Extension
It Starts With Us
Strengthen Community, Leadership and Economic Development in Harlan County
Community and Leadership Development
Raymond Cox, Jeremy Williams, Chasity Heck
Trail Design
Community Engagement
Economic Development
Emergency Disaster Preparedness
Citizens that have a sense of community are vital to having a positive outlook on community and leadership development. The Harlan County Cooperative Extension Service along with leaders identified a need to build and sustain community and leadership development. From 2010 to 2019, the estimated census shows that Harlan County's population has decreased by 11.2%. With this decline in population, there is a need for citizens, both adults and youth, to become more involved, better communicators, workers, and leaders for the well being of Harlan County.
Citizens, including leaders and volunteer, will become more involved in community and leadership development within community and Extension organizations to promote the growth of these organizations and to better serve the people of Harlan County.
Citizens will become more active and take on leadership roles, as well as, become more knowledgeable about the needs of their communities. Youth and adults will assume a greater role in community service and be able to communicate through school and community programs.
Citizens will want to become more involved in community organizations and projects. Extension programs and councils will gain new members and leaders. Youth and adults will connect their skills gained to leadership and community development opportunities. Citizens will strive to gain knowledge needed to incorporate life skills into everyday living. Citizens will take an active roll in local tourism and economic development.
Initial Outcome: Gain community and leadership development skills
Indicator: Citizens will gain knowledge and skills
Method: Observations, citizen reports, evaluations
Timeline: Throughout year
Intermediate Outcome: Skills learned are being used
Indicator: Participate in Extension or community events
Method: Personal observations, evaluations
Timeline: Throughout year
Long-term Outcome: Youth and adults will assume leadership roles
Indicator: Number of youth and adults participating in organizations and events taking on leadership roles
Method: Participation in events, surveys, observations
Timeline: Throughout year
Audience: Adult and youth
Project or Activity: Appalachian and Coal Heritage
Content or Curriculum: Historical information from the region
Inputs: Staff, leaders, volunteers, community groups
Date: Fall 2024 and Spring 2025
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Tri-Cities Trail Town
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Trail Town Guide, Tri-Cities Trail Town Guide,
Inputs: Staff, volunteers, leaders
Date: Fall 2024 and Spring 2025
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Harlan County Extension Homemakers
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications, Extension staff
Inputs: Staff, leaders, volunteers
Date: Fall 2024 and Winter 2025
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Leadership Harlan County United
Content or Curriculum: Leadership development curriculum
Inputs: Staff, leaders, community organizations and businesses, Southeast KY Community and Technical College, Harlan County Board of Education, guest speakers
Date: April thru November 2025
Audience: 4th and 5th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Parliamentary Procedure - 4-H Club meetings
Content or Curriculum: Parliamentary Procedure publications
Inputs: Staff, teachers
Date: Fall 2024
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Speeches, Demonstrations, Variety Show
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Publications
Inputs: Staff, volunteers, teachers, leaders
Date: Spring 2025
Audience: Tri-County 4H Leadership Academy
Project or Activity: High School
Content or Curriculum: Staff, volunteers, community & business leaders
Inputs: Staff, volunteers
Date: September 2024 thru April 2025
Audience: Pre-teen thru 12 grade
Project or Activity: Teen Conference
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Teen curriculum
Inputs: Staff, volunteers, guest speakers
Date: Summer 2025
Audience: Teens
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Summit
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Teen curriculum
Inputs: Staff, volunteers, guest speakers
Date: Spring 2025
Audience: Teenagers
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Teen curriculum
Inputs: Staff, volunteers, guest speakers
Date: Monthly meetings September 2024 thru May 2025
Audience: Youth ages 9-13
Project or Activity: 4H Summer Camp
Content or Curriculum: Hands on projects, crafts
Inputs: Staff, volunteers, teens, camp staff
Date: Summer 2024 and Summer 2025
Audience: Youth ages 7-11
Project or Activity: 4H Summer Day Camps
Content or Curriculum: 4H Curriculums and activities
Inputs: Staff, volunteers
Date: Summer 2024 and Summer 2025
Audience: Adults and Youth
Project or Activity: Disaster Preparedness
Content or Curriculum: Publications, workshop, Harlan County Youth Preparedness Program, CERT
Inputs: Staff, Emergency Management Director, Public Service
Date: Fall 2024, Winter 25 and Spring 2025
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Support and Retention of Small Businesses
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Informational Meetings and Programs
Inputs: Staff, CEDIK, SBDC
Date: Winter 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Adulting 101
Content or Curriculum: Publications,
Inputs: Staff, volunteers
Date: Spring 2025
Audience: Adults (This will be presented in our community and in an Area Leadership Training.)
Project or Activity: Avoiding Identity Theft
Content or Curriculum: Publications from the University of Kentucky
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: Fall 2024 and Spring 2025
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Holiday Ideas on a Budget
Content or Curriculum: The 2023 Holidays Ideas Publication
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: Fall 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Homemakers Leadership Training in preparation for Homemakers membership Drive
Content or Curriculum: Provided by the University of Kentucky
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: Spring 2025
Author: Jeremy Williams
Major Program: Community Engagement
Harlan County faces a significant issue with heirs property due to inadequate estate planning. This leads to uncertainty, legal complications, and potential economic burdens for heirs.The Harlan County Extension Service, in collaboration with the Harlan County Extension Council and Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN), organized a Will Clinic and Heir Property Education Program. This program provided free legal advice and assistance to county residents.Fifteen Harlan County residents a
