Extension
It Starts With Us
Developing leadership skills for community and civic engagement
Leadership development
P. Adkins, C. Hall, W. Long, J. Palmer, C. Perez and K. Smith
Master Gardener
Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD)
Family and Consumer Science
Building the capacity of volunteer leaders is critical for the sustainability of communities. Strong community leaders are committed to investigating issues, making responsible decisions, and taking ownership of solutions.
Leadership opportunities for youth reduce risk factors that can negatively impact their success. The development of life skills, like as leadership, allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension).
Basic leadership knowledge and skills are essential for success across age groups and in almost any field. The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others. Employers look for leadership skills in the persons they hire. Developing leadership in the youth and adults is a priority.
• Youth and adults will serve as leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger children.
• Youth and adults will identify and address critical issues that impact the community.
• Youth and adults will use leadership skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
• Community members are equipped with effective leadership skills to motivate others to initiate projects.
• Youth and adults will demonstrate leadership, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives.
• Youth and adults will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.
• Citizens put skills into practice by becoming more engaged in the community, taking on leadership roles.
• Youth and adults will learn the leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting.
• Youth and adults will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader and team player.
• Youth and adults will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.
• Youth and adults will acquire decision making skills and gain an appreciation for civic engagement.
Initial Outcome: Youth and adults will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics
Indicator: Youth and adults successfully identify positive and negative leadership characteristics in post-survey
Method: Pre- and post-survey/tests
Timeline: Before and after programs
Intermediate Outcome: Citizens put skills into practice by becoming more engaged in the community, taking on leadership roles.
Indicator: Increase in youth and adults serving as leaders and mentors with
Extension and other community organizations.
Method: Observation and records
Timeline: After training and programs
Long-term Outcome: Youth and adults will serve as leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors
Indicator: Increase in youth and adults serving as leaders and mentors with
Extension and other community organizations
Method: Observation and records
Timeline: After training and programs
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Master Gardener Program & Volunteer Activities
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener curriculum
Inputs: Guest speakers/volunteers, mentors, agent, classroom,
lab
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Adults and Advisory Council Members
Project or Activity: Build Organizational Leadership
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD)
Inputs: UK/KSU Specialists, Extension leadership
Date: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Audience: Extension Homemakers Club Presidents
Project or Activity: President’s Training
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA),
Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service publications
and resources
Date: 2024
Audience: Extension Homemakers Educational Chairmen
Project or Activity: Educational Program Chairmen Training
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA),
Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service publications
and resources
Date: September 2023
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Master Clothing Volunteer (MCV)
Content or Curriculum: MCV Curriculum, Continuing education hours for
certification
Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities,
grants
Date: Sept. 2023 – Aug. 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: 4-H Advisory Council
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program,
The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training
Toolkit
Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities,
grants
Date: Sept. 2023 – Aug. 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Horse, Dog, and Livestock Volunteer
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program,
The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training
Toolkit, Continuing education hours for certification
Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities,
grants
Date: Sept. 2023 – Aug. 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Camp
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program,
The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training
Toolkit
Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities,
grants
Date: Sept. 2023 – Aug. 2024
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: School Clubs
Content or Curriculum: After School Agriculture, Essential Elements of 4-H
Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential
Learning Mentor Training Toolkit
Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities,
grants
Date: Sept. 2023-Aug. 2024
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Teen Summit & Teen Conference
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program,
The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training
Toolkit
Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities,
grants
Date: Sept. 2023 – Aug. 2024
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program,
The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training
Toolkit
Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities,
grants
Date: Sept. 2023 – Aug. 2024
Author: Jessica Marquez
Major Program: Economic Development
The problem - Learning about finance and the economy can be difficult and unattainable. The director of multicultural services at Eastern Area Community Ministries and I have been working with a group of immigrant women for the past year to teach them personal finance and economic behavior as a way to help them integrate themselves to their surrounding community. The educational program response - I worked with the director of multicultural services at EACM to come up with a program that wo
Author: Jessica Marquez
Major Program: Community Leadership Development
The problemFairdale High School is a school located in the JCPS school district. The school's demographic is made up of 33% Hispanic/Latinx students. The FRYSC at the school reached out to me to see if I could provide some type of programming for Hispanic/Latinx Students at the school. Upon speaking with some students I learned that they had the potential to use their leadership skills in a positive manner but they didn't know how. The needed guidance and also wanted to create a safe spa
Author: Jennifer Palmer
Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
The problem was infrastructure issues as Farnsley-Moreman community garden that created unsafe gardening space at times. The community garden faced infrastructure issues that caused concern with the gardeners. These concerns were brought to my attention via calls, emails and at the garden meeting. These concerns were with the road and individuals going to the portion of the the garden that was not associated with the garden. Other issues were theft with produce. The gardeners w
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: Leadership
Middle school is a crucial period for youth development, marked by significant physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes. Fostering leadership skills in middle school students is essential for preparing them for future challenges and responsibilities. Engaging them through interactive and enjoyable activities not only makes learning fun but also instills vital qualities such as communication, teamwork, and decision-making.At this age, youth encounter numerous physical, cognitive, langua
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Leadership
The 100th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference took place at the University of Kentucky from June 11th to 14th, 2024. The conference aimed to achieve several objectives for its participants, including developing leadership and teamwork skills, improving communication abilities, fostering civic engagement, expanding knowledge in 4-H core content areas, and enhancing social skills through networking. Additionally, the event provided an opportunity for youth to become acquainted with the University
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Leadership
Middle school is a crucial period for youth development, marked by significant physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes. Fostering leadership skills in middle school students is essential for preparing them for future challenges and responsibilities. Engaging them through interactive and enjoyable activities not only makes learning fun but also instills vital qualities such as communication, teamwork, and decision-making.At this age, youth encounter numerous physical, cognitive, langua
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: Leadership
The 100th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference took place at the University of Kentucky from June 11th to 14th, 2024. The conference aimed to achieve several objectives for its participants, including developing leadership and teamwork skills, improving communication abilities, fostering civic engagement, expanding knowledge in 4-H core content areas, and enhancing social skills through networking. Additionally, the event provided an opportunity for youth to become acquainted with the University
