Promoting Community and Economic DevelopmentPlan of Work

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Graves County CES

Title:
Promoting Community and Economic Development
MAP:
Growing the Local Community and Economy
Agents Involved:
Chadwick, Wooley, ANR Agent
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Economic Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Community Engagement
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Community Leadership Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Community Strategic Planning
Situation:

Youth and adults in Kentucky need programming support to enhance skills for influencing change. Extension can provide educational opportunities that build and nurture effective and engaged adult and youth leaders. Extension should encourage the use of civic engagement techniques and listening sessions.

In Graves County, the Extension District Board is in the process of building a new Extension campus. In that process, the board has reached out to community groups, held listening sessions to receive community feedback, and conducted a feasibility study to gather more feedback. As the Extension program grows through developing community leaders and volunteers, it will be important to focus on ways Extension can contribute to Community and Economic Development through programming efforts, new community partnerships, and use of the new facility.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Community will be equipped with competent, effective leaders

Community members will engage others to initiate projects

Community members will find civic engagement possible and desirable

Community will become more prosperous

Intermediate Outcomes:

Community leaders will put skills into practice by becoming more engaged and taking on leadership roles

Community leaders and citizens will use improved skills in communication or problem solving in addressing organizational issues and needs

Community leaders will initiate civic engagement and move from informal leadership roles into increased involvement/action

Community leaders will create strategic plans are inclusive and strategies are adopted by communities and organizations

Community leaders will increase in diversity of individuals taking on leadership roles

Youth will engage in current and future civic involvement, community service and volunteerism


Initial Outcomes:

Community leaders will increase knowledge of effective leadership skills

Community leaders will develop/enhance the leadership skills of youth and adults

Community leaders and citizens will be informed about community systems, better connected to communication networks, more confident and skilled in identifying and implementing strategies for systemic change

Evaluation:

Outcome:  Increased knowledge of leadership skills  

Indicator:  Number of individuals attending programs             

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline: Following every leadership training


Outcome:  Increased abilities in communication/problem solving

Indicator:  Number of individuals who attend training

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline: Following any program that includes communication skills training. 


Outcome:  Citizens (adults and youth) taking new leadership roles

Indicator:  Number of people reporting new leadership roles

Method:  Survey and/or interview

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity:  Leadership training

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Leadership Development Curriculum

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers

Date: 2020-2021


Audience: Adult community leaders (existing or rising leaders) 

Project or Activity:  Leadership trainings

Content or Curriculum: KELD

 Inputs: Agents, Community Partners

Date: 2020-2021


Project or Activity:  CAIP

Content or Curriculum: CAIP Program Requirements

Inputs: Agents, volunteers

Date: 2020-2021


Project or Activity:  Farmer's Market Collaboration

Content or Curriculum: Farmer's Market Toolkit

Inputs: Agents, volunteers

Date: 2020-2021


Project or Activity:  Extension information-gathering for campus

Content or Curriculum: Community outreach

Inputs: Agents, volunteers, boards, councils

Date: 2020-2021



Success Stories

Extension Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat

Author: Kelsey Chadwick

Major Program: Community Engagement

Extension Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many families in our county were experiencing frustration with virtual methods and pick-up of programs-in-a-bag had slowed. In an effort to find a new way to reach the community during this time, the Graves County Extension Office hosted the first annual Extension Trunk-or-Treat, drive-thru style, on October 22nd. Every Extension group was represented with a trunk. It was a wonderful experience for the community with 4-H Sewing, Livestock, Dog, and Horse Clubs prese

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