LIFE / SOCIETY & CULTURE / ETHNIC CULTURES

Northwood residents use community learning

to enrich the A2 experience
February 7, 2011
4:01 PM MST

National flags at the Northwood Community Center inspire the residents to expand their horizons
Vic Divecha

ANN ARBOR, Mich. The fortnightly Global Learning lecture series at the Northwood Community
Center brings residents together to expand their understanding of countries and cultures through
guest speakers. Presenters showcase their nations history, culture, and geo-politics. The speakers
are residents of the Northwood community, which houses exchange scholars, students, researchers
and their families. The series is collaboration between the community aides and a resident of
Northwood, Melanie Schmidt-Wilcke.
There is so much knowledge walking around, says Melanie, describing her enlightened
neighborhood populated with inspiring scholars from across the globe. She explains the epiphany
that culminated in this learning series, If each one of us shares a little bit of what we know, all of us
will end up learning a lot.

Like Florentin Paladi of Moldova, many visiting scholars and their families experience a short stay on
campuses, sometimes as less as eight intense months of Fall and Winter semesters. As the visiting
scholars attempt to fulfill their academic obligations, the cultural exchange aspect opportunity may
take a back-seat. That is where cultural ambassadors like Melanie come in and keep the vision of Ann
Arbor, the global village, alive.
Melanies husband is a research fellow at the University of Michigan Hospital. Two years of scholarly
exchange from Germany is an opportunity to learn about the various cultures that scaffold Ann Arbor
living, besides the American culture. She recently approached the community aides with her inspired
idea and eventually put out a call for presenters. The response exceeded her expectations.
Maria Dolores Sans Gili, is one such resident who volunteered to represent her country: Spain. A
Physiology researcher and Northwood resident, she is the next speaker on the schedule. Maria will
focus on the North-eastern region of Spain which contains Catalonia and Barcelona amongst other
culturally relevant tourist destinations. In the accompanying video Maria previews the next event in
the series.
The lecture series continues through the winter at 1000 McIntyre Ave. Contact Melanie Scmidt-Wilcke
with questions about this series at m.sonne@gmx.de. Currently the following talks are scheduled
2/17/2011: Spain
2/24/2011: Hungary
3/10/2011: Reunion Island
3/17/2011: Egypt
3/24/2011: Estonia

Vic Divecha

Ann Arbor Culture & Events Examiner