage.
To challenge both body and mind, participants can sign up for an array of 30-minute classes beginning at 10 am until 6:30 pm. All supplies will be provided.
Class topics range from culinary (jam making, knife skills), computer literacy (Drupal, Excel), dance (Zumba, West Coast Swing, Mambo, Tango, Latin, Blues, Line dance) homemaking (embroidery), art (painting, drawing) and also cover other interests like guitar, self-defense, Chicago’s hidden gems, detox and event planning.
Empowering Neighborhoods
Barker says Learnapalooza also aims to economically empower a specific neighborhood and attract people who wouldn’t usually come to the area.
“The hope is that people will come and remember the places they went during the event, and that they’ll come to the neighborhood again,” he says.
Organized by eight volunteer organizers, who started Learnapalooza when they were in between jobs, Learnapalooza is ready for the third and last neighborhood. The event is primarily supported by donations and sponsors including Beauty and Brawn Art Gallery and Think Space (3501 W. Fullerton Ave.), Next Door Cafe and the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce. (Today all of the Learnapalooza organizers are gainfully employed.)
Attendees are encouraged to sign up ahead of time as class sizes range from 8 to 100 people. Just like in high school, there will be those who ditch, so if a class is full, check in on the day of the event at the Comfort Station and sign up. For more details, visit the Learnapalooza website.
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