Studies tell us that people, on average, remember 10% of whatever they’re told, 20% of whatever they read, but as much as 80% of whatever they actually see. That’s because we respond to images more intensely – and less guardedly – than to any spoken or written word.

This fall, we’ll cull through images from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, revisiting some of the key news events of those times. Many of these photos will light up our own recollections of long-ago headlines and help us recall what mattered most to us all those years ago.

Convener: Joe Gastiger was pastor at the First Congregational Church, UCC, in DeKalb for almost twenty years before retiring in 2020. Prior to ministry, he taught English classes at NIU and coordinated the University Honors Program. These days he chairs the city’s Human Relations Commission. Joe has led about a dozen study groups for LLI and has published three books of poetry.

The NIU Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI), established in 2000, is a member-directed group of individuals primarily age 50 plus who enjoy learning in informal, flexible, non-competitive groups and like connecting with peers who share their interests. No grades, no tests – just Learning for the Fun of It.