An Educated Community
Promoting lifelong education in Lakewood strengthens economic vitality, individual opportunity, and community resilience. This commitment fosters a thriving, equitable city that supports young adults, families, and aging adults and empowers individuals to contribute meaningfully and adapt to a changing economy. Existing city plans, such as Imagine Tomorrow, Lakewood Heritage Center Master Plan (now Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park) and the Historic Preservation Plan prioritize learning through programs celebrating creativity, heritage, and preservation.
Several city programs and services offer opportunities for community members to learn about healthy aging, healthy living, the environment, sustainable practices, arts, parks, recreation, safety and more.
Goal 6 Strategies: An Educated Community
This goal centers on cultivating partnerships with educational institutions, including the Jefferson County School District, local colleges and libraries, to share resources and incorporate youth voices into City initiatives and programs. Strategies emphasize the importance of these partnerships while also continuing to offer city programming and educational opportunities for lifelong learning for all ages.
Primary Strategies
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Develop and implement a safety education program that includes information and training addressing all types of potential safety issues, such as natural and climate disasters, human-caused disruptions, cyber security threats, and general safety practices to ensure the Lakewood community is well-prepared for public safety emergencies and best day-to-day safety practices.
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Building on existing efforts, develop a comprehensive communications and outreach strategy for all City operations to ensure that all information and outreach efforts are accessible, engaging, and broad-reaching. This should include specific outreach strategies and accommodations for individuals with disabilities and Lakewood’s diversity of cultural identities and languages. Regularly update this strategy to reflect changing technologies, demographics, and communication preferences.
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Provide ample opportunities and access to resources for residents to learn, practice, refine, and grow their interests and passions on initiatives and topics of interest to the community such as healthy aging and healthy living.
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Partner with (local) education and library institutions to tap into current trends and best practices, share resources, and incorporate youth voices in key initiatives, programs and resources.
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Continue to implement the Imagine Tomorrow Plan and any future updates to the Plan.
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Educate the public about the economic, environmental, and cultural benefits of historic preservation to build collective value around Lakewood’s heritage. Provide educational materials and outreach strategies for both residents and visitors.
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Maintain an up-to-date online resource center to provide information, resources, and services to residents, businesses, and other stakeholders related to energy and water conservation, renewable energy systems, beneficial electrification, waste diversion and climate adaptation strategies.
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Expand and maintain comprehensive waste-related educational resources for the community with the goal of increasing participation in and proper usage of available waste diversion programs.
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Promote educational tours, programs and events that highlight the City’s history. Expand educational materials and outreach strategies for both residents and visitors.