Community Education Committee reaches out to the community by providing programs and engaging in campus and community projects that enhance the understanding of our region and foster community involvement.

On-going educational programs include:

• Leadership Asheville Seniors — now in its 23rd year, provides retirement aged people in Buncombe County in-depth understanding of the area's history, people, institutions, challenges, and opportunities. During eight day-long sessions in a variety of locations around the community, participants meet with community leaders, activists, and politicians to gain knowledge while reevaluating their choice of volunteer roles or finding new ones.
  more info
• Blue Ridge Naturalist offers classes, field studies, and workshops designed to provide residents of western North Carolina with an opportunity to learn more about the natural world and cultural heritage of our mountains taught by experts in each field of study.
  more info
• Leadership Training for Older Persons provides leadership training program for underserved adults aged 50 years and older from low-income or minority communities. The program is designed to enable participants to gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to become effective leaders and to advocate for their peers in the community.
  more info
• Smith Barney Intergenerational Computer Mentoring Program — supported by a grant from Citigroup Foundation, offers low-income and minority seniors classes in beginner computer skills. Classes are taught by UNCA undergraduates.
  more info

Outreach projects are time-defined collaborations with campus and community organizations and provide opportunity for our members to volunteer their expertise and skills. Current projects include:

• Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Project provides accurate information about Medicare and insurance issues to anyone in the community.
  Contact Kenn Haring kennharing@charter.net.
• Support Team offers assistance and emotional support to Reuter Center members in need. Training provided.
  Contact Michelle Rogers mrogers@unca.edu or 828-250-3871.
• Intergenerational Volunteer Opportunities provides guest speakers for UNC Asheville classes especially in management, psychology, physics and engineering as well as conference moderators for Undergraduate Research Conferences.
  Contact Howard Jaslow innovalg@aol.com.
• Feeding Hope Food Drive collaborates with Manna Food Bank to provide Center members opportunities to help provide meals to families in WNC through periodic, on-site food collection drives.
  Contact Tom Doebber crickside@charter.net.
• Intergenerational Classes collaborates with Early College of Buncombe County Schools to provide a unique educational opportunity for Center members and exceptional high school students to explore myths, half-truths and realities of coming of age in America and what it means to really “grow up!”
  Contact John Curtis 828.246.0459 jcurtis@iodinc.com.

Subcommittees and Work Groups comprised of Center members and staff liaison plan, implement and evaluate programs and projects. Go to a separate page and include this:

• Leadership Team: Plans and carries out the annual Leadership Asheville Senior program.
  Contact Michelle Rogers mrogers@unca.edu 828-250-3871.
• Naturalist Advisory Team: Advises on curriculum for Blue Ridge Nauturalist program.
  Contact Mike McCreary mmcrear@unca.edu.
• Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Team: Provides personal assistance to those seeking information about Medicare and insurance including help with on-line registration for benefits. Provides training for new volunteers.
  Contact Kenn Haring kennharing@charter.net.
• Support Team: Provides practical and emotional help to individuals and families in need. Provides training for new volunteers.
  Contact Michelle Rogers mrogers@unca.edu 828-250-3871.
• Intergenerational Volunteer Team: Provides speakers for UNC Asheville classes, when requested and provides moderators for Undergraduate Research Conferences. Assesses other intergenerational opportunities on campus.
  Contact Howard Jaslow innovalg@aol.com.
• Feeding Hope Food Drive Team: Plans and implements food drives at the Retuer Center and educational opportunities to teach members about hunger issues in WNC.
  Contact Tom Doebber crickside@charter.net.

Committee Minutes

For more information contact Community Education chair Doug Williams dhwilliams2@gmail.com