Issue #17

Leadership and Volunteer Development

Problem, Opportunity Statement

Healthy communities are places where natural, constructed, financial and social resources are utilized, and they are also places where the capacities of local people are identified, valued, refined and mobilized. Pennsylvania has experienced some change in its population over the last ten years and will continue to see growth in the future, particularly in certain age and race segments. By the year 2010, the population is expected to grow by 1 .3% to a total exceeding 12 .4 million. The fastest growing groups will be Hispanic at 29 .2% and Asian and other at 26.8%. The largest shift in population will be in the later-middle age groups, which will grow as baby boomers move into their late 50’s and early 60’s. With these shifts in the population, there is an increasing need for new leaders that represent these groups in communities.

A growing need for leadership development is evident in the demographics, as well as in the changing nature of the problems community leaders are asked to address. Pennsylvania’s counties are facing inevitable change as family farms disappear, low-paying jobs dominate the economic landscape, infrastructures decay and suburban sprawl continues to increase taxes and create traffic congestion. In rural and urban areas alike, as federal and state agencies downsize their programs, more responsibilities are being turned over to local governments and community organizations. This increased responsibility equates to a need for residents to assume positions of leadership, if indeed  they are to succeed in this increasingly competitive environment. Individuals within communities must develop the skills and capacity to work in collaborative groups to address complex problems and improve the quality of life. Research has shown that “communities where public life is vibrant have very different kinds of leaders, and a great many of them.”

In addition, Pennsylvania is experiencing an exodus of youth from our communities. Enabling our adult leaders and volunteers to assume leadership roles will assist them in their work with youth, our promise of tomorrow, who through a youth development program will be prepared to meet the challenges of the future within their schools and communities.

Cooperative Extension is well-known for its leadership development capacity building. As the population becomes more diverse and issues more complex, leadership skills are necessary for groups to successfully address problems in order to create opportunities for residents and communities. Extension can implement a leadership education program for the 21^st Century for volunteers, adults and young people that includes statewide coordination, resources and training for extension staff, and educational programs and resources to use at the county level to prepare adults and youth to capably assume leadership roles.

Subject Matter Areas

• Adult Leadership Development

·        Volunteer Development and Management

o       4-H

o       Youth Development

o       Family and Consumer Sciences

o       Community Development

o       Agriculture

o       Natural Resources

o       Dairy

o       Horticulture

o       Forestry

o       Water Quality

Program Titles and/or Program Topics by Subject Matter

• Youth Leadership Development

• Youth Leadership Life Skills
• Youth Leadership Self Assessment
• Youth Leadership Program Support

§         Local, County, Regional, State, National

• Youth Service Learning

• Adult Leadership Development

o       Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow

o       Master Volunteer training

o       Officer Training (for adult groups)

• Volunteer Development and Management 

• Leadership and the Management of Volunteers
• Volunteers…the foundation of youth development

Indicators by Subject Matter Area

·        Youth Leadership Development

o       Number of youth completing leadership projects.

o       Number of youth serving as leaders.

o       Number of youth who participate in regional leadership, state leadership and national leadership opportunities.

·        Adult Leadership Development

o       Number of community leadership partnerships formed.

o       Number of adults who increased knowledge and skill (scale measurement).

o       Number of adults who assume leadership positions.

o       Number of adults who complete training.

o       Dollars secured to conduct adult leadership programming.

·        Volunteer Development and Management 

o       Number of volunteer partnerships established.

o       Dollars secured to conduct volunteer leadership programming.

o       Number of ongoing volunteers.

o       Number of new volunteers recruited.

o       Number of volunteers who increased knowledge skills.

o       Number of new volunteer members participating in the organization.