Extension
It Starts With Us
Develop Individuals for Volunteer Roles
Engaged Communities
Moses (Community Arts), Burgard (FCS), Jones (4-H), Prewitt (Horticulture)
Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
Volunteer Engagement in the Arts
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Community Leadership Development
Volunteers are important in building engaged and empowered communities. Volunteerism throughout the life cycle makes productive leaders. Whether leading 4H clubs, serving on a program council, or attending homemaker meetings, Cooperative Extension thrives on volunteer leaders to understand the community better.
The Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service incorporates several avenues for volunteers to work in the community. Our leadership roles include a County Extension Council, programming councils, District Board. These volunteers are instrumental in the success of the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service by serving their community. Within each program area, there are opportunities to volunteer in Extension Homemakers, Beekeepers, 4H Teen Council, and teaching Fine Arts classes. These are just a few examples of opportunities that local individuals can be involved and also further their education in the process.
The Whitley County Extension Fine Arts Council has identified enhancing artisan skills, community poverty rates, citizen engagement, and a qualified workforce as pressing concerns for Whitley County Extension to address. According to Americans for the Arts, “The arts are integral to the lives of our citizens. The arts are essential to the health and vitality of our communities and our nation.” In the rapidly changing (and challenging) times in which we live, the arts can address county poverty, resident vitality, and a vibrant local economy.
Data from The College Board shows that students who take four years of arts and music classes while in high school score 98 points better on their SATs than students who took only one-half year or less. It is clear that the arts, music, creative writing, drawing, and dance, provide skills that contribute to increased quality of life. Not only does participation in arts programming and artisan entrepreneurship create a skilled and educated workforce for local community businesses to have quality employees, but it also contributes to resilient families and communities, vibrant culture, and significant economic impact to local residents. Without Fine Arts Extension the Whitley county citizens would have to drive 1 hour for a comparable art experience. There are very little opportunities in the arts in Whitley county and Extension Fine Arts fills this gap at a free or affordable cost.
-Program and Extension Council Members help provide insight into each program area and provide an unbiased look into all parts of the county.
-Council members serve as active Extension and community volunteers engaged in addressing community needs.
-Whitley County residents will recognize Extension Fine Arts as a valuable provider of educational, economic, and social opportunities and skills within the arts and develop an increased appreciation for the arts.
-Whitley County will have a strong, healthy community arts coalition that meets 3-4 times a year and supports artists through preparing bi-annual arts exhibits and developing the annual Appalachian winter market.
-Whitley County will grow artistically in conjunction with our economic growth, making Whitley County an increasingly vibrant place to live.
-Extension leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level.
-The number of KEHA volunteer service hours reported annually for KEHA, Extension and Community activities will increase.
-They will share their interests and skills with others in their homes or within their support group.
-Local Artist will artistic skills such as dancing, sculpture, drawing, music, theater, creative writing can share their knowledge and talents with the residents of Whitley County.
-To increase recognition of the arts and the importance of the arts within Williamsburg, Corbin, and all rural communities within the county.
-Whitley County will identify opportunities for creative placemaking and community design.
-Council members will gain organizational knowledge through annual trainings.
-Volunteers and KEHA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through lessons and special interest workshops.
-Residents gain new skills in the arts.
-Residents will recognize that art is an integral part of life.
-Create a sense of connection to community through the arts.
-More citizens aspire to volunteer in in fine arts programing and events.
-More students believe they can carve an artistic, yet financially solvent career.
Outcome: Volunteers and KEHA members will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer training.
Indicator: Number of volunteers who report knowledge gained through county and/or area officer training.
Method: program evaluation with pre and post assessment questions
Timeline: on-going
Outcome: Volunteers will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through lessons and special interest workshops.
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership knowledge and/or Number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership skills.
Method: end of program evaluations, surveys
Timeline: on-going
Outcome: Volunteers will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level.
Indicator: Number of Volunteers or KEHA members who utilized knowledge gained through training to fulfill a leadership role at the club, county, area and/or state level.
Method: Observation, review of officer directories
Timeline: on-going
Outcome: Whitley County residents will recognize Extension Fine Arts as a valuable provider of educational, economic, and social opportunities and skills within the arts and develop an increased appreciation for the arts.
Indicator: Attendance to arts programming and events will increase, art and art education will be utilized and incorporated into community programs, local artists become more valued.
Method: Observation, testimonies, increase number of artists, arts awareness increase
Timeline: ongoing
Outcome: To increase recognition of the arts and the importance of the arts within Williamsburg, Corbin, and all rural communities within the county.
Indicator: Local galleries displaying/selling artist work, space created for creation of art and art education, murals, increase purchases of local art be Whitley county residence
Method: Observation, testimonies, evaluations
Timeline: Ongoing
Outcome: Residents gain new skills in the arts
Indicator: Higher quality of art made, experimentation with different art media, increase appreciation for working artists, increase number of artists, arts awareness increase
Method: Observation, testimonies, evaluations
Timeline: Ongoing
Outcome: Whitley County will grow artistically in conjunction with our economic growth, making Whitley County an increasingly vibrant place to live.
Indicator: More working artists, art venues increase, increase number of artists, arts awareness increase
Method: Observation, testimonies, evaluations
Timeline: Ongoing
Audience: Whitley County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: KEHA Officer and Chairman Training / County KEHA Kickoff
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Training Toolkit, KEHA Manual, KEHA Website
Inputs: FCS Agent, State Advisors
Date: Annually each fall
Audience: Whitley County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: KEHA Leader Training and/or Special Interest Workshops
Content or Curriculum: KELD Curriculum, FCS Extension Lesson Resources, FCS Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent, State Advisors, UK Specialist, FCS Program Assistant
Date: August 2023, September 2023, February 2024
Audience: Whitley County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: KEHA State Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Officer Training & Educational Chairman Workshops
Inputs: FCS Agent, State Advisors
Date: Annually each spring
Audience: Whitley County 4-H Volunteers
Project or Activity: Kentucky Volunteer Forum
Content or Curriculum: Curricula for all program areas, volunteers pick their own learning track.
Inputs: 4-H, Volunteers
Date: Every 2 Years
Audience: Program Council Members
Project or Activity: Program Council Meetings (Community Arts, Family and Consumer Sciences, ANR, 4H)
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: Agents, Specialists
Date: Quarterly Meetings
Audience: Cooperative Extension Council Members
Project or Activity: Extension Council Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Council Orientation
Inputs: Agents
Date: Quarterly
Audience: 4H Volunteers
Project or Activity: 4H Camp, 4H Community Clubs, 4H Council
Content or Curriculum: Various 4H Curriculums (Livestock, Horse, STEM, FCS, etc)
Inputs: Agents, program assistants
Date: August-June yearly
Audience: Community Arts Leaders
Project or Activity: Extension Community Arts Council meetings
Content or Curriculum: Program Council
Inputs: Community Arts Agent, Council Members
Date: Quarterly
Audience: Whitley County residents: youth and adults.
Project or Activity: Old Fashion Trading Days.
Content or Curriculum: UK pubs
Inputs: agents
Date: Annually in September.
Audience: Whitley County residents: youth and adults.Project or Activity: Nibroc Festival.
Content or Curriculum: UK pubs.
Inputs: agents.
Date: Annually in August.
Audience: University of the Cumberlands students
Project or Activity: PAT SERVE
Content or Curriculum: Community Arts curriculum
Inputs: Community Arts, Volunteers, Locally trained Artists, local businesses, community leaders
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: University of the Cumberlands students
Project or Activity: Weekend in the Burg
Content or Curriculum: Community Arts curriculum
Inputs: Community Arts, Volunteers, Locally trained Artists,
Date: Spring-Fall semesters
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Teaching Artist
Content or Curriculum: Provide local artists with tools and knowledge, and space to teach their skills to community
Inputs: Local Artists, Community Arts, 4-H
Date: Monthly 2020-2024
Author: Cortney Moses
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - CED
The problem faced by the Community Art Extension Council was the absence of bylaws, which hindered organizational structure and governance. In response, the Community Arts agent collaborated with the Area director and Community Arts program director to identify existing prototypes from across the state, setting the foundation for a solution. This proactive approach ensured a structured framework for the council's operations.Central to this success story was the leadership demonstrated by the
