University of Orange

What's the Story? Memoir Class Reading
2025-08-06 17:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Online
The University of Orange’s What’s the Story? Memoir Class warmly invites you to a public reading of our latest work, written in response to the prompt “Where am I?”
Join us on Wednesday, August 6th at 5:00 PM ET on Zoom for an early evening of personal storytelling, reflection, and connection. The event will run approximately 75 minutes.
All are welcome – we hope to see you there!
Register here.

Steel Pan Showcase & Potluck
2025-08-08 18:30 - 21:00 | The HUUB, inc, 35 Cleveland Street, City of Orange, NJ, 07050, United States
Join the steel pan bands for their summer showcase and potluck dinner to follow.
Friday, August 8th
6:30pm-9pm at the HUUB
35 Cleveland Street, Orange, NJ

Holding the Center at the Confluence of Crises
2025-08-11 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Holding the Center at the Confluence of Crises: Understanding and Deploying a “Root Shock”-Informed Approach
Course Dates
Monday, July 28, August 4, 11 and 18
6pm-7pm via zoom
Optional in-person “sorted-out city” walking tour of Orange, NJ
Saturday, August 9th at 10am
Course Description
We are in a confluence of crises: rapid shifts of climate, attacks on our democracy, and disregard for the sacredness of all life. At the University of Orange, a 17-year old people’s free school based in Orange NJ, we have learned that “holding the center” requires three things: understanding how we got to this point; deploying strategies that support community recovery; and re-building political power rooted in place. This course will explore these three tasks through the lens of the work of the Cities Research Group (CRG), led by Drs Bob and Mindy Fullilove.
For four decades CRG has conducted groundbreaking research on the forces that caused catastrophic community upheaval, leading to multiple health epidemics and destroying economic, social, political and cultural capital. To describe the vast extent of the harm, Dr. Mindy Fullilove proposed the term “root shock,” a phrase gardeners use to describe what happens to a plant whose roots have been torn in the process of the transplantation. She defined it as “the traumatic stress reaction to the loss of all or part of one’s emotional ecosystem.” We believe we are all experiencing some form of root shock right now. With this understanding of root shock, CRG also identified and practiced collective strategies for community recovery which rebuilds the connective tissue necessary for democracy and people’s power.
Participants will engage with useful resources and tools that they can immediately incorporate into navigating the current crises with their own networks and communities. We will host an optional “sorted out city” walking tour in Orange, NJ on Saturday, August 9 at 10am and share a walking guide so participants can DIY in their own place.
CRG is now housed at the University of Orange under the direction of Dr. Mindy Fullilove, who holds the Helen & Robert E. Fullilove Chair of Community Health at UofO.
Register HERE for “Holding the Center at the Confluence of Crises”

Our Instructors
Dr. Robert E. Fullilove, III, is a professor of sociomedical sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. He got his start in community organizing in 1964, working with the SNCC “Freedom Summer” project. Since 2010, he has been teaching public health courses in six New York State prisons that are part of the Bard College Prison Initiative (BPI) and serves as the Senior Advisor to BPI’s public health program.
Dr. Mindy Fullilove is the Helen and Robert Fullilove Professor of Community Health at the University of Orange and Professor Emeritus at the New School University. She is a social psychiatrist who studies urban problems and their solutions.
Molly Rose Kaufman is a co-founder and director of the University of Orange. She is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Journalism, with training in urbanism from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, France. She uses her grounding in urbanism to develop free education for democracy.

Testimonials for our previous course, “Managing Shock and Awe”
I deeply appreciate the work Dr. Fullilove and the University of Orange team did in designing the sessions and curating the content because, as with all their work, the experience was phenomenal (both live and recorded). Through each weekly session I was grounded in examples, quotes, anecdotes, and stories connected to that week’s theme, which I was able to tie back to my own work and personal life. I have found myself re-listening to the sessions, coming back to the readings, and reflecting on the activities long after the course ended. I will consider this course as a resource especially now, when building belonging and coalitions is critical for the work ahead.
-Katherine Wright, The Rippel Foundation
I thought this course was very grounding and nice for the current political climate that is really overwhelming. It was nice to know that this was happening every week.
-Priscilla P, class participant
This was extremely accessible. I learned a lot and I really enjoyed the blend of New Jersey people’s history and the provided frameworks, ways of thinking for how we can move forward in this moment, and many more moments to come. Thank you so much. I feel more activated than I did before.
-Natalie T, class participant

About the Fullilove Chair of Community Health
The University of Orange established the Helen and Robert Fullilove Chair of Community Health in 2025. Dr. Mindy Fullilove is the holder of the chair. She will lead community courses, as well relevant research in root shock. She introduced the concept of root shock in 2001, and her book, Root Shock: How Tearing Up City Neighborhoods Hurts America and What To Do About It, was published in 2004. UofO led an observance of the 20th anniversary of the book’s publication, which included editing a special issue of the journal, Built Environment, holding a symposium, and preparing an exhibit on root shock for the Orange Public Library.
Register HERE for “Holding the Center at the Confluence of Crises”

Course Fees
All are welcome to take our course for free! All contributions support the ongoing work of our people’s free university. If you are able, we ask you to please consider registering at a paid level.
$300 (full cost of class per person)
$150 (supporter rate)
$75 (solidarity rate)
OTHER amount (donation of any amount appreciated)
FREE (no one turned away for lack of funds NOTAFLOF)

Can your institution sponsor your team to come? Talk to us about team rates (info@universityoforange.org)

Illustration by Ayako Maruyama

Getting to Know Korean Drama Through Korean Culture
2025-08-12 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Tuesdays, August 12 + 19th
6pm-7pm ET on Zoom
Register online HERE
What makes Korean dramas so powerful — and so relatable, even across cultures?
Join Dr. Lee and Ms. Kim for two engaging sessions as we explore how Korean history, culture, and especially family values are at the heart of K-drama storytelling.
Part 1: Korean History & Cultural Roots Behind K-Dramas
What You’ll Learn:
• How key cultural values like collectivism, familism, jeong (정), and nunchi (눈치) shape interpersonal dynamics in Korean life and K-dramas
• Why these values continue to influence modern Korean society — especially within families, workplaces, and schools
• Watch three carefully selected K-drama clips that vividly portray these concepts in action
• Live panel discussion: Dr. Lee and Ms. Kim will unpack how these traditions are preserved, adapted, or challenged in contemporary Korea

Speaker Highlights:
• Dr. Lee will explain how Korea’s rapid historical transitions (colonization, war, economic boom) have embedded certain emotional codes into storytelling — especially the idea of family as both a comfort and a source of conflict.
• Ms. Kim will bring a real-world perspective on how these cultural values are taught, lived, and sometimes misunderstood — based on her experience in both education and the civil service.
Part 2: Why the World Loves K-Dramas
Topics We’ll Cover:
• Why family-centered stories in K-dramas emotionally resonate with viewers worldwide — and how they differ from Western portrayals
• How K-dramas challenge traditional norms like gender roles, class hierarchy, and generational tensions — while still honoring cultural identity
• How Korean dramas blend traditional values with modern and Western influences to create storytelling that feels both local and universal
• An open group discussion on how global audiences interpret K-dramas, and what that tells us about cross-cultural empathy
Teachers:
Dr. Isabel S. Lee – Assistant Professor at Salem State University School of Social Work. A former community social worker in the Korean American community turned social work scholar, Dr. Lee focuses on global social work education and practice.
Ms. Eunjeong Kim – Former Korean language teacher in Korea with Korean national educator certification. Now serving as an IRS officer, Ms. Kim brings deep, real-world insight into how cultural norms shape Korean society, from both educational and bureaucratic perspectives.

Register online HERE

Bail and the Pretrial System
2025-08-13 18:00 - 20:00 | The HUUB, inc, 35 Cleveland Street, City of Orange, NJ, 07050, United States
Bail and the Pretrial System: What it is, How it works, and Why we need to get rid of it
Wednesday, August 13th 6pm-8pm
The HUUB, 35 Cleveland St, Orange, NJ
Each year, 500,000 are jailed in New Jersey and across the country even though they haven’t been convicted of a crime and are presumed innocent. Studies show that pretrial detention exacerbates racial and economic disparities in our legal system, negatively impacts case outcomes, causes irreparable harm to individuals, their families, and communities, and costs billions in taxpayer money. It is also not necessary to ensure return to court and does not increase public safety? So why do we do it? What does it reveal about our legal system? And what would it look like to build something better?
In this interactive class, we’ll explore the basics of how bail and pretrial detention work, the roots of our current system, and the devastating impact it has on our rights, legal system, and communities. We’ll unpack what it means to be “presumed innocent” and why that promise is so often broken. We’ll also learn about efforts to end pretrial incarceration and imagine a different future—one where people are supported, not punished, while their cases move through the courts.
Whether you’ve had direct experience with the criminal legal system or are just curious about how it works and how it can change, this class is for you. No legal knowledge required—just an open mind and a commitment to justice.
This event is in partnership with NJ Abolition Workshops.
Register for free!
About the Instructor:
Justine Olderman holds a joint appointment at NYU’s Marron Institute and NYU School of Law, where she leads a collaborative, long-term initiative to end pretrial detention by centering the presumption of innocence and advancing community-based alternatives. Prior to joining NYU in 2024, she spent 23 years at The Bronx Defenders, including six as Executive Director, where she expanded early defense efforts, deepened community partnerships, led major DEI initiatives, negotiated a landmark union contract, and helped secure key policy reforms and impact litigation victories. A graduate of NYU Law (Order of the Coif, magna cum laude) and the University of Michigan, she also clerked for Judge Robert J. Ward in the Southern District of New York.

Life Tapestries Weaving Workshop Series
2025-08-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-15 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-16 13:00 - 15:00 | The HUUB, inc, 35 Cleveland Street, City of Orange, NJ, 07050, United States
August 14th and 15th, 6:30pm-8:30pm
August 16th, 1pm-3pm
at The HUUB
Life Tapestries is an interactive workshop series that combines personal storytelling and hands-on crafting. Participants will explore their familial ties to New Jersey through two intertwined mediums: quilting and weaving. This three-part workshop is for artists of all ages interested in drawing connections between cartography, creative writing, and fiber arts. Students will create a cartographic quilt square that maps key relationships, people, and places from their lives. Students will then translate their cartographic quilts into a woven tapestry, reflecting on the paths they’ve traveled and the connections they’ve formed along the way. This unique process invites self-reflection and placemaking while teaching basic weaving principles and techniques.
Taught by fiber artist Donelle Wedderburn.
REGISTER HERE
The HUUB
35 Cleveland Street
Orange, NJ, 07050
**Registration is required. If you would like to participate in the workshop series but it is full, email info@universityoforange.org to be added to the wait list.**

Summer Session Potluck
2025-08-20 18:00 - 20:00 | The HUUB, inc, 35 Cleveland Street, City of Orange, NJ, 07050, United States
Join us for a potluck to end our 2025 UofO Summer Session! Bring a dish, bring a friend!
Wednesday, August 20th
6pm-8pm
The HUUB
35 Cleveland St, Orange, NJ

September Solidarity Potluck
2025-09-15 18:00 - 20:00 | The HUUB, inc, 35 Cleveland Street, City of Orange, NJ, 07050, United States
Join us for our monthly Solidarity Potluck at The HUUB! Bring a dish, bring a friend!
Monday, September 15th, 6pm-8pm
The HUUB
35 Cleveland Street
Orange, NJ
Save the dates for upcoming potlucks, Mondays at 6pm:

October 27th
November 17
December 15

Steelpan Classes (Youth)
2025-09-16 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-09-23 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-09-30 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-10-07 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-10-14 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-10-21 17:30 - 18:30 | The HUUB, inc, 35 Cleveland Street, City of Orange, NJ, 07050, United States
Join the Orange Steel Band!
Youth classes for Fall 2025 are currently open to students in middle school and high school. If you have a younger child interested please fill out the form and let us know.
Classes are currently scheduled for Tuesday evenings at 5:30PM. Classes are currently slated to begin on Tuesday September 16th and run for 13 weeks (excluding Thanksgiving) through the end of December.
There will be performance opportunities throughout the Fall, and two culminating performances in December. Dates. Save the dates: Saturday 9/27 (early afternoon), Friday 12/5 (evening), and Wednesday 12/17 (evening).
Classes are pay-what-you-can. We suggest a sliding scale, but donations of any amount are appreciated and the amount you can afford is not a factor in acceptance to the classes. Any questions about our pay-what-you-can model or inquiries about full scholarships can be sent to info@universityoforange.org
REGISTER FOR STEELPAN CLASSES HERE

Steelpan Classes (Adult)
2025-09-16 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-23 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-30 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-07 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-14 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-21 19:00 - 20:00 | The HUUB, inc, 35 Cleveland Street, City of Orange, NJ, 07050, United States
Join the Steel Band of Orange!
Adult classes are open to any and all people above the age of 18.
Classes for adults are currently scheduled for Tuesday evenings at 7PM. Classes are currently slated to begin on Tuesday September 16th and run for 13 weeks (excluding Thanksgiving) through the end of December. If we have high enrollment there is a chance we will add a second day.
There will be performance opportunities throughout the Fall, and two culminating performances in December. Save the dates: Saturday 9/27 (early afternoon), Friday 12/5 (evening), and Wednesday 12/17 (evening).
Classes are pay-what-you-can. We suggest a sliding scale, but donations of any amount are appreciated and the amount you can afford is not a factor in acceptance to the classes. Any questions about our pay-what-you-can model or inquiries about full scholarships can be sent to info@universityoforange.org

REGISTER FOR STEELPAN CLASSES HERE

Staking Our Claim Book Reading and Signing
2025-09-24 18:30 - 20:00 | The HUUB, inc, 35 Cleveland Street, City of Orange, NJ, 07050, United States
Join us for a book reading and signing of Pat Morrissy’s new memoir, Staking Our Claim.
Patrick Morrissy, the founder and executive director (for 30 years) of HANDS community
development corporation has written a memoir that tells the story of his early days in
Orange and East Orange, organizing tenant associations and rehabilitating a big old
beat-up Victorian house.
Wednesday, September 24th, 2025
6:30pm-8:00pm
The HUUB
35 Cleveland St, Orange, NJ
Register online here.
About Staking Our Claim:
In the 1970s’ world of urban decline, a young man seeks a life of authenticity through collective action and the strength of community. Staking Our Claim chronicles Patrick Morrissy’s journey as he reclaims a worn Victorian house in East Orange, NJ, and teams up with other passionate organizers to build grassroots organizations that do battle to hold down rents and get landlords to maintain apartment buildings.
Morrissy and his compatriots are from that strain of the New Left that worked to unite the poor and working class in the fight for economic justice. Fueled by the Civil Rights Movement and a desire for social justice, they battled rising rents, slumlords, and government policies that devastated urban neighborhoods. They launched Shelterforce, a national publication for housing activists, and fought for tenant rights, striving to create a society where no one is left behind.
This memoir is about the search for meaning, the power of grassroots movements, and the enduring value of community in the face of economic hardship and political retrenchment.

What's the Story? Memoir Writing Class - Fall 2025
2025-10-01 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-10-08 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-10-15 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-10-22 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
10-week virtual memoir class offered by UofO, taught by developmental editor Susan Hasho
The class is held on Wednesdays 11:00am to 12:15pm on Zoom, and will run October 1, 2025 – December 3, 2025.
What’s the Story? A Memoir Writing Class
Do you have some stories you’d like to tell? There may be stories about your life that you want to tell your children or grandchildren, perhaps about another country or culture you came from or your parents came from. Was there an experience that changed your life or your neighborhood? How about if you were in the military and you want to share something about that? If you have a desire to share or describe anything that you are fascinated by, care about or even want to change, this class is a place to do that.

Format
What’s the Story is a 10-week writing class that intends to provoke, free and guide anyone to write a memoir that reflects their own unique voice and life experience. This is a workshop-style interactive course. Participants will take turns sharing their work and have opportunities to receive feedback and guidance from the instructor and the other participants. There is also time to discuss technical skills, confront creative blocks, and set writing goals. All writing is done outside of class at your own pace.
Like all UofO events, this class is offered for free, but your tax-deductible donation goes a long way to cover the costs of delivering the course.
Please register for the class here.
Susan Hasho is a developmental editor which is an editor involved in the mysterious process of enabling writers and anyone interested in writing to find their way through the maze of expectations, judgment and even fear to find the true heart of what they want to write. She has trained and worked as an actor and writer, and moved into the advertising field to work as a copy editor for advertising agencies and Fortune 500 companies. She began working with writers several years ago as an editor and it became her goal to teach a writing class that would enable people to be as free of self-criticism and inhibiting expectations as possible in order to write clearly and openly with joy.

Restoration and the City Walking Tour
2025-10-26 14:00 - 17:00 | The HUUB, inc, 35 Cleveland Street, City of Orange, NJ, 07050, United States
Join UofO and Jersey Bee for a walking tour of Orange! The walk will take us between Main Street and Central Ave. This is an area where you can see the city’s history, the current real estate development boom, people’s investment in their homes and small businesses, investment and disinvestment in public infrastructure, highway development, beloved bakeries and more. UofO’s walking pedagogy orients us to the pushes and pulls on our built environment and city life.

Sunday, October 26th
Meet at The HUUB at 2pm
35 Cleveland Street, Orange, NJ
