02/02/2026
Greetings Everyone,
I invite you to join the conversation regarding cultivating cultures of lifelong learning in alignment with the learning cities initiative.
Zoom Link: https://fielding-edu.zoom.us/j/82476563869
Zoom ID: 824 7656 3869
Please join Dr. Earl Thomas, Chair of Adult Learning, HOD Professor and Interim Director of the Doctor of Education Program for the next Malcolm Knowles Think Tank session titled: Adult Education's Call to Action.
Dr. Ramo Lord of Ball State University, whose expertise spans instructional design, adult learner needs and characteristics, adult learning theories, community engagement & capacity building, qualitative research, critical thinking, and workplace learning along with years of research experience working with diverse populations, will lead this session.
10/12/2023
FIRST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING is TONIGHT, October 11th, 2023 from 5 to 7pm. Please join us if you care about .
After years of preparation and collaboration, an updated Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Environmental Justice Policy https://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/OfficeofEnvironmentalJustice/Pages/Summaries-and-Documents.aspx
is available for official public comment from September 16, 2023 - Oct. 29, 2023.
DEP will host three virtual community public meetings & nine in-person community public meetings during the month of October 2023 to accept verbal public comment.
Written public comment are also welcomed via the Department's online eComment tool or email at [email protected]. Read the updated policy, view the public hearing dates, and learn how to comment at the EJ Policy Revision webpage.
We need you! DEP has listened to stakeholder feedback, drafted a revised policy based on input, and now it’s your turn to comment on the interim final Environmental Justice Policy. Learn more about the policy, sign up to participate in one of the nine community public meetings or submit public comments via the website.
➡️ dep.pa.gov/EJPolicyRevision
EJ Policy Revision
EJ Policy Update – Was adopted as interim final on September 16. This policy will apply to permit applications submitted after September 16 and other DEP work going forward from that point. Applications submitted before September 16 will still fall under the 2004 Environmental Justice Public Parti...
01/30/2023
Building a stronger workforce and a more resilient community through continuing education and training programs. Join a conversation with Feb 2, 2023. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvcOigqz0rGdWZM7VG3LTSbElvp7KrUWO0
09/30/2022
If we dream it - We can be it ... Agree? Many times, this is not the case. Over three dozen communities in the Greater Pittsburgh Region have been below the poverty line for over 35 years. Regardless of the party in power or the myriad community-based organizations (CBOs) and other non-profits focused on community literacy and capacity building. As a community educator, we can visualize what the community is calling for and what it can be to improve the lives of the people and creating a supportive and sustainable community for all. The Learning Cities Guiding Documents states, "stakeholders and citizens are more likely to contribute to building learning communities if decisions are made in a participatory way" (p. 8).
However, stakeholders also have visions and ideals based on their observations and experiences in the community, the people, and what they believe are the associated needs for a community education program. And many of them are either a community leader or a business owner in the community. The tension between individuals (or factions) as opposed to the vibrancy of the greater community becomes the conflict. This is where adult and community educators must balance the line between the complexity of competing interests leading from conflict to complementarity visions and chaos to community cohesion.
So, the question / concern becomes how resiliency is established, promoted, and sustained if there are conceptually diverse ideals and little movement towards operationalizing the idealism (vision) through an actionable plan with accompanying formative assessments.
Community educators can appreciate the people and the various stakeholders and dream what the community is calling for and what that will look like. However, they must negotiate what they have identified as the ideal in what the community and its people are calling for leveraged against the pragmatic side of time, energy, resources, buy-in, etc. Being a steward brings with it walking the fine line between "vision and reality." How many times have you heard the phrase - we have always done it that way? When developing community education programs, even those that are informed by an insightful and complete needs assessments and credible analysis, are met with people or situations that tend to hold back the progress even though the community and environment have changed.
Henton et al. (2004) posit two practical challenges to address the existing tension between idealism and pragmatism:
>The challenge of powerful ideas: from wishful thinking to visionary pragmatism
>The challenge of perseverance: from diverse leaders to regional stewards
What are your thoughts and perceptions on these two challenges? Think of your community. What would be wishful thinking that would provide a series of community education programs for improving the community, its people, and building resiliency of place?
09/27/2022
Do you have something you want to share with the adult basic education community? Please consider submitting a proposal for the 2023 conference. Deadline for proposal submission is October 15th. Click on the link below for further information.
https://coabe.org/2023-coabe-conference-presenter-resources/
09/14/2022
CHECK THIS OUT! An excellent exploration of our history in the Greater Pittsburgh Region! Mother Jones
THIS Sat. Sept. 17, 2022, 8:00 pm — Battle of Homestead Foundation & Calliope House present an *in-person* stage performance of "Mother Jones in Heaven" at University of Pittsburgh’s Henry Heymann Theatre on the Pitt-Oakland Campus.
Order tickets at https://tinyurl.com/27xkrym6 and hear what Mother Jones has to say about tackling today’s societal issues!
"Mother Jones in Heaven" — Vivian Nesbitt Stars in Si Kahn Musical
Vivian Nesbitt stars as legendary labor activist Mary “Mother” Jones in stage play by acclaimed singer/songwriter Si Kahn
01/28/2026
01/31/2023
09/30/2022
09/27/2022
09/14/2022