Improve leadership skills, strengthen volunteerism, & promote community and economic development.Plan of Work

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Hickman County CES

Title:
Improve leadership skills, strengthen volunteerism, & promote community and economic development.
MAP:
Empowering Leaders and Strengthening Community
Agents Involved:
John David Tucker, Mike Keller, Melissa Goodman
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Economic Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Civic Engagement
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Community Engagement
Situation:

Economic, social, political, and technological advances in society create a higher demand for people to demonstrate more effective leadership and volunteer skills. Leadership skills, including, communication, managing, decision-making, listening, self-motivation, and understanding-self, etc., are essential. In 2018 over 77.34 million people volunteered their time. The proportion of the population who volunteered in America in 2018 was 30.3 percent. These volunteers service was worth an estimated $167 billion in economic value (Independent Sector).  In order for Cooperative Extension to reach Hickman County, leadership skills must be developed in youth and adults to multiply efforts. A focus of Extension will be to build a volunteer base and increase leadership skills.

Hickman County has had a high turnover of small businesses in recent years and many businesses have left. We have many commuter employees. Our unemployment rate was 5% in 2019 which is 1% higher than the KY rate. Our clientele feels it is important for Cooperative Extension to address and facilitate community and economic development, especially in the areas of bringing the community together, leadership development, civic pride, and communication of like-minded organizations.

According to the 2019 Kentucky Extension Community Assessment, Hickman County community members feel it is important to raise up more qualified leaders to prepare the community for the future, involve more citizens in helping solve local issues and improve on the cooperation between community organizations. In regards to jobs and infrastructure, clientele feels that creating more jobs with good wages and benefits, gaining access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet service, and improved responsiveness of emergency services is imperative.  

Long-Term Outcomes:

Extension Homemaker organization will become a sustainable volunteer organization in the county.


4-H participants will become contributing members of society.


Phase I Ag Development Council will utilize funds for the betterment of the community as a whole.


The clientele will serve as leaders of other organizations, thus enabling them to identify and address critical issues that directly affect the citizens of the community.


Council members will utilize the leadership skills obtained in the county to provide leadership in Extension organizations in the district, region, state, and nation.


Hickman County would be a sustainable community that thrives together.


Residents will understand the importance of supporting local businesses and organizations.


Residents will work together to create a better Hickman County.


Organizations will accomplish more through collaboration and cooperation.


Arts and Local Tourism as well as the Farmers Market will become viable entities of the community.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth and Teens will practice leadership through volunteer opportunities & community service.


Adults will practice leadership through increased volunteerism and taking on leadership roles.


Program councils will become more involved in program planning and leadership of Extension Programming.


Quilt Square Tourism will be marketed by Hickman County residents and businesses.


Participants broaden participation in community service and community events.


Businesses and Community Members will engage and utilize strategic planning.


Hickman County Clientele will internalize civic pride.


Initial Outcomes:

Participants will gain an understanding of leadership styles

Participants will acquire decision making skills

Participants understand importance in diversity

Participants learn importance in volunteerism

Participants aspire to increase involvement in leadership roles.

Participants gain knowledge in leadership and communication skills.

Program Council members/CEC will aspire to active participation.

Clientele will increase knowledge of community events and assets through marketing.

Organizational Leaders will increase knowledge and skills for collaboration.

Business and Community Leaders will gain positive opinion and aspirations for strategic planning.

Evaluation:

Intermediate Outcome: Youth & teens will take on leadership roles

Indicator: Participants are serving as leaders in the community

Method: Observing, participation, follow-up surveys

Timeline: 2024-2025 Program Year


Intermediate Outcome: Extension Homemakers will take on leadership roles

Indicator: Participation and Roles filled

Method: Observation, participation, follow-up surveys

Timeline: 2024-2025 Program Year


Intermediate: Participants will increase knowledge of leadership skills

Indicator: Knowledge of leadership skills

Method: Pre/Post Assessment

Timeline: 2024-2025 Program Year


Intermediate Outcome: Increased Communication Among Organizations in Hickman County

Indicator: Positive Correlations of questions on a survey

Method: Survey and Word of Mouth

Timeline: Spring 2025

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Youth Entrepreneurship w/DIY Club

Content or Curriculum: Be the “E”, Agent provided curriculum

Inputs: Extension Agents

Date: 2024-2025 school year


Audience: Youth, Adults Families

Project or Activity: Spring Chicken Festival

Content or Curriculum: Community Involvement, CEDIK Resources: Tourism

Inputs: Chamber of Commerce, Volunteers/Collaborators, Agents

Date: Spring Annually


Audience: Community and Small Businesses

Project or Activity: Shop Local Campaign

Content or Curriculum: Agent Provided

Inputs: Chamber of Commerce, Local Businesses

Date: Program Year 2024-2025


Audience: Teens and Adults

Project or Activity: Work Ready Soft Skills and Workforce Prep Workshop

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Career Exploration, Workforce Readiness Curriculum, Positive Employability

Inputs: Workforce Development Board, Extension Staff, County Gov't, Hickman County HS

Date: Spring 2025


Audience: High School Freshmen

Project or Activity: Chamber Youth Leadership Program

Content or Curriculum: YELP, KELD, CEDIK Resources, FCS Empowering Leaders Resources, Community Strategic Planning

Inputs: Chamber of Commerce, Extension, Community Education, High School, Local Businesses and Gov't

Date: Program year 2024-2025


Audience: General Population

Project or Activity: Hickman County Quilt Trail

Content or Curriculum: KY Arts Council

Inputs: KY Arts Council, Hickman County Arts Council, GRRO, Tourism Resources

Date: Program year 2024-2025


Audience: General Population and Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity: Hickman County Extension Homemakers

Content or Curriculum: KEHA, FCS Material

Inputs: KEHA, FCS

Date: Program Year 2024-2025


Audience: Youth / Community Members

Project or Activity: Community Service Day

Content or Curriculum: The Leader in Me, Unlock Your Leadership Potential

Inputs: Extension Staff, Family Resource Coordinator, Community Education Director, School Faculty, Master Gardeners, Library, Community Volunteers

Date: Fall 2024 / Spring 2025


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