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Alverno College is offering a series of courses designed to help people embrace change, and learn how to harness the power of creativity to inspire change within themselves and in the greater community. Led by Wisconsin Poet Laureate Dasha Kelly Hamilton, the Spark Series is a new virtual program from Alverno’s School of Adult Learning and New Initiatives, and students who complete the entire program will earn a professional certificate.

Hamilton is a writer, performance artist, curator and facilitator who leverages the creative process to bring about human and social wellness. She has written for national magazines, produced three collections of poetry, recorded four spoken word CDs, and published two novels. Through her non-profit, Still Waters Collective, Hamilton has created literary arts programming for 20 years, and her work has taken her to Botswana, Beirut and the island of Mauritius. “When we think about changing anything – our jobs, our hair color, last names, routines – we tend to start at ‘when.’ But authentic and lasting change begins with an examination of ‘how and why,’” said Hamilton. “My life’s work has been realigning individuals and initiatives to purpose and progress. I’ve enjoyed translating my three decades of experience and advice as a creative change agent into a hands-on series about managing and effecting change, especially at this time.”

The virtual course consists of six units lasting five weeks each. Registration is open to women and men, and no college degree is required to enroll. Classes begin February 23, and students may enroll in a specific unit or the entire series. Discounted tuition is available to members of nonprofit organizations. For more information or to register visit alverno.edu/spark.

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About Alverno College

Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.

A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For the past two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.

Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.