I was talking to a friend one day last week and we ended up chatting about “third spaces.” In case you’re not familiar with the idea, third spaces are informal, community-based gathering places that exist outside of the home (first space) and the workplace (second space). These spaces, such as cafes, parks, community centers, or online forums, provide environments for people to come together, engage in conversations, and build social connections. The term "third spaces" emphasizes the importance of these informal and inclusive environments in fostering sociability, community, and civic engagement.
This reminded me of a class I took almost 30 years ago, which focused on the connection between the Enlightenment, more widespread education, and the growth of cities in the 18th and 19th centuries. I came across the work of Jürgen Habermas, a 20th-century German philosopher best known for his work in the study of communication, democracy, and the public sphere. He defines the public sphere as a space in society where citizens come together to engage in rational discourse and debate about matters of public concern. This space is crucial for the functioning of a healthy democracy, as it allows individuals to participate in political discussions and contribute to the formation of public opinion. The public sphere is ideally a space where individuals can come together as equals, transcending social hierarchies, and exchanging ideas in a rational and reasoned manner.
Habermas goes on to talk about sociability – the capacity of individuals to engage in social interaction and communication. It is through sociability that people can form connections, share experiences, and contribute to the creation of a shared understanding of the world. Sociability is closely linked to the idea of the public sphere because it involves the social interactions and communication processes that take place within that sphere.
Although Habermas does not talk directly about “third spaces” (or online communities, since he wrote about all of this in the 1960s), other people have explored this concept in the context of sociability and public spaces that Habermas first discussed. The term “third place” originates from sociologist Ray Oldenburg's 1989 book, The Great Good Place. He defines third spaces as informal, community-based gathering places that exist outside of the home (first space) and the workplace (second space). These spaces, such as cafes, parks, community centers, or online forums, provide environments for people to come together, engage in conversations, and build social connections. The term "third spaces" emphasizes the importance of these informal and inclusive environments in fostering sociability, community, and civic engagement.
So how does all of this connect to the Osher program (or other lifelong learning organizations)?
We all know that the community organizations that we knew growing up are not thriving, and many of them have disappeared altogether. My father was a member of the Lions Club, and my parents belonged to bowling leagues and square-dance clubs. But organizations like this are a dying breed. Robert D. Putnam wrote about this phenomenon in his 2000 book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. In this book, Putnam surveys the decline of social capital in the United States since 1950. He describes the reduction in all the forms of in-person social intercourse upon which Americans used to found, educate, and enrich the fabric of their social lives. He argues that this undermines the active civic engagement that a strong democracy requires from its citizens. Any of us who are trying to prop up aging organizations know the problem – today’s “young folks” don’t see community the same way many of us do, so it's hard to attract younger members.
The United States does not generally have the pubs or cafés that can be found in European cities. In the 18th-century, taverns and coffeehouses served as important third spaces, but they no longer serve this function. What do Americans do to find (or create) a “third space?”
Some people join churches – not for religion, necessary, but for connection. Others join book groups, community music groups, or gyms. Many people become active volunteers when they retire – looking for meaning, but also for connection. But one important third space for older adults is some form of continuing education. For me, that’s the Osher program at the College of William & Mary.
I realized over the past month that this provides important connections for me. I attended a four-session class on critical thinking and rational decision-making – focused specifically on evaluating candidates for public office. Of the 40 people in the class, I already knew probably 15 of them – we had run into each other at other classes related generally to public affairs. They make up a subset of my community that I enjoy interacting with.
Then I attended a three-session course on the Bray School Initiative in Williamsburg – a joint project between Colonial Williamsburg and the College of William & Mary to explore and explain a school for African American children (both free and enslaved) that operated in Williamsburg between 1760 and 1774. Out of the 30 people in this class, I already knew about 10 – and some of them were the same people who had been in the critical thinking class with me.
Then I attended the first session of a three-part class on Women in the American Revolution – and again, I knew about 1/3 of the people in the 40-person class. And again, some of them were the same people in one or both of the other classes.
And then I attended a meeting of the Williamsburg Area Genealogy Society – a group that grew out of an Osher class on genealogy that I taught five years ago. We’ve been meeting monthly since that class ended, and I have made some good friends in this group.
In April, I’m scheduled to teach two classes – one on American history between the end of the Civil War and 1900, and the other on genealogy. I know I’ll see my history peeps in the first course -- I’ve already received the class roster and I know 26 of the 118 people signed up for the course. My genealogy peeps will be in my genealogy class – I already know 6 of the 33 people signed up for this class. And a couple of people are signed up for both classes, so that’s fun.
One fun thing about all of this is that some of the people who take my classes are instructors for the classes I take. The instructor for the course on Women in the Revolution is on my roster for the history class I’m teaching in April. The co-leader of the Williamsburg Area Genealogy Society (Debbie) is also in that history class. Debbie and I are often in classes together, and I’ve taken courses on British history that she teaches (she loved the Tudors).
How well does the Osher program meet Oldenburg’s “third place” characteristics?
Neutral ground: the classes meet in university classrooms or (sometimes) in other community buildings. The only thing that might make them un-neutral is that parking is readily available only by paying for a university parking pass, which is not over-the-top expensive but might be off-putting for people of more limited needs. A university classroom might also be intimidating for people who did not attend college.
Social leveling: although it is not outrageously expensive to join Osher, it does cost $175 per semester. For this fee, members can take up to eight classes. I’ve never felt this was a significant limitation — I usually take about 5-6 classes and feel like my schedule is full. Because the fee would be prohibitive for people on fixed incomes, for example, Osher does offer scholarships to people who ask for them. Not very many people ask for them.
Conversation: some classes are focused on discussion, but more are lecture-style courses. Conversations happen before and after classes and during the breaks — sometimes with the instructor, but more often with other class members.
Ability to go alone and encounter acquaintances: as I described above, I always find friends in the Osher classes I attend. Newcomers to the program won’t find that right away, necessarily, but it will develop over time.
Unimpressive appearance: we meet in pretty bare-bones classrooms with an institutional vibe. No one is going to feel as if they have to dress up to attend class. I’ve taught in one of the historic buildings on the old campus at William and Mary, and that’s pretty cool. It’s an impressive space but it is a casual environment.
Playful mood: we have fun in Osher classes. The instructors are (generally) lively and entertaining. The members engage with the instructors on an equal basis — as I mentioned above, instructors in one class may be seated among the members in another class. There is not a sense of hierarchy. We are all too old to hang out in places where we are not enjoying ourselves. Classes about tough topics — slavery or the Holocaust, for example — are not playful, and it’s hard to say that we enjoy them. But we appreciate them and are glad that we attended.
I’d say Osher does pretty well according to these criteria. Before the pandemic, we served coffee and Oreo cookies during the breaks, but that service has stopped. Course evaluations always include some random comment that we need to bring back the cookies.
One other thought before I stop writing: The CDC has identified “loneliness” and social isolation in older adults as serious public health risks affecting a significant number of people in the United States and putting them at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions. A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) points out that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated
Several factors contribute to feelings of loneliness in this demographic, and addressing these concerns is essential for promoting their overall well-being. Older adults are more likely to live alone – having lost a spouse, for example – and because they’re retired they don’t have an automatic way of connecting with people. They often have health problems that limit mobility or impact cognition. They may have relocated to join a retirement community or be near family members, but because they have left behind friends and community they are often lonelier than before. They sometimes find it challenging to adapt to new technologies, which leaves them increasingly isolated in a digital world. They are often frustrated by the higher-tech means of communication that are offered – FaceTime and Zoom are often unpleasant for them rather than comforting.
Added to all of this is the shame associated with declining physical and mental capability, and an added sense that asking for help is a sign of weakness.
It may not be an Osher program, but we should all cultivate a “third space.” Where is yours?
Right you are. I live in Settlers Mill and we have a very active and cohesive group called the Senior Class. As you might guess, we are all of a certain age. We visit places; the men pick breakfast restaurants and the women pick lunch spots. Each of us volunteers to host a Wine No Dine event each month, take hikes together, or go to a play or musical event. We cannot always attend all events because, as you mentioned, someone has knee surgery, pacemaker replacements or throws their neck out, but we keep at it and enjoy that kind of third space within our own community. I was lucky enough to be in DC while John Gardner was Secretary of HEW in the Johnson administration. He was a thoughtful and all around good human being. One of the many quotes of his that I particularly like is "Men of integrity, by their very existence, rekindle the belief that as a people we can live above the level of moral squalor. We need that belief; a cynical community is a corrupt community." Gardner wrote extensively on leadership and community. I think he would applaud the concept of "third spaces."
I have loved attending these classes over the years and have never taken a course I didn't like.
However, I'm aging and even with a parking pass, parking isn't as convenient as it was in the old days. Also it is a lot more expensive than it used to be, especially if both of you want to take classes. It's true that you can take a lot of classes but suppose you only want to take a few, each of you. That makes it expensive. There was another level of membersip that allowed you to attend weekly lectures and some other events. I would participate if there could be some changes in the organization.