E
ASPIRE Youth & Adult Leadership Program, other Extension programs make significant impact Dr. Tyrone Miller, Extension Assistant Professor
ffective leadership is critical to develop and sustain healthy communities. This leadership helps to create important networks, establish communication and provide the community with an overall sense of direction. Research shows that establishing leadership programs in communities can have remarkable financial benefits that extend far beyond those who formally participate in the program. In fact, every dollar invested in a community leadership program nets a return of nearly three dollars to the community as a whole. The out-migration of youth in urban and limited resource rural communities has resulted in a lack of traditional leaders who are available to fill these crucial community roles and, although leadership development programs can create new
leaders, many youth from these communities—particularly minority youth—often have little to no access to these innovative programs. To address the issue of bringing access to leadership development programs to the youth and areas that need it
"Every dollar invested in a community leadership program nets a return of nearly three dollars to the community as a whole. " 55 Extension Impacts, 201 3
most, TSU Extension's Dr. Tyrone Miller led a project that used a multifaceted approach including various forms of contact and education.