Leadership & Civic Engagement
Community Leadership Program
Purdue Extension’s Community Leadership Program is a locally hosted leadership development course for adults who want to make a difference in their communities. Through this series of 11 interactive modules, participants learn about their own leadership capacity, the people, organizations and institutions that make up their communities and how they can engage in serving their communities more deeply.
In many Indiana counties, the Community Leadership Program is an annual, or every two years, offering that engages many community partners in preparing the next generation of leaders. In some counties, the program meets the requirements for participants to earn an official Purdue Certificate.
Overview
Confident, skilled and knowledgeable leaders are needed to inspire, lead and foster dynamic and viable organizations and communities in Indiana. The Purdue Extension Community Leadership Program is a statewide program in Indiana for individuals who want to improve their local communities by getting more involved in local nonprofit boards, government committees and other volunteer efforts. While there are many individuals in a community who are willing to give their time and talents to serve the needs of others, sometimes they lack the connections, skills or confidence to take on leadership roles. This program helps prepare them.
Purdue Extension’s Community Leadership Program is an 11-module leadership development training program hosted by county Extension Educators, facilitated by trained Purdue Extension staff and built on research-based curriculum. The program can complement existing community leadership development efforts in Indiana or foster new leadership development in communities where no programming currently exists.
Program Sessions:
- Getting to Know My County
- Identifying My Leadership Style
- Leading through Interpersonal Communication
- Exploring Diversity in My County
- Managing Conflict
- Getting Involved in My Community
- Serving on Nonprofit Boards
- Exploring Economic Development in My County
- Exploring Education in My County
- Learning How County Government Works
- Building a Healthy Community
Team
Contact an Extension Educator in your county to learn more about your local Community Leadership Development program.
| County | Name | Phone | |
| Brown County | Tayna Hall | Tjhall@purdue.edu | 812-723-7107 |
| Cass County | Krista Pullen | kristapullen@purdue.edu | 574-753-7750 |
| Daviess County | Cindy Barber | cabarber@purdue.edu | 812-254-1060 ext. 279 |
| Fulton County | Mark Kepler | mkepler@purdue.edu | 574-223-3397 |
| Huntington County | Karen Hinshaw | kdhinsha@purdue.edu | 260-358-4826 |
| Jasper County | Alice Smith | smit1357@purdue.edu | 219-866-5741 |
| Newton County | Danielle Sands | dsands@purdue.edu | 219-285-8620 |
| Orange County | Tanya Hall | Tjhall@purdue.edu | 812-723-7107 |
| Pike County | Cindy Barber | Cabarber@purdue.edu | 812-254-1060 ext. 279 |
| Putnam County | Lori Bouslog | lbouslog@purdue.edu | 812-268-4332 |
| Tipton County | Terri Newcom | tnewcom@purdue.edu | 765-675-2694 |
| Valparaiso (City) | Patty Keating | pkeating@purdue.edu | 219-465-3555 |
| Vermillion County | Lori Bouslog | lbouslog@purdue.edu | 800-340-8155 |
| Vigo County | Kristi Whitacre | kwhitacr@purdue.edu | 812-462-3371 |
| White County | Andrew Westfall | Awestfal@purdue.edu | 219-984-5115 |
Contact
To learn more about Purdue Extension’s Community Leadership Development Program, contact:
Kym Schwinkendorf
kschwink@purdue.edu
219-386-5232
