02/12/09 - Learning Link kicks off with action team meetings

By Kathryn Bassett

 

AUBURN —DeKalb County Learning Link kicked off this week with action teams setting targets and discussing ways to progress toward a community vision.

 

DeKalb County Learning Link is a new initiative of the DeKalb County Community Foundation. From the efforts of a Community Vision Committee and public input, DeKalb County Learning Link has announced a vision of “Working together through continuous learning to improve the quality of life for all in DeKalb County.”

 

With the new vision at the core of the initiative, three action teams will focus on areas of early childhood education, kindergarten through grade 12 education and adult education.

 

Action teams met Tuesday and Wednesday at the Willennar Genealogy Center in Auburn and began discussing the challenge of progressing toward the vision. Nationally recognized consultant Jay Connor, who was hired to guide the Community Vision Committee, returned to Auburn for the action team kick-off.

 

Connor said action teams must set a clear target and, using existing resources and programs, “build an arrow” that will hit the target.

 

“In every community there are a whole slew of activities. In many cases they are disconnected,” Connor said. “It’s not about creating another patchwork quilt … it’s understanding that it’s about engaging the community.”

 

During Tuesday’s adult education action team meeting, group members discussed opportunities for advancement in communities, the availability of jobs that provide a living wage, an increase in graduation rates and dispelling an apathy toward education in communities.

 

“That’s a tough nut to crack,” said team member Bob Menzie, referring to apathy toward education. “I’d hope that what this could accomplish is to change that mindset.”

 

The action teams will continue to meet monthly until the summer.