Shared gifts, knowledge at Local Learning Labs

Price Hill is the most recent and third Cincinnati community to offer citizens monthly meet-ups and free classes at its Local Learning Lab.
 
Local Learning Labs, which are also offered in Northside and Silverton, are environments designed to engage community members in teaching and learning.
 
“Anyone can come, and all are invited,” says Danyetta Najoli, co-host of Price Hill’s Learning Lab and community coordinator at Starfire Council of Greater Cincinnati.
 
Price Hill’s Local Learning Lab kicked off in January, and since its inception, individuals have come together to learn about things like aromatherapy, gardening, and African and Brazilian dance.
 
Sarah Buffie, community connector at Starfire—the local nonprofit that hosts the Local Learning Labs—says the gatherings provide an outlet for community members to share gifts without the exchange of money. All sessions are completely free.
 
“Community members can see themselves as access points to one another. We’re in a society where a lot of communication happens through the internet, and being able to get together and see one another as gifted and talented people, versus neighbors we never talk to—it starts to break down some of those social barriers we might have,” Buffie says.
 
“It’s bringing back that borrow-a-cup-of-sugar mentality. Why go out of your community when you can get it right there?” 

Do Good:

• Attend the Price Hill location’s Local Learning Lab March 11. 

• Get connected with your community at another Starfire-hosted event, including Local Learning Labs in Silverton and Northside. 

• Contact Danyetta or Sarah if you’re interested in bringing a Local Learning Lab to your own community.

By Brittany York

Brittany York is a professor of English composition at the University of Cincinnati and a project manager for Charitable Words. She also edits the For Good section of SoapboxMedia.