Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
Driving Economic Transformation
This event will shine light on how healthcare has changed over the years, what we used to do, what we do now, and why those changes happened.
Must have an active Wonder membership to attend.
Registration closes on May 4.
Presented by Dan River Year Community Health Educator AmeriCorps members.
Come learn how to use Canva, an online design tool, in an introductory class at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. Canva can be used to design and create:
Use Canva’s drag-and-drop feature and layouts to design, share, and print flyers, business cards, presentations, cover photos, and more! This class is for beginners.
Wonder Member Cost: $45
Wonder Member Seniors (60+), Veterans and Educators Cost: $40
Non-Wonder Member Cost: $50
Non-Wonder Member Seniors (60+), Veterans and Educators Cost: $45
Student (K-12, College) $35
For payment options such as pay by check or cash at the workshop, please contact Brian Stanley at 434.766.6745.
Minimum enrollment: 6 | Maximum enrollment: 11
Instructor Brian Stanley, Advanced Learning Coordinator II at IALR.
Come learn advanced function formulas, how to track inventory, and how to pull information from client lists. Track spending, calculate interest rates, set up checking account ledgers, create budgets and more. If you have a lot of data and need help pulling out the information you need, this course is for you.
Wonder Member Cost: $45
Wonder Member Seniors (60+), Veterans and Educators Cost: $40
Non-Wonder Member Cost: $50
Non-Wonder Member Seniors (60+), Veterans and Educators Cost: $45
Student (K-12, College) $35
For payment options such as pay by check or cash at the workshop, please contact Brian Stanley at 434.766.6745.
Minimum enrollment: 6 | Maximum enrollment: 11
Instructor Ron Shaffer, Senior Lecturer for the University of North Carolina Greensboro – Bryan School of Business and Economics
This high-energy, international dance workshop is led by Ismael Cano alongside featured instructors Chante Elam and Safiya Hunter. Together, they guide participants through fun, easy-to-follow choreography inspired by rhythms from around the world. The workshop focuses on joyful movement, cultural diversity, and community connection, creating an inclusive environment where participants can move, sweat, and celebrate international dance—no prior experience required.
Meet the Instructors
Ismael Cano
With over 15 years of experience, Ismael Cano is an international rhythms dance instructor known for his energetic, diverse, and engaging teaching style. He teaches at the YMCA in Martinsville, Virginia, has led workshops across North Carolina and Georgia, and has taught internationally in Mexico and Brazil. He also runs a growing YouTube channel, “Ismael Dancing,” dedicated to dance and global rhythms.
Chante Elam
Chante Elam is a dynamic dancer and lead student instructor who brings confidence, power, and joy to every class. Frequently featured on Ismael’s YouTube channel, Chante is known for her strong presence, high energy, and ability to motivate participants of all levels. She also serves as the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Career Services Coordinator at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).
Safiya Hunter
Safiya Hunter is a passionate dancer and lead student instructor recognized for her vibrant style, musicality, and welcoming energy. A regular collaborator on Ismael’s YouTube channel, Safiya helps create an inclusive, fun environment that encourages everyone to move freely and confidently.
Ismael’s “Why” Statement
I do this work because dance is a universal language that brings people together, builds confidence, and creates joy. Movement has the power to connect cultures, break barriers, and help people feel comfortable expressing themselves. Teaching international rhythms allows me to share global traditions while creating an energetic, welcoming space where people of all backgrounds can feel inspired, empowered, and part of a community.
Minimum enrollment: 15 | Maximum enrollment: 25
Member Cost $10 | Non-Member Cost $20 | Student Cost $5
Registration closes on April 21st at noon.
Partnership with New College Institute’s (NCI) Learning is ForEver (LIFE) Program.
Welcome to the world of Microsoft Excel. In this foundation course, we will make organizing data, completing basic calculations, creating charts and graphs, and other workplace functions simple with Microsoft Excel. If you have never worked with Excel, this course will open your eyes to the possibilities. With an understanding of basic formulas, spreadsheets can help you track your day-to-day business.
Wonder Member Cost: $45
Wonder Member Seniors (60+), Veterans and Educators Cost: $40
Non-Wonder Member Cost: $50
Non-Wonder Member Seniors (60+), Veterans and Educators Cost: $45
Student (K-12, College) $35
For payment options such as pay by check or cash at the workshop, please contact Brian Stanley at 434.766.6745.
Minimum enrollment: 6 | Maximum enrollment: 11
Instructor Ron Shaffer, Senior Lecturer for the University of North Carolina Greensboro – Bryan School of Business and Economics
Come learn how to use Canva, an online design tool, in an introductory class at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. Canva can be used to design and create:
Use Canva’s drag-and-drop feature and layouts to design, share, and print flyers, business cards, presentations, cover photos, and more! This class is for beginners.
Wonder Member Cost: $45
Wonder Member Seniors (60+), Veterans and Educators Cost: $40
Non-Wonder Member Cost: $50
Non-Wonder Member Seniors (60+), Veterans and Educators Cost: $45
Student (K-12, College) $35
For payment options such as pay by check or cash at the workshop, please contact Brian Stanley at 434.766.6745.
Minimum enrollment: 6 | Maximum enrollment: 11
Instructor Brian Stanley, Advanced Learning Coordinator II at IALR.
Helping participants discover or reconnect with their “why” to drive motivation and achievement.
In a world filled with constant noise, competing priorities, and shifting expectations, many people lose sight of what truly fuels their passion and direction. “The Power of Purpose: Reconnecting With What Drives You” is an inspiring and interactive workshop designed to help participants pause, reflect, and realign with their deeper sense of meaning.
This workshop guides attendees through a thoughtful exploration of personal values, strengths, and life experiences, uncovering the core motivations that shape their goals and everyday choices. Participants will learn how purpose acts as a stabilizing force—giving clarity during uncertainty, increasing resilience in the face of challenges, and reigniting motivation when burnout or distraction takes hold.
Through reflection exercises, group dialogue, and practical tools, this session empowers individuals to:
Whether you are entering a new season, preparing for a major transition, or simply want to start the year with intention, this workshop provides the insight, inspiration, and momentum needed to move forward with confidence and meaning.
Presented by Sherlina Thomas, Ph.D., MSW, Assistant Director for Student Support Services – Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).
Minimum enrollment: 15 | Maximum enrollment: 30
This workshop is hybrid; the Zoom link will be emailed to all registered members.
Registration closes on January 8th at noon.
Join us as Erika Saunders leads us into the world of gluten-free cooking with a pre-class Italian Charcuterie board with cubed cheese, Italian meats, grapes, olives, dried fruit, and gluten-free crackers. Followed by an Italian salad and pepperoni calzone with a dipping sauce and tiramisu for dessert.
Red wine available – limited to 2 per member.
Presented by Erika Saunders, IT Business and Data Analyst II at the City of Danville.
Registration and payment deadlines are due by 5 pm on November 10th.
Dinner Cost is $50. You will receive a link to pay for dinner after you register.
Limited to 16 members.
Join us to learn the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a vibrant Mexican holiday that honors life after death. Discover the colorful altars, symbolic offerings, and meaningful rituals that families create to remember and celebrate their loved ones who have passed. Learn about the history, cultural significance, and unique customs that make this holiday so special. Understand why Day of the Dead continues to be cherished in Mexican culture and how it transforms mourning into a joyful celebration of life, memory, and community.
Presented by Edith Overby, – STEM and Literacy Tutor at Schoolfield Elementary School.
Limited to 20 members.
Take a trip to St. Louis through our Taste of St. Louis cooking class, where we will learn how to create toasted ravioli, Gerber crostinis, a St. Louis-style pizza with a side salad, and finish with a gooey butter cake for dessert!
Featuring a cocktail of Cardinal Cooler Vodka, cranberry juice, Sprite, and bitters (2 drinks per person).
Presented by Chef John Clark, Megabytes Cafe, and Tim Holland, Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Additive Manufacturing Instructor at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.
Registration and payment deadlines are due by noon on August 5th.
Dinner Cost is $50. You will receive a link to pay for dinner after you register.
Limited to 16 members.
Learn the secrets to perfect smoked brisket, pork butt, ribs, and BBQ chicken in this flavor-packed class. We’ll also whip up German and country potato salads, homemade baked beans, and explore regional BBQ sauces like Kansas City and Carolina styles. Great for BBQ lovers ready to level up their cookout game!
The cost for dinner is $35 and you must have an active Wonder membership.
Registration and payment deadlines are due June 6th.
Limited to 16 members.
Presented by Chef John Clark.
The May 2025 edition of IALR at a Glance is packed with exciting news and updates! Learn more about…
Deep Listening and Radical Vulnerability, Laugh and Play
The connection between listening and mental wellbeing is profound. New York psychiatrist and co-founder of Narativ, Dr Paul Browde, stresses that the act of deep listening counters the isolation many of us experience. “In a world filled with noise – both literal and metaphorical – many people are starved for the experience of being truly listened to,” he says. This lack of deep listening often leads to loneliness, depression and alienation.
Listening requires vulnerability – not just from the speaker but also from the listener. Brené Brown, social researcher, author and expert on vulnerability, argues that empathy is impossible without deep listening. Empathy, she explains, involves “feeling with people,” which requires setting aside our own thoughts to understand someone else’s emotions.
Brown emphasizes that empathy is not about offering advice or fixing problems but rather about acknowledging another person’s feelings. In her TED Talk, The Power of Vulnerability, she says, “Rarely can a response make something better. What makes something better is connection.” This connection is nurtured through listening with empathy, allowing both the speaker and listener to feel more connected and understood.
Presented by Chad Martin
Registration deadline: 5/22/2025.
A minimum number of 12 participants is required, and a maximum number of participants is 30.
Dining Etiquette- learning the essentials of table manners and proper utensil usage.
Presented by Yvette Bethel, Owner of All Forks Etiquette Consulting.
Yvette’s Why!
As a foster parent, I’ve had the privilege of caring for children from diverse backgrounds. I noticed a significant gap in their etiquette skills. Many of them had not been exposed to the social norms and manners that are essential to succeed in school settings and social gatherings. I also witnessed adults lacking some of the same skills during this realization. This sparked my passion to become an etiquette consultant. I aim to equip children and adults with the tools they need to build confidence and establish and improve positive relationships. I recognize that the benefits of etiquette extend far beyond childhood. Therefore, through my work as an etiquette consultant, I strive to create inclusive programs that address the needs of both children and adults. The emphasis is on communication, respect, honesty, and cultural awareness. Possession of these skills will create a more courteous and empathetic society, one interaction at a time.
Registration deadline: 4/16/2025.
A minimum number of four participants is required, and a maximum number of participants is 12.
Join the Wonder Community and Megabytes at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) for an immersive culinary experience with Chef John Clark, where you’ll learn to craft the five fundamental mother sauces (Béchamel, Velouté, Espagnole, Tomato, and Hollandaise) and perfect the essential knife cuts. Bring your knives to practice precision cutting techniques and discover how to sharpen and maintain your blades for professional-level results properly. Elevate your kitchen skills with hands-on guidance from our expert chef!
The cost for dinner is $30.
Registration and payment for dinner is due by 3.4.25
Limited to 16 members.
Presented by Chef John Clark
Discover the art of glass etching with Wonder Community’s Brian Stanley! Bring a glass item (like a mug or cup), but make sure it’s not Pyrex, acrylic, or plastic!
Partnership with New College Insitute’s Learning is ForEver (LIFE) Program.
Members should use the NCI registration link here to register.
Registration deadline: 3/18/2025.
Join Brian at the Ruby B. Archie Public Library as he explains and demonstrates the popular at-home die-cutting crafting machine.
Members will need to register using the Ruby B. Archie Public Library link.
Limited to 14 spots.
*If you are not a member of the Wonder Community yet, please complete the New Member Registration Form.
Join us for an engaging 90-minute workshop filled with practical tips, lively discussions, and a fun physical activity session to wrap things up!
Presented by REACH AmeriCorps
Registration closes on January 16th at 11 PM.
Limited to 20 spots.
The December 2024 edition of IALR at a Glance is jam-packed with exciting news and updates! Learn more about…
In part two of the 3D printing class, members will receive their 3D -printed Christmas ornaments and see their Tinkercad designs brought to life. We will watch the 3D printers in action as they print miniature benches, gaining hands-on insights into the printer process and troubleshooting tips.
Hosted by Tim Holland, ATDM Precision Manufacturing Lab Technician; Jacob Taylor, GO TEC Technical & Training Manager and Chris Griffith, GOTEC Training Coordinator (Region 3).
Limited to 16
In this two-part 3D printing class, members will learn the basics of 3D design using Tinkercad, an intuitive tool for creating digital models. Part one introduces members to the essentials of 3D printing technology, exploring how it works and its various applications while guiding them through their first Tinkercad projects to create Christmas ornaments.
Hosted by Tim Holland, ATDM Precision Manufacturing Lab Technician; Jacob Taylor, GO TEC Technical & Training Manager and Chris Griffith, GOTEC Training Coordinator (Region 3).
Limited to 16
The November 2024 edition of IALR at a Glance is jam-packed with exciting news and updates! Learn more about…
Create a step-by-step painting of a winter-themed painting.
Presented by Brian Stanley, Program Coordinator.
Registration closes on January 21st at 11 PM.
Limited to 15 spots.
