Mount Airy Learning Tree

Mt. Airy 25th Anniversary, Continued...

During her year and a half as Director, Naylor, who is originally from Texas, has been most impressed with the enthusiasm of everyone involved with MALT.

"I have had the wonderful experience of getting to know the neighborhood and the neighbors," she says. "The Mt. Airy Learning Tree is the perfect arena for doing that. You have the opportunity to meet such a fabulous variety of fun, friendly, talented folks. We are all about connections ..... people with their passions and people with people. I'm never sure who is having more fun .... students, teachers, or staff."

"MALT has a presence in the community," adds Mitteldorf. "Everybody knows about it and looks forward to the catalog. When I run into people who say, 'you look familiar to me from somewhere,' - 'somewhere' usually turns out to be the Learning Tree. I plan to keep teaching as long as students keep coming."

One of the major ways MALT has built community is through the cooperation of the institutions - schools, colleges, churches, community centers - that have served as classrooms, as well as the teachers who have opened up their homes.

"Locations is still a challenge for the organizers logistically," Bloom says. "One way the number of locations has helped is that they have helped Mt. Airy get to know each other. Churches have gained members. The community sees these various institutions engaged in the neighborhood. The classes get people out to these places. It helps in keeping a diverse community friendly and supportive. People often have a hard time going to a strange place for the first time. MALT has made it easier. MALT gathers people together for learning and teaching. That's really a loving act, very caring and fulfilling for people."

Sometimes, dreams can come true.

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