Healthy Communities 101 Joyce Martin Director, Staff & Program Development Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

“will require Extension to be thinking with a stronger community focus in mind.” David Foster 2002 Investing in the Future of Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

Goals and Purpose To develop a team approach to the area of community development To implement suggestions from the “Listening Sessions” To stimulate/motivate county educators to think outside the “Agriculture and Family and Consumer Science Box” To help educators gain knowledge and skills in the area of community development To assist county educators on how to utilize the information/resources To provide a toolbox package to assist educators

What Did the Listening Sessions Tell Us?

Guiding Question “Considering the next 3 to 5 years, what are the critical issues in your community and in Oklahoma that need to be addressed to realize a positive future for you, your family, and your community?”

Traveling Road Show Four in-service trainings held in four locations October 2003

Topics Covered What are Healthy Communities Oklahoma Data and Trends Human Capital and Civic Engagement Economic Diversification Developing Entrepreneurs Local Government Economics and Mangement of Community Services Rural Oklahoma in Transition Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma

Seventy eight community listening sessions conducted 2,722 citizens attended

Major Issues No. Of Counties% of Counties Community &7597 Economic Development Family & Home7395 Schools & Education7294 Infrastructure &7192 Community Service

Community and Economic Development No. of Counties % of Counties Business Development Community Development Agricultural Development Tourism 15 19

70 out of 77 counties indicated business development as a critical issue

Focal points – Business Development Creation of New Jobs

Community Development Community Cooperation Citizen Involvement Civic Pride

Where do we go from here?

Community Economic Development Toolkit