Mentoring Strategies for CD Implementation Success

Poster

Participants were enthusiastic about the 2004 NACDEP workshop presented by the Arizona Community Vitality Initiative (48 to 52% rating of four on a five point scale on usefulness, knowledge and quality). AZCVI shared a model approach for developing Extension system's capacity to encourage and conduct community development work in states where there are no designated community development specialists. As one participant stated," This information was very relevant to our state, since we are going through this process. We are very much in the "readiness" stage right now." What we intend to do is provide insights into how to move professionals beyond readiness to use what they learn from CD skills and tools to create change in communities.

At the 2005 NACDEP poster session, AZCVI will deepen the insights to increase implementation by providing 1.) Mentoring strategies and increasing community based outcomes, 2.) The role of community mini-grants to provide seed support and local motivation, 3.) Adaptations to CD processes for cultural communities. In addition, the workshop will provide a refined CD capacity building model and real-life examples of community projects.

We have learned that mentoring strategies are important because in spite of training, some Extension professionals need support and encouragement to try community development strategies. We will reveal strategies in greater detail that have proven successful for increasing CD approaches across multiple disciplines among Extension personnel and community members.