This document cites theoretical works and actual cases to examine the notion of community as the web of learning. The first half of the document explores the different perspectives about the concept of community and traces the evolved nature of community through an overview of how humans have banded together to form communities from the early days of the human species to the present. Issues raised include the role of education in preparing children for lifelong learning and effective community participation, the hidden curriculum of compulsory schooling, and the interplay between individual and community interests. The second half of the document profiles two community initiatives to further community development by improving local educational opportunities. In the first initiative, which took place in Princeton, New Jersey, community members spent 2 years crafting a plan to improve local schools, help adults regain their enthusiasm for learning, and work toward functional literacy for all community members. In the second initiative, called Letchworth Education 2000, residents of Letchworth, England, formed 12 community study groups that spent 12 months working to improve in-school and post-school education in their community, including having 15% of local teachers spend 3 weeks shadowing community members in their workplaces. (Contains 22 endnotes.) (MN)