Author: Megan Mills Hoffman
When I came to Buffalo eleven years ago, I was very tired. I had spent the previous ten years trying to figure out how to do what I imagined was possible. I hadn’t anticipated how difficult it would be. For a girl from Alaska, Buffalo was the first place I’d been that felt just enough like home. I remember when I realized I could stay for twenty years and be happy. I could DO things here. When I drove along the 190, over to the 198, along the water and old industrial brick buildings, I thought of where my mother was born, outside of Manchester, England, an aging industrial area that was becoming an exciting place for creative types and entrepreneurs. It was actually the cheese selection at Wegman’s that first persuaded me to stay. The friend I was staying with at the time made a point of driving me down Elmwood Avenue one evening in early December to show me the decorations and storefronts, to persuade me to stay here. The second major hook was when I discovered that Frank Lloyd Wright had a presence here. There was something about these experiences that spoke to me of culture, community, and bold action.
I looked for signs of what was going on, I attended talks about urban revitalization. I had coffee with local urban activists. I spoke to everyone I met about where to go, what to check out. I was warmly welcomed, introduced to a long list of who was who in the local scene. And I was so excited. I’d never been clearer about where and how I was going to sink into what I most wanted for my life. I could feel the steel in the bones of those committed to this place and I knew that this was a place where I could do something with myself, my energies, and my goals. And all this in my twenties.
And now I want to share this kind of inspiration, support, community with other young people like myself. People who want to learn about the world in a meaningful and deeply personal way. People who want to be immersed in interesting projects. People who have, as Alexis Ohanian, founder of reddit.com writes, “developed personalities and pursued hobbies that interested us, because “just being cute” wasn’t an option”.
How many young people have been able to experience Buffalo in this way? As a place to define oneself and work on things that matter?
In two weeks, we’ll have three days of talks by people thinking about a different kind of learning available in Buffalo.
If you value autonomy and experiential learning, want to gain insight on a wide variety of education topics like the importance of creative inquiry in development, or are just curious – Learning Choices Network’s (LCN) Regional Gathering has workshops for you!
WHO: LCN’s Regional Gathering is for “students” of all ages, and anyone who values self directed, experiential learning or who would just like to know more about educational options in our community. We’ll have distinguished speakers and progressive educators from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Vermont.
WHEN: November 7-9th
WHERE: Buffalo History Museum, One Musuem Court, Buffalo
TICKETS: The cost of this unique educational workshop is $20 per day or $50 for a three-day pass. Check out this ticket link, and for more information, visit our page.
— No one’s more important than people. In other words, friendship is the most important thing. Not career or housework or one’s fatigue – and it needs to be tended and nurtured. -Julia Child