RED Tour members are participating in leadership roles in this work, and are recruiting an expanding cadre of grass roots participants into the ongoing county economic development work. Our shared aspiration for strengthening the human, organizational, and communty capacity engaged in rural economic development work has been met, and continues. Community leadership is a shared responsibility. The focus is community action rather than individual development, although the latter inevitably occurs as well. A local United Way raises three times as many funds due to program graduates who serve as board members.
Graduates help set a positive tone for the city.
The program allows people to cross lines of interest and work together. A county fair was reborn with the help of program graduates who serve as board members. A campaign for passing a school levy was conducted by past leadership development program graduates. A program graduate who had never been active in the community before began attending Chamber of Commerce meetings and is now Chamber President. Racial and ethnic barriers begin to decrease.