Leadership Programs are Problem Solvers
One of the basic ideas of community development is that people all over the world have the same problems – caring for their kids, good jobs and safety – but the solutions are often unique to each community. Leadership programs are a valuable tool to Missouri communities as they use their local talent to develop the sorts of solutions that will work best for them.
University outreach and Extension’s leadership programs are a response to the challenges that Missouri communities address in improving their quality of life. A number of factors, chiefly the growing complexities of getting things done effectively and satisfactorily in the face of economic threats to individual livelihoods, challenges to effective institutional systems, and increasing diversity of residential populations, make community development very problematic. Leadership programs address these needs by increasing the number of well-trained and confident individuals in the community who are prepared to serve as leaders and help engage others in civic improvements that benefit the community.
UOE’s leadership program EXCEL- an Experiment in Community Entrepreneurship and Leadership-provides learning experiences tailored to individual community needs and resources. It is an adaptable, flexible curriculum designed by local residents with assistance from specialists with University Outreach and Extension in Missouri. EXCEL programs have been offered in over 25 locations and there are now 3,000 alumni of these programs actively serving their communities.
EXCEL increases the knowledge and skills of participants in areas related to effective leadership. Ability to work effectively with others, knowledge of how to develop an agenda, skill in communicating ideas about the community’s future, and other abilities increase the confidence of individual participants that they are able to provide the leadership needed for their community to succeed in achieving its goals.
If you desire further information on this or any other topic contact your local University Outreach and Extension office. University Outreach and Extension does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex sexual orientation, disability or status as a Vietnam era veteran in employment or programs.