Christian County CES

Title:

Cultivating community leadership, engagement and pride through educational and experiential learning.

MAP:

Empowering Community Leadership Engagement and Pride

Agents Involved:

Tiffany Bolinger, Matt Futrell, Kelly Jackson, Jeremiah Johnson, Mary Anne Garnett, Katie Mills

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Family and Consumer Science

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Master Gardener

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Facilitation Training

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Civic Engagement

Situation:

According to the United States Department of Labor- Bureau of Labor Statistics, the volunteer rates declined by 0.4 percentage point to 24.9 percent for the year ending in September 2015. Approximately 62.6 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2014 and September 2015 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Volunteering in the United States, 2015"). There is an increasing need for educated volunteers to assist agents to address local needs. Volunteers provide nonprofit institutions the opportunity to provide additional programs and services. Persons that volunteer need to be educated to be able to accept volunteer and leadership opportunities and understand the importance of volunteering as a contribution to the community. By providing education and resources to those volunteers, the foundation has been laid to empower them as community leaders and ignite success in the programs offered by extension.

Long-Term Outcomes:

* Youth will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth.

* Youth will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity and multiculturalism in their daily life.

* Youth will identify and address critical issues that impact the community

* Youth will be productive, contributing adults in the future.

* Youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.

* Christian County citizens will be volunteering on a regular basis to the extent that volunteerism is recognized as a valuable resource in the community.

* Extending the outreach of the Cooperative Extension Service by improving knowledge and communication skills of Master Gardeners, Extension Volunteers, 4-H Leaders and Volunteers, Extension Homemakers thus creating a pool of volunteers with the abilities and willingness to apply their many skills in leading and educating the public through community education projects and activities.

Intermediate Outcomes:

* Youth will demonstrate leadership, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives.

* Youth will utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other venues with 4-H and other community organizations.

* Senior 4-H members will become leaders or co-leaders of a 4-H project club, day camp or other project based group of younger 4-H members.

* Youth will indicate increased awareness of diversity issues in their community and personal lives.

* Youth will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.

* The Christian County population will volunteer more hours or will take on additional leadership roles.

* Number of hours reported by extension volunteers.

Initial Outcomes:

* Youth will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting.

* Youth will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader, team player and communicator.

* Youth will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.

* Youth will learn about diversity and will demonstrate inclusivity.

* Youth will acquire decision making skills and gain an appreciation for civic engagement.

* Youth will learn how to set appropriate, attainable goals.

* Youth will listen to people who have different ideas from them.

* Clientele will become more aware of the needs of their community.

* Clientele will become more educated in specific subject matter areas to teach, lead and train others.

* Number of volunteers participating in Master Gardener classes.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Stronger, more cohesive, productive 4-H Council

Indicator: Completed goals, committee work

Method: Workshops, education programs and incentives

Timeline: Program year 2024-2025

Initial Outcome: Extension Boards and Councils will have increased diversity and numbers of members attending.

Indicator: Increased participation and attendance in council and committee meetings, functioning committees, and regular rotation of leadership roles.

Method: post test evaluations of programs

Timeline: at the conclusion of program

Intermediate Outcome: Youth leaders exhibit improved leadership skills.

Indicator: Youth assume leadership roles in clubs, councils and committees, and develop community service projects.

Method: Observation through increases programs and teen involvement

Timeline: Program year 2024-2025

Intermediate Outcome: Increased number of Master Gardener volunteer hours reported by active members.

Indicator: A minimum of 25 Master Gardeners will repay volunteer hours, resulting in 375 volunteer total hours.

Method: Master Gardener volunteer hours recording form.

Timeline: Forms are to be completed quarterly, totals reported by December each year.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth and volunteers

Project or Activity: Empowering youth and adult volunteers to become community leaders

Content or Curriculum: Civic engagement, Citizenship, Service Learning, My Leadership Workbook, Character Counts, Extension council trainings

Inputs: Program administration, Staff & Support Staff Time, Volunteer Support and time, Volunteer & youth development research based information, funding, travel, printed and online resources, communications & networking, commitment to inclusivity, partnerships with community & state organizations, facilities, local, county, district, state, and national network.

Date: Program year 2024-2025

Audience: County & Military Youth

Project or Activity: Jr. Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (Jr. MANRRS)

Content or Curriculum: Civic engagement, Citizenship, Service Learning, My Leadership Workbook, Character Counts, Leaders in Me

Inputs: Extension Agents, community partners, University administration and departments, Colleigiate MANRRS, travel, local, state, and national conferences to include workshop presenters, career/opportunity fair exhibitors and agriculture industry sponsors and partners

Date: Program year 2024-2025

Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Kentucky Master Gardener Training

Content or Curriculum: State MG Curriculum

Input: Agents; specialists, volunteers, local gardeners

Date: Fall 2025

Audience: Homemaker Members

Project or Activity: Officer Training; Leader Lessons

Content or Curriculum: Officer Training on Responsibilities/Roles; Monthly lessons, volunteer opportunities

Inputs: agent, facilities, curriculum, extension resources

Date: year round

Success Stories