The Case for Community Education in the Age of AI

As we navigate the rapid transformation brought by AI, another truth becomes clear: education can’t be reserved for the few. It must belong to everyone.

But real empowerment doesn’t always happen within the walls of a traditional college classroom. In fact, some of the most transformative learning happens outside of it in community centers, libraries, workshops, weekend seminars... even in local burger joints and coffee shops.

Community education and continuous learning (the kind that’s open to all, without the barriers of enrollment, grades, or rigid systems) are some of the most powerful tools we have for building an equitable future. And in this age of automation and accelerated change, we need those tools more than ever.

Breaking Down Barriers to Build People Up

Not everyone has access to traditional institutions of higher education. Some are priced out. Others are balancing family, work, or caregiving responsibilities. Many have been made to feel that education isn’t “for them.” But everyone deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and adapt.

That’s where community education shines. These programs meet people where they are. They don’t require test scores or GPAs. Just a willingness to show up and a desire to grow. And when we remove those artificial barriers, we unlock potential in ways that permeate into families, workplaces, and entire communities.

Whether it’s learning a new language, understanding financial strategies, or diving into AI literacy workshops, these opportunities help individuals improve their personal and professional lives. And by extension, help communities thrive.

The Power of Environment: A Social Cognitive Lens

Social cognitive theory contends that learning isn’t just about personal willpower or intelligence. Success is also shaped by the environment we’re in. According to this theory, people learn by observing others, believing in their ability to succeed, and being part of communities that support their goals.

That means it’s not enough to tell someone to “work harder” or “believe in themselves.” We'll need to build environments that mirror that belief, inclusion, and purpose.

Community education plays a vital role in creating those environments. It fosters learning spaces that are low-pressure, collaborative, and driven by curiosity, not competition. These are the kinds of spaces where learners can try new things, ask questions without fear, and begin to see themselves as capable, evolving individuals.

And when that happens, self-efficacy (the belief that “I can do this”) begins to grow. That belief is what fuels long-term change.

A Human Strategy for a Technological Age

Programs like Navigating Next are leading the way by making education more accessible, inclusive, and human-centered.

By removing traditional barriers and creating supportive environments for learning and growth, they exemplify what community education can and should look like in the age of AI. It’s not just about gaining new skills. It’s also about helping individuals reconnect with purpose, build confidence, and move forward with clarity.

Learning Requires Companionship: Why Connection Powers Growth in the Age of AI

This post is decided to Mrs. Susan Bigelow, my 9th grade English teacher. I never had the chance to tell her how much she's inspired me over the years, by simply believing in me.

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I’ve been sitting with a simple idea. Learning doesn’t happen alone.

We often imagine the path to mastery as a solo pursuit. Push harder. Go deeper. Do it yourself. But in my experience, and in what the research tells us, real learning is deeply relational. It requires companionship. Someone or something to walk with us, to help us process what we’re hearing, seeing, and experiencing.

Sometimes that companion is a teacher. Sometimes it’s a parent, a mentor, or a peer. And in this new era, it may even be AI.

But it’s never just us.

One of the most powerful frameworks in education, Social Cognitive Theory, explains this well. For someone to succeed as a learner, they need three things. First, they need to believe they can succeed. Second, they need to be able to take intentional action toward a goal. And third, they need an environment that supports their growth.

That’s why learning is not just about information. It’s about transformation. It’s about how we think, how we act, and how we make sense of the world around us. And that kind of transformation doesn’t happen in silence. It happens through connection, reflection, and encouragement.

It happens with companionship.

When my daughter, who has Down syndrome, is fully included in a learning environment, something powerful happens. Not just to her, but to everyone around her. People grow through her presence. They become more empathetic. More patient. More curious. More human. Inclusion is not only beneficial to those being included. It strengthens the entire community.

Now that AI is advancing at a pace none of us could have predicted, we are standing at a critical intersection. We can either design tools that isolate learners, or we can build experiences that mirror how humans actually grow. Through feedback. Through trust. Through shared experiences.

AI has the potential to become a learning companion. Not a substitute for human connection, but a presence that adapts and responds to the learner in real time. When designed thoughtfully, it can support growth without replacing the relational moments that define education.

But we have to stay grounded in what we know about learning. We have to remember that even the most intelligent technology cannot replace the feeling of being seen. Of being believed in. Of being understood.

In the end, what we all need is the same thing we have always needed. Someone or something to learn with. A presence that listens. A presence that reflects. A presence that brings out the best in us.

That is how real learning happens. That is how we grow. That is how we become who we are meant to be.