[AAACE-NLA] Regional Lifelong Learning Communities

[David Collings]

The following message is sent on behalf of Amy Rose (arose at niu.edu).

David C.

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Dear Colleagues, 

This is a reminder about the conference on Regional Lifelong Learning
Communities that AAACE will be hosting in Chicago on April 11. The deadline for
conference registration is April 7, 2008. We have made arrangements for a
reduced rate at the Chicago Marriott at Medical District/UIC. 

For full details, please visit our website at www.cedu.niu.edu/~rose 

If you are an AAACE member you will be receiving another copy of this e-mail
addressed to you as an AAACE member. If you do not receive this e-mail, then we
don't have you on our membership list, so please contact me if you think you are
a member. 

Amy Rose
AAACE President 

A brief outline of the purpose is below.  

The American Association of Adult and Continuing Education invites you to a
gathering of community, economic, educational, and non-profit leaders working to
build community health and well-being through an innovative investment of
regional learning and partnership. 

Date and Location 

Friday, April 11, 2008
West Side Technical Institute
2800 South Western Ave.
Chicago, Illinois  60608

The cost for the meeting, including breakfast, lunch, breaks, and room rental
will be $70.00.  

Problem and Purpose   

In his recent article entitles Divided We Fall published in the Chicago Tribune
( 2008) Richard Longworth finds the Midwest (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri) a collection of towns and
cities grappling on their own with the pressures of globalization.   

I found a Midwest where the states, all relics of the 19th century politics, are
too small and parochial to even understand global economic trends much less
adapt to them; where all strategic thinking, dominated by the great state
universities, stays locked within state lines.  I found experts-scholars,
politicians, business people-who knew their own states global challenges but had
almost no idea what was happening next door.

Longworth's solution is to promote a common future for states that share many of
the same problems.  He calls for a Midwestern think tank which brings together
representatives of the public and private sectors to insert regional thinking
into policy development.  Lifelong learning is the crucial engine for such
innovation.

The aim of this meeting is to review issues, which have emerged from research
and practice undertaken with a focus on regional policy development.  Regional
policy develops around common interests of diverse populations transcending
municipal boundaries.  Such policy integrates social and economic goals.
Lifelong learning provides the vehicle for innovation and sustainable
development.  This conference responds to the growing international demand for
expertise, which can be mobilized to support initiatives related to place that
enhance social cohesion through an appreciation of diversity.  

The term Learning Region has been used throughout the world to express the idea
that multiple players have a role in promoting and facilitating learning that
develops economic and social well being of their locality.  This work will build
on the work of Larry Swanson who has developed an approach to economic
revitalization predicated on examination of both economic and quality-of-life
issues within regional contexts. This consultation will begin a process of
regional definition and the ways that that data can be collected and integrated
into a lifelong learning community context.  Engagement for area institutions of
higher institutions will provide a focus for future action.

This proposed consultation will examine the Great Lakes Region, with Chicago as
its hub. It will utilize economic data to identify the major economic strengths
of the region and the various strands of economic strength.   While the Great
Lakes Region will be featured, general application of principles will be
discussed.

Sponsorship 

This consultation will be a collaborative effort. It will bring together groups
interested in  regional problem solving. The American Association of Adult
Continuing Education as the umbrella association will facilitate this process
and spearhead the development of tools, methodology, and strategies for lifelong
learning communities.   The focus will be on economic and workforce development.

Invited Speakers

James LaBelle, Vice President of Chicago Metropolis 2020.  Chicago Metropolis
2020 is a leader in developing regional strategy where resources are honored and
opportunities enjoyed by a broad spectrum of society.  

Michael Osborne, Co-director of PASCAL.  PASCAL is a not-for-profit
international consortium to promote the exchange of cutting edge best practice
research, ideas and policies about place management, social capital as well as
learning cities and regions.  PASCAL draws on cross-disciplinary and
trans-national ideas and practices to stimulate innovative policy development
and implementation.
  
Bill McMillan, City Colleges of Chicago.  City Colleges of Chicago have been a
leader in regional policy and practice, particularly in the field of workforce
development.

Anticipated Outcomes 

Development of tools and strategies suited to regional problem solving.
Integration of these within the Chicago metropolitan region through partnership.
Methodologies for regional development through lifelong learning communities. 
Proposals for future regional learning projects. 
Contact list of conference participants.