Wednesday, Jan. 09 2013 9:00AM

Brown Museum to video conference with residents of John Knox Village

Through their association with the Senior Learning Network, John Knox Village saves costs and brings quality programming to residents who may not be able to travel to see them first hand. The Brown Museum in Topeka is offering a reenactment, which is brought to residents through interactive video conferencing. It features the wife of the principal at a black school, Monroe Elementary where the National Historic Site is today. She tells the story what it was like in Topeka before and after the Brown v. Board of Education court case.

John Knox Village is a test site for a new company that provides learning experiences to retirees – The Senior Learning Network. During the past year John Knox residents have enjoyed programs from the Kansas City Zoo, the World War I Museum, the National Archives, Hallmark Cards and Truman Library. Although hesitant at first, residents quickly learned that they could speak to the people appearing on the big screen and they would respond.

With 10,000 people a day turning 65, it is important to find ways for them to stay engaged and to keep their brains healthy. Studies conducted at research facilities, including Harvard, Duke, and Johns Hopkins Universities, showed that keeping brains stimulated helps retain mental alertness as people age. The brain physically responds to enriching mental activities. Scientists discovered that even an aging brain can grow new connections and pathways when challenged and stimulated.

The Brown Museum is part of the National Parks system and is able to offer its program at no cost. Other organizations charge a fee to offset the costs of providing the workshops.