Dynamic learning opportunities increase literacy, knowledge, skills, and insight that help people thrive across the lifespan. Higher education levels are linked to higher incomes, more opportunities, better health, and longer lifespans. But disparities in access to education persist, often across generations.
Age- and stage-appropriate learning — beginning with early childhood programs and continuing through post-secondary and adult education — is critical. Further, education leads to social mobility, so it’s important to offer educational opportunities in ways that ensure equitable access and community value. Providing opportunities in and outside schools for enriching multi-generational experiences will build skills, foster personal growth, and increase social connections that strengthen community and individual resilience.
Lifelong Learning includes:
- Career and adult education
- Continuous development
- Early childhood experiences
- Elementary, high school, and higher education
Key Statistics
- Every $1 invested in quality early childhood programs can yield returns between $4 and $16.
- Older adults who frequently volunteer live longer and report less disability.
- Employers invest more than $170 billion in formal training each year — and 58 percent of that funding supports workers who have bachelor’s degrees and work in higher-paying professional and managerial positions.
Reliable, safe, and accessible transportation
Sense of belonging and power to shape a common world
Sustainable resources, contact with nature, freedom from hazards
Basic requirements for health and safety
Humane, consistent housing
Rewarding work, careers, and standards of living
