Community development
Developing civic muscles
Strong communities don’t happen by accident—they grow when people have the support, skills, and confidence to work together, solve problems, and shape their future. MU Extension’s Community Development team helps communities build civic muscle: the ability of residents, leaders, and organizations to work collectively for the well-being of their place.
Civic muscle develops the same way physical muscle does—through consistent practice, meaningful engagement, and shared purpose.
Community Development programs
Our Community Development programs support local leaders, organizations, and residents in building stronger, more resilient communities. Through collaborative education, facilitation, and capacity building, we address challenges and opportunities in leadership, civic engagement, local economy, and quality of life.
Participants work side-by-side with Extension professionals to design inclusive processes, mobilize assets, and foster partnerships across sectors. We offer workshops, community forums, hands-on consulting, and access to research-based practices tailored to rural and urban settings alike.
Whether your community is planning for growth, seeking to revitalize neighborhoods, or striving to engage diverse voices, our programs provide the tools and support to strengthen civic infrastructure. Grounded in evidence and responsive to local context, we aim to enhance social capital, empower residents, and stimulate equitable, sustainable development.
Programs
Missouri EATs
In partnership with communities across the state, Missouri EATs helps connect local stakeholders to build and strengthen their community’s food system. Missouri EATs is a community development process designed to engage people and help them develop a plan to act in order to make lasting changes to transform their local food system.
Missouri Good Neighbor Week
Missouri Good Neighbor Week encourages citizens of Missouri to participate in events and activities to establish connections with their neighbors.
Youth Empowerment Program
Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) is a cohort for teens in high school that focuses on learning leadership skills, public speaking, and community engagement.
Neighborhood Leadership Fellows
The mission of Neighborhood Leadership Fellows (NLF) is to increase and amplify the voices of North St. Louis City and County residents at the civic decision-making tables in order to produce more equitable regional policies for neighborhoods.
Online courses
