Recovery & Resilience with Peter Temes/Michael Obel-Omia

This discussion-based course will look at the resilience of the mind and spirit in response to great challenges
and change. We’ll look at recovery from three angles, and discuss commonalities and differences among
them: recovery from illness, stroke in particular; recovery from addiction; and recovery from natural or civic
disaster. This course will focus on three guests, each expert in one area of recovery, as well as facilitated
dialogue among the group to make connections across these different areas.

An initial class will be held in the evening of October 9, to discuss themes and approaches to the idea of
recovery. On October 16, 18, and 20, the class will be taught by Michael Obel-Omia. A long-time teacher
of literature and independent-school leader, Michael suffered a substantial stroke at the age of 51, one year
ago. Michael will talk about his experience, and about how his views of several literary texts have changed
as he’s worked on his personal recovery – and how this literature has helped him in his path.

Over lunch on October 27, Northeastern University-Seattle faculty member CJ Walker Waite and Alan Waite
will lead a discussion about approaches to understanding addiction and recovery.

We’ll also be adding a November event at which faculty from Northeastern University’s Global Resilience
Institute will talk about recovery and resilience on a large scale, for societies, communities and
large organizations faced with profound change.

Each course is free and open to the public, and not all are interrelated or cumulative. If you would like to attend all courses, you must RSVP for each separately. Signing up for one does not sign you up for all. We welcome any and all perspectives to the discussion!