A New Approach to Solving Community Challenges

National Epsilon Sigma Phi ConferenceOctober 2015

Diane D. Mack K-State Research and Extension

Extension Specialist 4-H Youth Development

dmack@ksu.edu

How do we GROW Kansas 4-H

Partners• Department of 4-H Youth Development• Local Kansas Extension Units• Kansas 4-H Foundation• Kansas Leadership Center

How do we GROW Kansas 4-H

Help local communities• Explore reaching new audiences• Engage more volunteers• Marshall additional resources

Kansas Leadership Center’s FrameworkChallenges:

Technical – clearly defined; ready made solutions that can be implemented by authority figures or experts

Adaptive – require learning new ways of operating; progress is made when stakeholders, not simply authority figures, take action; always involves some sort of loss

Concepts pioneered by Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky

Kansas Leadership Center’s Framework

Six requirements for making progress on Adaptive Challenges:

Solutions lie outside of our current way of operating Solutions require learning Solutions require a shift in responsibility from authority

to stakeholders Solutions require distinguishing what is precious and

what is expendable Solutions demand experimentations Solutions require longer timeframes than we are

accustomed to

Kansas Leadership Center’s Framework

Leadership Principles:1. Leadership is an activity, not a position.2. Anyone can lead, anytime, anywhere.3. It starts with you and must engage others.4. Your purpose must be clear.5. It’s risky.

Kansas Leadership Center’s Framework

Leadership Competencies:• Diagnose Situation• Manage Self• Energize Others• Intervene Skillfully

For the Common Good Quick Guidewww.kansasleadershipcenter.org

Diagnose Situation: Grow Kansas 4-H

Explore:Changing demographicsNeeds of today’s familiesCurrent trends in volunteerismNew 4-H club model

Growing Kansas Leaders: 4-H Program Expansion Grant

Goals:• Increase the number of 4-H volunteers by 20%• Increase the number of 4-H clubs by 15%,

including piloting SPecial INterest (SPIN) clubs• Increase the number of 4-H youth by 25%• Increase the retention of 4-H families by 10%

Growing Kansas Leaders: 4-H Program Expansion Grant

Components of Process at State Level:• Application process, start one new cohort

each year for three years• Each cohort forms a learning community,

connect each month by conference call• All cohorts meet together, face to face, once

each year

Growing Kansas Leaders: 4-H Program Expansion Grant

Components of Process at Local Level:• Form Leadership Team of community partners• Local staff participates in Leadership Edge

Training with the Kansas Leadership Center• Conduct Leadership Team meeting facilitated

by KLC faculty member• Write a Business Plan and execute plan to

meet grant goals over a three year period

Growing Kansas Leaders:4-H Program Expansion Grant

Blue: Cohort 1 Red: Cohort 2 Green: Cohort 3

Growing Kansas Leaders: 4-H Program Expansion Grant

Leadership Team Meeting Outline

  2012-2013

Year 12013- 2014

Year 2Total

Number of SPIN Clubs10 12 22

SPIN Club Members 173 156 329

Number of Community Clubs 2 1 3

Community Club Members 57 12 69

Number of Project Clubs0 2 2

Project Club Members0 25 25

Enrollment Data from Pilot Sites

Comments and Questions