Quid Novi thought-leader group to discuss language, longevity

LOVELAND — Quid Novi, a thought-leader group that attempts to find innovative solutions to issues, will host a discussion July 28 about how language can broaden the capacity of the brain to process information and how language can forestall mental decline.

Guest speaker will be Helga Julien, a Fort Collins resident who grew up in Hamburg, Germany and speaks English, German and French fluently, with a lesser command of Dutch and Russian. She remembers her son returning home from school one day and remarking, “Did you know that some of the kids speak just one language?” For the boy, speaking just one language was something remarkable because the Julien household spoke several.

Julien said knowing more than one language and paying attention to the world provide a broader perspective on humankind and open doors to new discoveries.

“During a sabbatical in 1984, I fell in love with Colorado and its endless outdoor possibilities,” she said. She had earned master’s degrees in economics, finance and history in Hamburg, and, after having worked for several German companies, started teaching economics and history at several German colleges before coming to the United States.

She earned a doctorate in contemporary European history and American diplomatic history at the University of Colorado Boulder in 1989, then lived in several European countries before returning to Colorado in 1992, teaching history classes at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and CU. She continued to pursue her business and cultural interests by doing cross-cultural training for companies after becoming a certified trainer.

The July showcase will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Forge Events Center Collaboratory Room, 815 14th St. SW in Loveland. A $20 admission will be charged, which includes hors d’oeuvres. Drinks will be available for purchase.

Fort Collins resident Rick Griggs founded Quid Novi, Latin for “what’s new,” in 2010 to cross boundaries for innovation and collaboration while encouraging participants to think and discover new ideas.

Participants at the July event will also have a chance to meet with published authors who join the monthly Book Expo, a part of every Quid Novi event.

Quid Novi meets the last Tuesday of most months, skipping May and December. Future events include Chuck Morris and the Colorado music scene in August, “The Antidote to Self Harm” in September and the “Ghost Bike Paradox” in October.

More information and pre-registration information is online at QuidNovi.io.

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