Tiffin University Activity 2.1: Role of Community Leaders discussion

Introduction

For this discussion, you will have the opportunity to describe the role community leaders play in your chosen community issue. 

First, let’s define “community.” In the context of this course, we are attempting to involve you in your local community or a community you have access to. Think of your church, the community center in your city, local business groups, an organization you may belong to, or even your workplace. All of these local communities represent a larger community. Think global. Act local.

Community leaders are integral within communities, and the power and influence they possess can impact communities positively or negatively. Community leaders are defined as any person who possesses decision-making capabilities within the community (a school principal, pastor, mayor, club president, etc.). Therefore, gaining further understanding as to some of the specific roles community leaders play in your chosen issue will help you to more clearly understand a potential solution.

Secondary Responses

Provide at least two secondary responses to your classmates for the Discussion by answering the following questions:

Are their community leaders accessible? Do you think they could send a letter to them and receive a response? Would they listen?

Can you provide any insight, experience, advice, or opinions for thought?

one paragraph for each of the secondary responses.

• ————————
• Marquitta: Community can be defined as a group of people that have a common area of residential habitation and or vested interest within a particular area. With my community issue being focused on juvenile engagement during summer months, I see leadership within my community to understand and agree on how allocating resources and programming toward young people will benefit the community as a whole.

Power holders typically hold meetings that are attended by the general public. City council members are assigned to particular areas of the city and they are responsible for addressing the needs within their respective area. For the councilman to take inventory of their area needs they must engage the citizens. The safety forces traditionally have youth programming. My community issue would ensure that the existing programming is made available and resourceful for young people regardless of the area of the city they reside.

Identifying these community leaders creates a valuable network that works in unison to provide the city’s youth with several, productive, and educational outlets during the summer months.

Dennis:

Community leaders play an important role in addressing healthcare access issues in every community. Their tasks include advocacy, resource allocation, policy formulation, and community participation. They act as activists, raising awareness about healthcare access and the difficulties encountered by underprivileged people. They also have an impact on resource allocation, diverting cash toward access-improving activities. Leaders also play an important role in policymaking, pushing for policies that reduce barriers to access and ensuring their successful implementation. Furthermore, they promote community participation and cooperation by encouraging communication among stakeholders to identify concerns and create solutions jointly.

           There are various methods for properly identifying and contacting these leaders. Research and networking assist in identifying important stakeholders, while direct approach via different methods such as email, phone calls, or in-person meetings opens discourse. Leveraging existing community contacts can also make it easier to reach out to leaders. Identifying these leaders is critical for the project’s success because it builds support and momentum, offers access to resources and knowledge, and ensures that solutions are sustainable. Engaging community leaders ensures that projects are in line with community needs, goals, and resources, which contributes to the project’s long-term success. Thus, community leaders must be engaged through strategic outreach and partnership in order to successfully address the issue of access to care.