Community ed courses & youth programs

Community Education (non-credit) Classes & Registration Information

Promoting lifelong learning for children and adults

The Workforce Development and Community Education of Carl Sandburg College provide workshops, classes, educational day trips and events to inspire learning and enrich lives both professionally and personally at both our Galesburg and Carthage locations. Programs are perfect for anyone who has a desire to learn, regardless of a previous academic experience or career path.

Workforce Development and Community Education:

• Galesburg's main campus | 309.345.3501 | community@sandburg.edu
• Carthage campus | 217.357.3129, ext. 7237

Community Education Classes and Youth Programs

Save the date!!!

Agriculture Workshop Series 2023-2024

Zoom Classes 6 pm-8 pm

8 sessions with speakers from our local agriculture industry, such as Carthage System, John Deere, Smithfield, Corteva, University of Illinois Extension, etc.

Meet the representatives, ask your questions, and learn about what current opportunities and changes are happening!

$60 if you register all sessions at once! <- $20 discount!!!

$10 for each session

• November 28 Tuesday - Self-Employed Farmer & Hancock County Farm Bureau
• November 30 Thursday - John Deere, Traci Bertelsen
• December 12 Tuesday - Carthage System, Carlos Himan
• December 14 Thursday - U of I Extension, Rachel Curry: Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and Agricultural Conservation
• January 23 Tuesday - U of I Extension, Chris Enroth
• January 25 Thursday - Knox County Farm Bureau
• February 6 Tuesday - Corteva, Sarah Potts
• February 8 Thursday - Smithfield, Todd Bloyd

(Each session details are to come.) 

 

Language Classes

• Spanish (Youth 8-13 yrs): Saturdays 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. $100 @ Sandburg 9/2/23 to 11/18/23
• Spanish (Adult): Saturdays 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. $100 @ Sandburg 9/2/23 to 11/18/23

-> Taught by Margarita Patton. This is a conversational Spanish class. Join and enjoy the in-person and collaborative fun of learning Spanish!

• Korean (Adult): Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. $100 @ Sandburg 9/9/23 to 10/28/23

-> Taught by Kang Hee Hong and Jiyou Galloway. This is a LEVEL 2 class! Participants should be able to read and pronounce the Korean alphabet. Please contact community@sandburg.edu if you have any questions or need help completing the prerequisite for this class.

• English as a Second Language (ESL): Mondays & Wednesdays 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. $120 @ ZOOM 9/11/23 to 11/22/23

-> Taught by Jessica Jones. This is a Zoom class. Adults whose first language is not English can benefit from this class! Getting fluent in English means more job opportunities!

 

Wine Education Club

Second Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. $20 per session 9/13/23 to 12/13/23 @ Hidden Hills Winery, Knoxville 

-> Presenters are from various wineries. Experience unique wines and learn about how to appreciate wine the best way!

 

Gardening and Landscaping 

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on ZOOM    $10 per session

Taught by Chris Enroth, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator

• Introduction to Sustainable Landscaping: September 6 Wednesday

-> Sustainable landscaping, providing benefits for us and the environment, reduces costs and protects water quality, soil, and wildlife. Chris Enroth will introduce techniques for sustainable practices in gardening, covering topics like sustainable lawns, stormwater management, soil health, and more to lessen ecological footprints.

• Hardscaping Basics for Patios and Retaining Walls: October 18 Wednesday

-> Considering hardscaping for your landscape business? Chris will discuss basic paver and retaining wall installation methods, potentially boosting your revenue.

• Make Every Drop Count - Xeriscaping: November 8 Wednesday

-> Learn how to implement xeriscaping in your home garden to minimize water usage, whether you prefer a minimalist landscape or a lush garden. He will cover design strategies and appropriate plant selection to optimize every drop of water.

• Planning Your Vegetable Garden: December 6 Wednesday

-> Chris will guide participants on planning and managing a vegetable garden for a rewarding experience. He'll cover essential aspects like efficient irrigation, composting systems, integrated pest management, vegetable selection, and other basic gardening skills and techniques.

 

Work Skill Classes 

Taught by Randy Jones, a Carl Sandburg College Workforce Development instructor 

• Basic Excel: September 12, November 14 Tuesday 11:00 - 12:00 p.m. at Sandburg    $20

-> Everything you need to set up and handle basic functions in Excel.  We’ll cover data entry, formatting cells and data, operators, using formulas, charts and graphs, sorting and filtering, printing, shortcuts and error messages.  

• Advanced Excel: October 10, December 12 Tuesday 11:00 - 12:00 p.m. at Sandburg    $20

-> Going deeper into Excel this class deals with more advanced formula techniques, pivot tables, conditional statements, lookup functions, and analysis tools. 

• Workplace Communications: September 26 Tuesday 11:00 - 12:00 p.m. on Zoom    $20

-> How to communicate clearly in a professional manner.  This course explores communication and listening, communication styles and how to deal with each style, how to be assertive but professional, listening versus hearing, and overcoming barriers in communication.

• Digital Dirt Can Cost Your Company/Career: October 24 Tuesday 11am - 12 pm on Zoom $20

-> Every day we hear about individuals and companies paying the price for digital dirt.  Everything online can be deleted but is never really gone.  This class explores what employers look for when looking to hire or promote an individual, the impact of social media on both individuals and companies, and what each of us can do to protect ourselves and our company from the effects of digital dirt.

• Resume 101: November 28 Tuesday 11:00 - 12:00 p.m. on Zoom $20

-> The resume, the marketing tool that can get you in the door or keep you on the outside.   We’ll work through the most current resume styles, determine which type of resume will work best for you, detail what should be on your resume (and what should be left out), and how to prepare your resume to get through modern Applicant Tracking Systems.

• Decision Making Fact vs. Opinion: November 18 Saturday 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. on Zoom $10

-> Don’t listen to what someone wants you to think, develop the tools and learn how to think.  We are continually bombarded with information from every direction.  Decision Making deals with making informed decisions using facts, and gives simple ways to determine if you’re dealing with facts, or just someone’s opinion.

• Interview Skills 101: December 2 Saturday 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. on Zoom $20  

-> The resume worked, now it’s time to show a new company that you’re the obvious choice.  Want to get that job?  Learn what excites employers and what turns them off.  Learn how to present the best of who and what you are.

• Top Financial Traps and How to Avoid Them: December 12 Sat. 10-11:30 am on Zoom $20

-> It seems everyone in the world wants to sell us something.  From whole life insurance to term life, investments and annuities, student debt and other loans, vacation plans and time shares.  We’ll explore all of these and more, and highlight the financial impact of each so you can make an informed decision on which are right and wrong for your situation, while highlighting the real financial impacts of each.

 

Inspire Abilities Workshop for Adults with Disabilities

5:30-6:30 p.m. at Sandburg $10 per family

• September 26 Tuesday
• October 24 Tuesday
• November 28 Tuesday

-> Inspire Abilities is partnering up with Sandburg to host a dual workshop for adults with disabilities (ages 18-30) and their parents/caregivers. Parents/caregivers will hear from local agencies including DHS, DD Homes, as well as The Hub, while adult participants are engaged in a hands-on learning experience about pollination and why bees are such an important part of our food production. Building C Room 211 right next to the greenhouse.

 

Senior Program

Taught by April Penn from U.S Cellular  

• iPhone 101 for Seniors : September 19 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Sandburg $10

• Android Phone 101 for Seniors : October 10 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Sandburg $10

-> This course is designed for seniors to help you navigate your smartphone with ease. Connect with loved ones, explore new hobbies, and enhance your independence! Your digital journey starts here! :-)

 

Tech Skill Enhancement

• Canva 101 : October 5 Thursday 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Sandburg $10

-> Taught by Jiyou Galloway, Carl Sandburg College Career and Technical Education Program Support Specialist. 

Step into the colorful world of design with our Canva 101 class! This course, tailored for all ages, will guide you through creating stunning visuals effortlessly. Share your stories, passions, and ideas through beautiful designs, even without any previous graphic design experience. Our patient instructor makes design enjoyable and accessible. It's time to unleash your creativity. Start your artistic journey with us today!

• OneNote for Personal Organization :  November 11 Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on Zoom $20

-> Taught by Lisa Hanson, Carl Sandburg College Director of Financial Aid. 

Take control of your life's many facets with our OneNote for Personal Organization workshop! This course, ideal for all, will guide you to compile your notes, to-dos, and ideas all in one place. Stay organized, track your goals, and never lose an important detail again. Our dedicated instructor simplifies organization, making it a fun process. It's time to streamline your life. Embark on your journey to a better organization with us today!

 

Meet the Author - Joe McQueen

December 2 Saturday 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Wordsmith Bookstore $10

-> Meet Joe McQueen, who is the author of the book, 'Calming Young Minds: Understanding Mental Health, De-Escalation, Trauma and Restorative Practices in Teens'. This workshop is recommended to educators, social workers, and parents.

Joseph S. McQueen is an education consultant and director of alternative education with over 20 years of experience working with at-risk youth. Through his book, he offers a unique perspective on understanding mental health, de-escalation, trauma, and restorative practices in teens.

 

Etiquette Dining

December 7 Thursday 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Craft $30

-> Business dinners and power lunches are where so many important decisions are made. It’s imperative you feel confident to avoid those etiquette taboos and make a positive, long-lasting impression on your fellow dining companions.

This workshop is facilitated by a certified etiquette consultant, Tracy Engstrom, from Carl Sandburg College.

In this etiquette workshop, you’ll learn how to:

• Navigate a place setting—including napkin placement before, during, and after the meal.
• Memorize the letters “BMW.”
• Recognize the resting/finished position for the knife and fork.
• Understand manners for specific courses in the meal, from salad to dessert.
• End a meal properly and know how to exit the table.

Invite your co-workers, friends, and family to this informational and delightful formal dining etiquette luncheon!

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Registration: https://selfserve.sandburg.edu:8173/Student/InstantEnrollment

Please contact 309.345.3501 or community@sandburg.edu for any questions.

 

 

CARTHAGE CAMPUS | Registration & Questions: 217.357.3129 or lthomas@sandburg.edu 

 

Basic ESL (ESL.E04.550) will be by taught by Jay Harnack

Tuesdays 6-8 p.m. 

January 16-May 7, 2024

Cost: $90

  

Intermediate ESL (ESL E22 550) will be by taught by Carlos Himan

Tuesdays 6-8 p.m.

January 16-May 7, 2024

Cost: $90

  

Spanish for the Workplace (SPN E10 550) will  be taught by Carlos Himan

Thursdays 6-8 p.m.

January 18-May 9, 2024

Cost: $90