University of Missouri Extension

University of Missouri Extension helps people create communities of the future. Community development education helps citizens tap into local strengths and University resources.

Community Development is divided into five major themes:

I. Community Leadership Development

EXCEL, an Experience in Community Enterprise and Leadership, builds community leadership capacity. Its high degree of flexibility, local control, inclusiveness, and focus on the future of community governance distinguishes EXCEL from other approaches to leadership development.

Step Up to Leadership! builds the capacity of community-minded people who are wanting to make a difference; willing to assume the responsibilities of board membership; seeking understanding about group processes and the complexities of collaboration; and ready to take on the challenge of leadership.
Facilitator's guide
Participant's manual

II. Community Decision Making

Community decision support enhances local capacity to make sound policy choices. Rapid changes in technology, economic and social patterns require a greater depth of analysis and understanding if local decision makers are to make sound policy choices. Tools include economic models, demographic analysis, Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping, fiscal impact tools, and local government support.

MY LoGo (Formerly CECH-UP) (Missouri Youth Engaged in Local Government) provides middle school students with the opportunity to learn with local government officials about local government, study and make recommendations on local issues, and take action on local issues facing communities.

Missouri Poll Worker Training
Developed under a contract with Missouri Secretary of State, Missouri Poll Worker Training is a comprehensive state-wide training program for Missouri poll workers a variety of materials that can be mixed and matched to fit differing training timelines needed by local election officials.

Missouri Communities Deliberate assists communities in building their knowledge about and engaging difficult public issues through dialogue. The process helps to mitigate conflict, polarization and stalemates which commonly result over issues where there are no optimal solutions and, which require public input.

Healthy Lifestyle Initiative
The University of Missouri Extension Healthy Lifestyle Initiative is working to create healthy communities that support the availability of healthy, affordable, locally-produced food and safe, accessible physical activity. MU Extension has dedicated resources to develop, deliver and evaluate a holistic and systemic approach to community-based nutrition, health, and physical activity. Collaborations with communities focus on impacting lifelong health by making the healthy choice the easy choice.

III. Economic Viability

Community Economic and Entrepreneurial Development (ExCEED) is a University of Missouri Extension cross-disciplinary program that works with regional groups to stimulate entrepreneurial communities and foster a climate of entrepreneurship locally, regionally and statewide. ExCEED takes a fresh approach to community revitalization, particularly with rural communities, through a special partnership between the University of Missouri Extension, Community Policy & Analysis Center (CPAC), and the Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis (OSEDA) with a focus on place-based development

Food Circles Networking Project is creating an infrastructure to create the community-based food systems that help farm families produce food for local markets; connect farmers and consumers directly; encourage community-based processing and distribution; and encourage the consumption of locally grown food.

IV Building Inclusive Communities

The Community Development Academy provides high quality relevant community development education through a series of three courses. Each five-day course is intensive, experiential, available for noncredit (continuing education units) or for three hours undergraduate or graduate credit. The courses explore ideas and develop practical skills for effectively involving and empowering local citizens and leaders in community-based efforts.

* The Community Development Academy Courses can be taken as part of the Community Process Graduate Certificate Program

Strengthening Community Non-Profit Organizations supports small, community-based groups and nonprofits and they develop their capacity to address important community issues. The program assists groups on a range of development topics including incorporation, planning, collaboration, financial management, marketing, and others.

Alianzas engages people and organizations in developing understanding of the language and culture of Missouri's Latino population.

Global Leadership Education

V. Community Emergency Preparedness

The Community Emergency Management Program provides education and technical assistance to individual and families, local governments, businesses, schools and organizations in preparing and responding to disasters.

Mary Simon Leuci, Community Development Program Director
leucim@missouri.edu
Jon Hardy, Website Maintenance
hardyjj@missouri.edu

Updated 9/15/09