"People's education" is an umbrella term used to encompass the many educations for social change that have developed in social movements around the world. These diverse philosophies, methods, and movements share a belief in collective reflection and analysis as a strategy for democratic social change. Some of these traditions include Scandinavian folk education, Latin American liberatory or popular education, South African people's education, politically-engaged study circles, indigenous education, "public homeplace learning," labor education, participatory action research, and others -- including the adapting and weaving of these traditions.

People's education is not liberal, individualistic learning for moving "up and out," but rather community-based, non-formal education that enables groups of people to use their collective experience and expertise as a basis of community organizing. People's education is centered on the importance of democratic processes rather than top-down leadership. It is education that responds to people's needs, develops leaders, and helps us develop the tools and skills to change our situations. It is education that focuses as much on building community as on combating oppression.

We use this term as a way to bridge the gap between many people doing similar work. We have found that this language provides a common ground from which to understand the very different ways that many of us are working toward the same goals.

But in the end the name is unimportant. Many communities are using people's education without knowing the term. It's the democracy, the participation, and the desire for change that matters.