Maplewood of Newtown has kicked off its virtual Maplewood University series and is offering its residents the opportunity to participate in college level classes complete with lectures, assignments, and syllabi organized by a Sandy Hook program leader.

Melissa Wutke, lifestyle director at Maplewood, said the programming came to fruition thanks to the collaboration of the staff and the courses’ professor, Lia Jill Levitt, M.Phil, M.S., CDP.

With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting in-person activities, Levitt and Maplewood employees worked together to innovate Maplewood’s educational offerings to go virtual.

Maplewood University programming began on September 24 with Levitt as the semester’s communications professor.

Levitt is a Sandy Hook resident who left a position in financial services three years ago to follow her dream of inspiring the elderly intellectually. She formed her company, Ain’t She Sweet, LLC, as a tribute to her grandmother.

She also has four years of experience as an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University.

Residents at Maplewood may already know Levitt from her “Live with Lia Jill” talk show, which livestreamed in residents’ rooms at the start of the pandemic.

Levitt’s communications course at Maplewood includes classes labeled Intro to Human Communications, Language and Meaning, Intercultural Communication, Non-Verbal Communication, Self-Perception and Communication, Interpersonal Communication, and Media Literacy.

“While these are the general titles, our conversations cover topics from commuter marriages to who pays for family meals out and dates across generations to the root of inherent biases to subcultures of gift giving within families or analyzing candidates body language during the debates… We discuss new labels for gender, how people dress then and now in the workplace, and what it means to feel attractive at various ages in life,” Levitt explained.

Part of her style of teaching, she says, is to provide interesting forums and widen participants’ views on topics.

“Melissa and I spend many hours late in the evening discussing how to push the envelope with our programming partnership. We are always thinking collaboratively about ways to innovate, excite, and engage,” Levitt said.

Levitt’s hour-long classes take place twice a month and are streamed through Zoom. Residents have access to the stream in a theater setting at Maplewood where residents wear masks and are seated apart from one another.

“Typically, I send Melissa a handout in advance or ask for each resident to have paper for notes/activities and a writing instrument. Careful attention is always paid to ensuring adherence to any COVID prevention efforts,” she explained. “Residents see and hear me on a large screen at the front of the room and I can see and hear them as well. I also present my PowerPoint slides, which they can view while we’re talking. The sound quality is wonderful, and we are all easily able to interact.”

Residents are encouraged to attend the classes regularly to get the most benefit, but the programming is flexible in that residents can select classes in which they wish to participate.

Residents of Maplewood at Newtown who are interested in signing up for Maplewood University classes can contact Melissa Wutke at 203-364-5466. To learn more about Lia Jill Levitt, e-mail her at lia@aintshesweet.net or visit aintshesweet.net.