A note from Matthew Daude Laurents
Hello, Free Minds alumni! A few things you might want to know about the class I’m offering next semester, Philosophy and the Meaning of Life (PHIL 1301): In this course, I will introduce you to major figures and movements in Western philosophy by examining a core problem in our tradition: the meaning of life. Along … Continue reading
Guest Blogger: Clayton Stromberger Brings Shakespeare to Free Minds
As coordinator of the UT Shakespeare at Winedale Outreach program, my job is to bring the “Shakespeare at Winedale approach” — active, playful ensemble performance based on a close analysis of the text — to upper-elementary classrooms around Central Texas. Our primary focus is on students in low-income or disadvantaged communities, and our aim is … Continue reading
This spring, study philosophy with Free Minds
Big news! This January we are launching a cycle of spring classes for Free Minds graduates, similar to the alumni classes we piloted in 2009-10. We hope that each spring semester alumni will have the opportunity to take a credit-bearing ACC class that’s designed around the principles of Free Minds. The Spring 2012 class will … Continue reading
Free Writing Workshop Begins October 18
Join us for a free 8-week writing workshop! The Free Minds Project is offering a unique opportunity to explore your creative potential, share your stories, and improve your comfort and skill as a writer. We’ll meet once a week to do guided writing exercises in a supportive group environment to help you awaken the writer … Continue reading
Guest Blogger Lisa Pous ’12: “I am not limiting myself any longer.”
I am a proud mother of three teenagers and a domestic violence survivor who is learning to thrive. I have no formal education past the eighth grade, having passed a GED exam before high school. With the help of local domestic violence resources I have been able to change my life around one tiny step … Continue reading
Fall 2011 alumni master classes
Hey alumni! We’re excited to share with you a calendar of events for the fall semester. We hope to see you at as many as you have time for, starting with Clayton Stromberger’s upcoming master class on Thursday, September 22. He’ll be discussing The Tempest, the Shakespeare play assigned to this year’s Free Minds class. … Continue reading
A new master class for Free Minds alumni
Free Minds alumni: we’re excited to offer a unique August master class to get you up on your feet and out of the classroom. On August 10th, 6:30-8:30 pm, Dr. Ted Gordon, Dept. Chair of African and African Diaspora Studies at UT, will give a 2-hour walking tour focusing on the racial geography of UT. … Continue reading
Mitte Foundation Awards Grant to Free Minds!
We’re thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation. The Austin-based foundation invests in organizations and programs that improve the quality of life for those in Central Texas. It has awarded Free Minds $15,500 to provide student and academic support to this year’s students, … Continue reading
Free Minds Receives Record Number of Applications
Applications for the Free Minds class of 2011-12 closed on July 5th, marking the end of our most successful recruitment season to date. With outreach efforts spanning the city of Austin — from the public libraries to the Housing Authority to the inboxes of City employees across Austin — we ended up with over 100 … Continue reading
Guest Blogger Emily Whitehurst ’11: “I Will Not Stop Learning”
When I applied to the Free Minds Project, I thought my learning days were over. Yet through the curriculum and direction of the faculty, I discovered that a person is never too old to learn. This past year we read a vast number of literature, plays, poems, and memoirs that got me out of my … Continue reading
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