Developing Local Leaders: Results of a Structured Learning Experience

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Abstract
This study reports on the outcomes of a leadership program designed to develop a cadre of local leaders in voluntary associations to be active in identifying and resolving local and regional issues. The analytical method selected was a preexperiment design using the one-group pretest-posttest procedure. Knowledge gains of participants showed statistically significant differences at the posttest. Gains in the capability to use knowledge and self-confidence as a leader were positive, but only a small number of the measures used were statistically significant. The outcomes show that members of voluntary associations gained in terms of their knowledge of leadership but evidenced limited improvement in their capability and self-confidence to use the skills in contexts within the community. The implications for community development practitioners are: (1) voluntary associations are an important means of recruiting and developing local leaders; and (2) extension home economics programs that focus on broad issues, as opposed to disseminating traditional subject matter, perform a vital community development role.