Extension
It Starts With Us
Community Vitality, Job Infrastructure, and Leadership
Community Vitality, Job Infrastructure, and Leadership
Alexander, Dunn, Hardy, Heisdorffer, and Potts
Communications and Expressive Arts
Leadership
Master Gardener
Civic Engagement
Building the skills of volunteer leaders within the county is important for the community to address the local challenges faced by everyone. Empowerment is a tool used to encourage growth and change, according to Dr. K. Rickette, University of Kentucky Leadership Development Extension Specialist. By strengthening the capacities of individuals, organizations, and communities, they can act on their shared visions and challenges found in the community.
Through the 2019 Daviess County Extension Assessment, more qualified leaders to prepare the community for the future, more citizens helping to solve local issues, more youth community leadership opportunities, and more qualified employees for existing and new jobs were identified.
By supporting and engaging young leaders, adults, organizations, and communities experience direct benefits through stronger connections to other young people in the community (Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes, & Lorens, 2001). They have a greater understanding of the problems facing other youth and fresh perspectives for how to address these problems (Des Marais, Yang, & Farzanehkia, 2000; Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes, & Lorens, 2001; McGillicuddy, 1991). Additionally, young people help to re-energize adults and counteract negative stereotypes of youth when they are successfully engaged in leadership within their communities (Zeldin, & Camino, 1999; Fiscus, 2003).
Generational leadership development
Build a work-ready workforce
Work on public issues
Lead a meeting, present an oral presentation, and/or host a demonstration
Demonstrate work readiness (responsible, work well with others, problem solve, time management)
Plan steps to address a community issue
Developing community partnerships for the benefit of the public
Developing a strategic plan
Youth will be involved in civic engagement
Clients will demonstrate leadership to prepare our community in the future to address and solve local issues.
Knowledge and understanding of soft skills and work readiness
Describe 3 characteristics of a good leader
Identify a community issue
Identify personal strengths
Initial Outcome: Youth will have a better understanding of leadership
Indicator: Youth will be able to describe three characteristics of a good leader
Method: Written and verbal evaluations
Timeline: School year
Intermediate Outcome: Continue to develop community partnerships to benefit the public
Indicator: Organize communications and set up activities with partners
Method: Partnership interviews and collaborations, Extension Master Gardeners
Timeline: Summer 2020 and throughout the year
Long-term Outcome: Extension Master Gardeners will identify issues they can address through gardening projects.
Indicator: Extension Master Gardeners will develop a strategic plan for the benefit of the community.
Method: Use of Ripple Effect Mapping, strength assessments, and partner interviews.
Timeline: July – March 2021
Audience: Youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications Lessons and Contest
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Speeches Publication, 4-H Demonstrations Publication, 4-H Communications Curriculum: Picking up the Pieces, Putting it Together, and The Perfect Fit
Inputs: 4-H Agents, 4-H Program Assistant, School Teachers
Date: School Year 2020-2021
Audience: High School Teens
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Board, High School Classrooms
Content or Curriculum: College and Career Readiness 4-H Curriculum, 4-H Workforce Preparation Curriculum, UK Meeting and Greeting Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agents, 4-H Program Assistant
Date: School Year 2020-2021
Audience: 4-H Leaders
Project or Activity: Leader Training, Club Officer Training, 4-H Camp Volunteer Training
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agents, West KY 4-H Faculty
Date: 2020/2021
Audience: Extension Master Gardeners
Project or Activity: Strategic Planning for Community Horticultural Programs Benefiting the Community
Content or Curriculum: Working with Extension Specialist developing a public value statement and strategic plan for Extension Master Gardener Program
Inputs: Extension specialists, Extension Master Gardeners, and Community Partners
Date: Summer 2020 through Spring 2021
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Estate Planning Series
Content or Curriculum: FCS Extension publications
Inputs: Extension specialists and local attorneys
Date: Jan/Feb 2021
Author: Annette Heisdorffer
Major Program: Master Gardener
Extension Master Gardener volunteers, trained by the Extension Agent for Horticulture Education in Daviess County, play a vital role in providing science-based, gardening information to the public. The Green River Area Extension Master Gardener Association (GRAEMGA) Executive Committee took a leadership role in deciding to conduct key community partner interviews as part of their strategic planning process for determining their upcoming projects and programs. Extension Specialists fr
Author: Annette Heisdorffer
Major Program: Master Gardener
The Extension Master Gardener Program develops leadership skills and contributes to the community. A strategic plan was developed by the Extension Master Gardeners, with the help of Dr. Nicole Breazeale, Department of Community and Leadership Development, and the horticulture agent to make the most impact with the volunteers’ time in the community through horticultural programs. The plan was started with a Ripple Effect Mapping session attend by 29 Green River Area Extension Master
