For north bay residents looking to learn how to write a novel, grow a garden, master the tango or fix a bike there’s a one-stop-shop resource now available.
For more than a year, Deborah Wiig has been working on a unique and valuable community resource that connects learners with teachers. In January she unleashed the North Bay Learning Source, a database featuring classes, workshops, and events taking place in this county and taught by local experts.
“The whole point of this is showing there are learning opportunities all around us in this area,” Wiig said. “If you don’t know where to find them, you won’t.”
While living in downtown Denver, Wiig who is a long-time communications specialist, served as the program manager for a learning resource center offering inner-city residents a place to go for a variety of classes and learning experiences.
She said after retiring and moving to Sonoma County four years ago, she wanted to start something similar, but because the area is much more spread out she knew a central building wouldn’t work.
Instead, Wiig created a central site listing classes and workshops of all kinds held throughout the region in art studios, museums, kitchens, craft guilds, farms, parks, schools, nonprofit organizations and businesses.
Wiig said the NBLS showcases a wide variety of local classes all in one place.
“We get the word out about learning opportunities on our website,” she said. “In addition to the website, the Learning Source also promotes classes via its active Facebook page and a twice-monthly email newsletter.”
For those interested in attending a class or workshop the site is completely free. Learners can find opportunities to gain skills and knowledge in a wide variety of subjects and connect with others who share their interests. Subjects include art, crafts, gardening, cooking, music, dance, personal development, wellness, business, career, technology and environment.
For individuals and organizations offering classes and workshops the site can be used as a resource to expand their audience. Wiig said instructors listing for the first time are invited to list their class at no charge. After the first time there is $7 listing fee.
Wendy Krupnick, gardening instructor, said the NBLS is easy to use and a “one-stop-shop” for learning resources. Krupnick, who lists her gardening classes on the site, said the NBLS benefits teachers and students who can learn from each other.
“In general it helps support more learning,” she said. “Every time I teach a class I learn something.”
The NBLS can be found online at nblearningsource.com.
