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Community Education: Learning on Many Levels

For many people, community education in its most common form refers to the study and training opportunities offered to individuals "after hours" at various educational centers; or through the direction of various online communities that may or may not be regionally specific. Whether one is interested in learning painting techniques for pleasure, holistic healing methods to utilize, automobile mechanic skills for future self-employment, or simply taking a group retreat to a nearby spa, local options often exist. However, as society continues to evolve, the idea of offering various educational classes on a community basis is also reevaluated and reoriented to the needs of the neighborhood. Another direction of communities that support is through the growing interest of online communities.

First, let's focus on the more traditional communities. The mission of the National Center for Community Education is "to promote community and educational change emphasizing community schools by providing state-of-the-art leadership development, training, and technical assistance." At the same time, the National Community Education Association (NCEA) aims to serve the purpose of "providing academic, recreation, health, social service, and work-preparation programs for people of all ages" and for all members including, but not limited to, "individuals, schools, businesses, and public and private organizations." Individuals interested in working towards addressing the needs and desires of a district can actually pursue a degree in community education; those who are already involved with such critical work can continue their own learning by participating in various educational-development programs.

But what about the changing patterns of our communities? As family dynamics become more diverse, concerns for the environment escalate, and the average age of the general population continues to rise, the educational needs of the area's residents are also in a state of flux. While the requirements of young children of "yesteryear" were once handled by such organizations as the YMCA, YWCA, and the Boys and Girls Club, today's youth are faced with numerous challenges and few places to handle such needs. Senior citizens who are now living longer want to continue learning as they age. Many environmentally and/or spiritually oriented groups have created their own eco-communities or spiritual centers for living and learning.

Perhaps today's societal needs are best approached by taking a holistic approach and looking at our communities as both needing an area that people retreat to at the end of a day as well as a center of activity that can provide valuable learning lessons beyond those that occur within the confines of an educational center. Any area can teach its members compassion for the homeless, tolerance for those labeled as "different," and love for all members of the area regardless if they are of the same culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other distinguishing classification. It is simply a matter of treating such educational opportunities as a priority and not merely a luxury expense of time, energy, and local resources.

Whether community education occurs on the level of creating business partnerships or encourages holistic retreats for its area's members to join together in a common goal, the role of such learning on a neighborhood and regional basis will continue to be of great importance. Become involved with the advancement of your little piece of the world in whatever manner you can. One action may be creating an online community for your area. Another could be your invovement in one of the already created educational or spiritual communities. All will benefit, including yourself.

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