The Lincoln Trail Area Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agents hosted the Creating Welcoming Communities lesson for the Lincoln Trail Area Homemakers at their annual Kickoff in August 2024.  Over 80 Extension Homemakers and community leaders participated in the program. The program engaged participants in discussions and activities that increased their cultural proficiency.  In a survey following the event, 83% of respondents indicated they felt confident defining ‘culture’; 84% understood that culture is a unique strength; and 86% gained the understanding of the effects of negative cultural experiences.

The demographic makeup of Kentucky is changing. Our communities are improved by initiatives and strategies that build the capacity of local leaders as the social and cultural fabric of the state evolves. To better prepare community leaders for service and community stewardship, Creating Welcoming Communities seeks to engage participants in better knowing their own culture and in gaining respect for culturally related strengths.  As their membership ages, the Kentucky Extension Homemakers recognize the challenge that is facing their mission of leadership development, volunteer service, and education. To address this challenge, the Lincoln Trail Area Extension Homemaker Kick-off program is held annually to build excitement and provide resources for the new program year.

The focus for this year’s program was to build welcoming communities and strengthen the Homemaker clubs with increased organizational skills. Approximately eighty Homemakers from Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington counties attended the event centrally in Hardin County. Many of the participants were currently serving as educational lesson leaders, club and county officers and educational chairpersons.

Extension staff presented materials to improve understanding and value of cultural differences while increasing awareness of personal biases. The second portion of the program focused on volunteer leaders presenting a mock business meeting and participants identifying parliamentary procedure mistakes that discourage participation and meeting efficiency. The program concluded with evaluations and discussion on how creating welcoming and productive Homemaker clubs will support membership growth and community impact.

During the program, participants practiced utilizing skills that recognize both positive and negative judgements or biases. A simple acronym was used for individuals to highlight their own personal biases. Each letter in the ‘ADDRESSING’ acronym represents a part of a person’s identity (‘A’ is for Age and generational differences; ‘D’ is for Developmental Disabilities and Disabilities acquired in life; ‘R” is for Religion and spirituality; ‘E’ represents Ethnic and racial identity; ‘S’ is for Socioeconomic status and Sexual orientation; ‘I’ is for Indigenous heritage; ‘N’ is for National origin; ‘G’ is for Gender.) At the conclusion of the training, 95% of respondents planned to use the ‘ADDRESSING’ acronym to reflect on their own personal biases and 100% intended to ask and/or talk about culture with others.

The annual LTA Extension Homemaker Kick-off addresses a specific need each year. This year’s event focused on creating welcoming club environments to encourage all to join the organization. The volunteer leaders demonstrated increased leadership by providing input in the planning, funding, and implementation of a program. The Kick-off program fosters multi-county networking while building excitement for a new program year of improving the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service and education.  Plans are already underway for fall 2025 to address the power of civic engagement and how to shape a more vibrant, inclusive community.