Daviess County CES

Title:

Community Vitality, Job Infrastructure, and Leadership

MAP:

Community Vitality, Job Infrastructure, and Leadership

Agents Involved:

Alexander, Hardy, Heisdorffer, and Potts

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Communications and Expressive Arts

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Leadership

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Master Gardener

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Civic Engagement

Situation:

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).  

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Generational leadership development 

• Build a work-ready workforce  

• Work on public issues 

Intermediate Outcomes:

•  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.  

Initial Outcomes:

• Knowledge and understanding of soft skills and work readiness 

• Describe 3 characteristics of a good leader 

• Identify a community issue 

• Identify personal strengths 

Evaluation:

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: 2021- 2022 

Long-term Outcome:  Extension Master Gardeners will identify issues they can address through gardening projects. 

Indicator:  Extension Master Gardeners continue to develop and implement a strategic plan for the benefit of the community. 

Method:  Strength assessments, partner interviews, developing and fulfilling the strategic plan.   

Timeline:  On going 2021 and 2022

Learning Opportunities:

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 2021-2022 

  

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 2021-2022 

 

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: 2021/2022 

  

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 2021 through Spring 2022 

 

Audience: High school Teens 

Project or Activity: High School Crop Scouting competition

Content or Curriculum: ANR Extension publications 

Inputs:  ANR Agent

Date: July 2021 

Success Stories