Jefferson County CES

Title:

Developing Leadership Skills for Community and Civic Engagement

MAP:

Leadership Development

Agents Involved:

P. Adkins, C. Hall, W. Long, L. Milligan, B. Pratt, K. Smith, P. Thompson

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Master Gardener

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD)

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Community Leadership Development

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Leadership

Situation:

Volunteer leadership is the backbone of Extension. Community leadership and partnership enhances Extensions ability to achieve its mission and sustain itself.  Extension is committed to volunteer leader capacity building.  Capacity building allows us to sustain ourselves and take our organization to the next level programmatically and financially. 

Jefferson County Extension provides opportunities for youth and adults to actively engage locally and globally to promote life skills that aids in their success.  Leaders exercise critical thinking skills, learn to appreciate diversity, practice tolerance, develop socio-emotionally, and strive to contribute to their environment (United States Department of Education International Affairs Office of International Strategy). 

Youth participating in experiential learning opportunities coupled with setting goals, solving problems, and making wise decisions will help students develop their leadership skills, and in turn will provide them with the necessary skills for leading a successful life (Boyd, 2001).

Boyd, B.L. (2011). Bringing leadership experiences to inner-city youth. Journal of Extension [Online]. 39(4). Available:  https://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/a6.php   

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Youth and adults will serve as leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger children. 

• Youth and adults will identify and address critical issues that impact the community. 

• Youth and adults will use leadership skills needed to be successful in the workplace and school on a daily basis. 

• Community members are equipped with effective leadership skills to motivate others to initiate projects. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

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

• Youth and adults will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs. 

• Citizens put skills into practice by becoming more engaged in the community, taking on leadership roles. 

Initial Outcomes:

• Youth and adults will learn the leadership and parliamentary procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting. 

• Youth and adults will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader and team player. 

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

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

Evaluation:

• Initial Outcome: Youth and adults will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics. 

• Indicator: Youth and adults successfully identify positive and negative leadership characteristics in post – survey 

• Method: Pre – and post – survey/tests 

• Timeline: Before and after programs 

 

• Intermediate Outcome: Citizens put skills into practice by becoming more engaged in the community, taking on leadership roles. 

• Indicator: Increase in youth and adults serving as leaders and mentors with Extension and other community organizations. 

• Method: Observation and records 

• Timeline: After training and programs. 

 

• Long – Term Outcomes: Youth and adults will serve as leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors. 

• Indicator: Increase in youth and adults serving as leaders and mentors with Extension and other community organizations. 

• Method: Observation and records 

• Timeline: After training and programs 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Master Gardener Program and Volunteer Activities 

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Curriculum 

Inputs: Guest Speakers/Volunteers, mentors, agent, classroom, lab 

Dates: Spring 20223

Program Code: 1032 

 

Audience: Adults and Advisory Council Members 

Project or Activity: Build Organizational Leadership 

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD) 

Inputs: UK/KSU Specialists, Extension leadership 

Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Program Code: 2001 

 

Audience: Extension Homemakers Club Presidents 

Project or Activity: President’s Training 

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service publications and resources 

Date: July/August 2023

Program Code: 2004 

 

Audience: Extension Homemakers Educational Chairmen 

Project or Activity: Educational Program Chairmen Training 

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service publications and resources 

Date: September 2022

Program Code: 2004 

 

 

Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Master Clothing Volunteer (MCV) 

Content or Curriculum: MCV Curriculum, Continuing education hours for certification 

Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities, grants 

Dates: Sept. 2022 – Aug. 2023

Program Code: 2003 

 

 

Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: 4 – H Advisory Council 

Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4 – H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training Toolkit 

Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities, grants 

Date: Sept. 2022– Aug. 2023

Program Code: 2001 

 

Audience: Adults  

Project or Activity: Horse, Dog, and Livestock Volunteer 

Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4 – H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training Toolkit, Education Hours for certification 

Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities, grants 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Aug. 2023

Program Code: 4041 

 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: School Clubs, Project Clubs, Community, Clubs 

Content or Curriculum: After School Agriculture, Essential Elements of 4 – H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training Toolkit, National 4-H Curriculum,  

Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities, grants 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Aug. 2023

Program Code: 4001  

 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: Teen Summit & Teen Conference 

Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4 – H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training Toolkit 

Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities, grants 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Aug. 2023

Program Code: 4041 

 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: 4 – H Communications  

Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4 – H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training Toolkit 

Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities, grants 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Aug. 2023

Program Code: 4021 

 
 

Audience: Youth(Developing Life Skills) 

Project or Activity:  School Clubs 

Content or Curriculum: Exploring 4-H, Fiber Works, Ozobot, Lego Mindstroms 

Inputs: volunteers, facilities,grants, state specialists, staff 

Date: September 2022-April 2023

Program Code: 4001 

Success Stories

SRTLC conference

Author: Kelly Smith

Major Program: Leadership

The Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference is a first-of-its-kind, multi-state 4-H conference created to bring together 4-H teens and adults to empower & inspire them to make a positive change across the southern region through youth-adult partnerships. Started in 2005, this conference was designed by 4-H members at the National 4-H Conference in order to strengthen the leadership abilities and create ties of friendship and partnership between youth in the southern United States.  T

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Leadership Bootcamp

Author: Kelly Smith

Major Program: Leadership

The Kentucky 4-H leadership program provides opportunities for youth to grow their leadership skills in a safe and welcoming environment. Youth are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and experience new things. Our goal is to help youth gain the leadership skills they will use for life. One opportunity youth have to gain necessary skills is 4-H Leadership Boot Camp. This year the Kentucky 4-H Leadership Boot Camp was held February 2nd and 3rd at Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp. This two-d

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Leadership Bootcamp

Author: Sarah Wiseman

Major Program: Leadership

The Kentucky 4-H leadership program provides opportunities for youth to grow their leadership skills in a safe and welcoming environment. Youth are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and experience new things. Our goal is to help youth gain the leadership skills they will use for life. One opportunity youth have to gain necessary skills is 4-H Leadership Boot Camp. This year the Kentucky 4-H Leadership Boot Camp was held February 2nd and 3rd at Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp. This two-d

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Successfully Achieving Student Success at Southern High School

Author: Jessica Marquez

Major Program: Economic Development and Workforce Preparation - CED

(Jessica Marquez (CRD program agent) guiding student at Southern High School through activity, 2023) The problem Southern High School is a title I school that is part of the JCPS school system. It holds a diverse population of underserve students that are falling behind as reflected by the school report-card. 84% of the students are on track to graduate high-school in 4 years, thats below the state average of 90%. Only 33% of graduates are pursuing college or vocational programs compared to

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Teen Conference 2023

Author: Kelly Smith

Major Program: Leadership

The 99th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky June 13-16, 2023. The objectives of Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference are: develop leadership and teamwork skills, improve communication skills, foster civic engagement, expand knowledge and skills related to 4-H core content areas, gain club, county and state 4-H program skills, have fun, create a sense of belonging, expand social skills through networking, develop youth-adult partnerships, and become acquainted with

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