Why Clemente?
Are you looking for an opportunity to exchange ideas and ask questions? A way to connect with your community? A place to grow and become a better citizen? A safe place to get a taste of higher education?
Jefferson Clemente offers students the ability to take a college-level course in the humanities— covering topics such as art history, literature, philosophy and history— completely tuition free! The course is based on the belief that anyone, if given the opportunity and support, can acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to enrich and transform their life.
All tuition, books, course materials, childcare, and transportation costs, as needed, are FREE to qualified students.
Eligible students will be over 17 years of age, have the ability to read a newspaper in English, belong to a household with income that is no more than 200% of the poverty level, and will have a willingness to do the assignments and complete the course. No previous college experience is required.
How Does it Work?
The Jefferson Clemente course costs nothing financially. All fees for tuition, books, course materials, travel expenses, and childcare will be waived for qualified students. Transferable credit is available through Bard College for those who might want to continue their college education.
No previous college experience is necessary. Students do not need a high school diploma or GED to participate.
Curriculum
The upcoming Clemente course focuses on the theme of Metamorphosis. The idea of metamorphosis, or transformation runs through myths of the ancient world. These myths survived thousands of years of history and are represented in contemporary psychology, art, and literature. This course introduces students to some of the classical texts undergirding Western culture, reflecting on their relevance to current cultural transformation stories.
We also explore myths of native cultures of the Pacific Northwest, investigating how some of the themes and characters represented in North Coast Tales of the supernatural resemble and relate to those represented in Homer, Ovid, and others from classical antiquity.
The Art and Art History portion of the course incorporates art works that embody the idea of transformation, drawing on examples from ancient history up through the present day. Students have an opportunity to explore their own transformation stories through a variety of media. The course weaves practices for mindful self-awareness into the academic experience, providing an entry point for personal reflection and expression.
Studying the humanities offers us a way to understand our past, to think critically about the present, and to prepare for the future. By discovering ourselves through rich and diverse readings, and discussing our ideas with our peers, we become more connected to the world around us—locally and globally—in a way that helps us gain confidence and courage in who we are, even as the world seems to change abruptly before our very eyes.
Faculty
For the February-May 2023 Jefferson Clemente Course, we have four faculty members:
Johnny Horton teaches English at Seattle Central College, where he serves as
faculty advisor to the award-winning Seattle Collegian newspaper. He has also taught
with the Clemente Veterans’ Initiative cosponsored by Antioch University.
Carol Light is a poet and teacher. In the last ten years, she has taught college writing
courses at the University of Washington, Peninsula College, Olympic College, and the
University of Iowa. She also taught in the Port Townsend School District.
Heather McRae-Woolf (Academic Director) is a facilitator, community builder, and mindfulness instructor. She has taught in classrooms from Kindergarten through college and beyond. Heather currently serves as Program Director with the Benji Project in Jefferson County, teaching Mindful Self-Compassion to teens and their families.
Dana Weir is an artist, art educator, and student of mindfulness. She is the Art Specialist at Swan School, in Port Townsend. She offers art lessons and workshops through the Northwind Art School. Dana is committed to teaching and studying art from a social justice perspective, keeping diversity, equity and inclusion at the center of her practice.
What Do Former Students Have to Say?
The beautiful thing about the Clemente Course is how accessible it is to all walks of life – the free thinkers, those who never graduated high school, and even those who have college degrees. Being a single mom, I was anxious in my first class and felt overwhelmed as it had been years since I had been in a classroom setting. I almost gave up, but I craved the adult conversation and it quickly became empowering. The Clemente course is the ultimate gift: education and free thinking. It is based on personal accountability and supports those who have a thirst for higher education but would normally not have access to it. Being apart of something so enriching has reshaped my view of the world and completely redefined my personal values and goals. - Liz
I am a mature student and lifelong learner. As a non-traditional student, I found it very hard to get through the rigors of regular classes. After years of transfers and multiple colleges, I was left with an incomplete transcript.... So, I waited to get into Clemente. It was great! I could express what I did know and what I did not know, without fear of being penalized. Thanks so much for all the teachers at Clemente making learning fun! - Lisa