Healthy Communities 101
Joyce Martin
Director, Staff & Program Development
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Investing in the Future of
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
“will require Extension to be thinking with a
stronger community focus in mind.”
David Foster
2002
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
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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 &
Economic Development
75
97
Family & Home
73
95
Schools & Education
72
94
Infrastructure &
Community Service
71
92
Community and
Economic Development No. of Counties
% of Counties
Business Development
70
90
Community Development
67
87
Agricultural Development
29
38
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