Extension
It Starts With Us
Building Local Leadership Capacity
Empowering Community Leaders
Nellie Buchanan
Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD): Developing Core Leadership Skills
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Building the capacity of volunteer leaders within Morgan County is critical for the sustainability of a community infrastructure that supports long term commitment to strengthen families. There are more than 130 Morgan County Extension Homemaker members, 20 County Extension Council members, 11 Family and Consumer Sciences Advisory Council members, 18 Extension Homemaker Council members who share their expertise and volunteer time with youth and families in the county. Through the efforts of the FCS agent, para-professionals and volunteer local citizens are engaged, educated and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions.
Research show that effective leadership is one factor necessary for success within today's communities and organizations. Knowing one's own leadership skills and characteristics is a critical starting point; without intrapersonal leadership knowledge, it is difficult to understand ha effective leadership looks like within interpersonal, organizational and community context. While there are many leadership development programs in Kentucky, few, if any, are based on theoretically-grounded models of leadership development. These is a need to provide both resources and research -- based on leadership curriculum regarding personal leadership knowledge and skills for today's local and community members and their groups. The KELD curriculum provides Extension educators with research based leadership development resources focused on the individual, and to utilize with stakeholder groups within local communities and organizations.
The base of potential community and organizational leaders will be broader and more diverse. Program participants serve as leadership trainers and/or mentors for others. Extension agents are equipped to empower clientele by conducting leadership development programs
Participants are more active as informal community leaders. Participants take on formal organizational and community leadership roles. Increased implementation of leadership development practices by Extension agents within county programming.
Basic understanding of the foundations of leadership development and its application in intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational and community contexts. Skills and knowledge on becoming more effective leaders. Develop adequate perceptions of leadership due to training opportunities for organizational and community leaders. Extension agents develop greater understanding of how to implement leadership development into county programming.
Initial Outcome: Basic knowledge of the foundation of leadership development
Indicator: Number of leaders training
Method: Survey and evaluation
Timeline: Fall 2018
Intermediate Outcome: Participants more active in community and organizational leadership roles.
Indicator: Number of volunteers filling leader roles
Method: Vacancies filled
Timeline: Spring 2019
Long-term Outcome: Broader base of potential community and organizational leaders
Indicator: Number of volunteers trained
Method: Evaluation
Timeline: End of 4 year plan
Audience: Members of FCS Extension Homemaker Clubs, FCS Advisory Council, Ext Homemaker Council members, County Extension Council members,
Project or Activity: Extension based leadership development programs for youth, adults and council members
Content or Curriculum: KELD materials
Inputs: Extension agents, extension specialists, local civic leaders, technology
Date: Fall 2019
Audience: Extension Homemaker leaders
Project or Activity: leader training sessions
Content or Curriculum: train the trainer sessions
Inputs: extension agents, extension specialist, technology
Date: 2019-2020
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Author: Nellie Buchanan
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Volunteers helping front line workers in 2020. Morgan County Extension Agent was initially contacted by a local nursing and rehab facility as the realization of a need for PPE was evident. Early response by the employee and administrators requesting cloth face coverings be constructed by local volunteers "who knew how to sew" to protect residents, employees and all their families made a huge impact for front line workers. The facility remained Covid-19 free nearly seven mon
