Editor’s Note: This piece was written by longtime Arlington resident Michael Armanious and his co-author Jared Padgett and submitted for publication. It is part of a series. Armanious is a member of ACMi. It should be noted that ACMi receives more than $600,000 from the town each year through so-called PEG funds, which is money from the cable providers. ACMi received a $100,000 one-time payment through a Town Meeting vote in 2025 for the last fiscal year. Also, the town manager and the Select Board worked out an arrangement to allow ACMi to continue to use the town-owned Park Avenue studios rent-free, which will save ACMi an estimated $45,000 a year.
By Michael Armanious and Jared Padgett
Walk through the doors of Arlington Community Media (ACMi) at 85 Park Ave., and you’ll find cameras, editing suites, podcast studios, and television sets. More importantly, you’ll find people of all ages learning together. Beneath the technology lies ACMi’s greatest strength: a welcoming culture where learning, creativity, and community come together.
As Arlington explores what it means to become a Learning Town, a place where lifelong learning is accessible to everyone, ACMi stands out as one of the town’s best examples of a learning organization. Every day, it empowers residents to become creators, storytellers, and informed citizens through hands-on learning and community engagement.
Learning by doing
Learning at ACMi is practical and immersive. Residents learn the skills needed to create a program, from screenwriting to editing, promotion, and more. They go beyond simply watching television or listening to podcasts. They learn how to produce their own content.
Whether creating a news story, launching a podcast, filming a community event, editing a documentary, or hosting a local program, members gain real-world experience under the guidance of seasoned staff, fellow producers, and members. Through workshops, one-on-one mentoring, internships, volunteer opportunities, and production experience, learning is woven into everything ACMi does.
A place where everyone belongs
One reason ACMi succeeds is its welcoming and inclusive culture.
People arrive with different backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experience. Some have worked in media for years, while others have never picked up a camera. Everyone is encouraged to learn, experiment, and contribute.
That culture builds more than media skills. It builds confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging. People discover that their voices matter and that their stories can strengthen the community.
Where interns grow into leaders
ACMi’s internship program offers a powerful example of learning in action.
Students from local colleges quickly become part of a collaborative learning environment in which they are entrusted with meaningful responsibilities. Daniel discovered the importance of telling hyperlocal stories. Emerson College student Aiden gained hands-on experience in today’s rapidly changing media landscape. Sarah Kaji was encouraged to design graphics for a new news segment, which gave her the confidence to learn a skill she had always wanted to master. Francisco Bedoya, serving as assistant news producer, found himself teaching newer interns. This example is a key part of the learning process, where knowledge is shared from one generation of learners to the next.
Their experiences reflect ACMi’s belief that everyone can be both a learner and a teacher.
Strengthening community through storytelling
Every week, ACMi documents the life of Arlington.
Town Meetings, school concerts, nonprofit initiatives, cultural celebrations, local elections, sports, historical programs, and community conversations offer residents opportunities to learn about one another and participate more fully in civic life.
By preserving these stories, ACMi not only records Arlington’s history but also strengthens community connections and encourages informed civic engagement.
A Learning Organization in Action
MIT professor Peter Senge described learning organizations as places where people continually develop new skills, share knowledge, build a common vision, and work together to solve problems.
ACMi embodies these principles. The ACMi staff mentors volunteers and new producers, and interns learn from professionals while teaching one another. Collaboration, continuous improvement, and shared learning are part of the organization’s culture.
ACMi is more than a media center. It serves as Arlington’s public square. It is a place where ideas are shared, conversations begin, and residents learn from one another.
Helping Build Arlington as a Learning Town
A Learning Town is built one learning organization at a time.
ACMi demonstrates how lifelong learning lifts an entire community in partnership with the Arlington Council on Aging, Arlington EATS, Food Link, the Housing Authority, and the Police Department.
ACMi’s impact reaches well beyond media production. By teaching communication, collaboration, digital storytelling, and civic engagement, ACMi equips residents with skills that benefit all community life. In FY2025, ACMi served 294 members, reached over 43,000 digital users (up 172%), produced 289 hours of government programming, 87 hours of sports coverage, and 7.5 hours of student concerts, while growing its audiences on YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms.
But these figures only hint at the real story. Every workshop, volunteer role, internship, podcast, and community event is another chance for someone to learn, grow, and connect.
Curious about media, storytelling, or community leadership? Whether you’re a beginner or experienced creator, ACMi invites you to visit, meet staff or members, and discover how you can become part of Arlington’s creative community. Join as a member, volunteer, or participant. Your story and talents can help shape Arlington’s future. Together, we can build a true learning town. One story, one learner, and one connection at a time.
This piece was published on Aug. 5, 2026. Michael Armanious is a 34-year resident of Arlington. He has been active in the town’s civic life and served as a volunteer for several local organizations, including ACMi, Food Link, Arlington EATS, and NEAT. He has also worked closely with the Arlington Housing Authority, Arlington Police, and Arlington Fire, evaluating and documenting lifelong learning within their daily activities. Jared Padgett, DBA, is an independent researcher, consultant, and entrepreneur whose research explores organizational learning, high-reliability organizations, and systems thinking. Based in Ventura, CA, he collaborates with Armanious to explore and develop learning organizations.
