Leadership volunteers offer their time, talents, and expertise in a variety of areas to ensure that the American Arthritis Foundation reaches its annual mission and fundraising goals for the local market area. It all starts by educating the local community about options for arthritis prevention and treatment. The ability to reach out and educate the public is one of our most critical roles and responsibilities.

Community Education is a unique education concept that embraces these beliefs:

Education is a lifelong process;

Everyone in the community - individuals, businesses, public and private agencies -- shares responsibility for educating all members of the community; and Citizens have a right and a responsibility to be involved in determining community needs, identifying community resources, and linking those needs and resources to their community.

Community Education results in:

A responsive education system and an improved learning climate in the schools;

Efficient and cost-effective ways of delivering education and community services;

Broad-based community support for schools and other community agencies;

An emphasis on special populations, such as at-risk youth and minorities; and Collective action among all educational and community agencies to address quality of life issues.

Working together - through Community Education - communities can address such concerns and many other community ideas.