W h a t i s E X C E L ?

EXCEL was originally an acronym for Experiment in Com-munity Enterprise and Leadership. It developed as an ex-periment to see if a particular form of education forcitizenship, offered to a significant number of communitymembers, could increase the effectiveness of local civic sys-tems and the vitality of rural communities. Each of theearly programs was an experiment because it was based ona new and innovative approach to leadership education —locally based, inclusive, future oriented, and participatory— and because each was unique, designed specifically tomeet the challenges and circumstances of the sponsoringcommunity. Today, EXCEL is an acronym for Experience inCommunity Enterprise and Leadership.

Effective citizen leaders translate the knowledge they’vegained and commitment they feel into hands-on actionwith participation in meeting the challenges facing theircommunities. They can convert words and ideas into ac-tion—instinctively talk the talk and thenwalk the walk. They use insights and skillslearned in community leadership programslike EXCEL (Experience in Community Enterprise and Leadership) to engage inbuilding community networks, to make well-informed community decisions and to find real solutions to real problems.

W h a t i s E X C E L’s P u r p o s e ?

EXCEL’s purpose is to increase the capacity ofindividuals and organizations/groups who canaddress community problems effectively bymobilizing the human and social capital inthe community to common purposes.

E X C E L H e l p s

� personal growth and self-efficacy� community commitment� shared future and purpose� community knowledge� civic engagement

H o w D o e s E X C E L W o r k ?

EXCEL is a process for community leader-ship rather than a prepackaged program.What distinguishes EXCEL from other ap-proaches to leadership development is its highdegree of flexibility, local control, inclusive-ness, and focus on the future of communitygovernance.

W h o P a r t i c i p a t e s ?

Anybody who wants to develop strategies tohelp the community and:

� improve his/her ability to work with groups� discover what influences community politics� recognize the impact of cultural and socio-

economic values on the community� develop and implement action plans� participate in community decision-making

processes

Each participant is both a teacher and stu-dent; EXCEL is an active experience in whichparticipants are responsible for their ownlearning while sharing their knowledge withothers.

H o w M u c h D o e s I t C o s t ?

As in any true partnership, the cost is shared. Local fund-ing is necessary to cover expenses such as travel, suppliesand general administration of the program. Total costs varydepending on the program that is developed. Participantsusually pay fees to cover about one-third of the program.The rest of the operational costs usually come from localfirms, organizations, and government groups.

W h a t D i f f e r e n c e i s E X C E L M a k i n g ?

Since 1984, over 6,500 citizens from one-third of Mis-souri’s counties and communities have participated in com-munity leadership programs using the EXCEL approach.Communities investing in an EXCEL program see newand younger people running for public office, more in-volvement in community activities and organizations, im-proved community appearance, and boards andcommissions functioning more smoothly.

Individual benefits include:

� More Missourians are involved in community

and organizational activities.� Citizens have more confidence to participate in

public affairs, public dialogue and civic action. � Missourians have a better understanding of city

and county functions and their local economy.� Community groups are developing effective

partnerships and coalitions.� Community members are communicating with

one another in a different, more inclusive manner.

W h a t D o e s R e s e a r c h S h o w A b o u t

E X C E L’s I m p a c t i n M i s s o u r i ?

In a recent program evaluation completed byDr. Ken Pigg, University of Missouri, resultsshowed the EXCEL program has producedsubstantial and significant outcomes thatbenefit the participants and those communi-ties that organize and sponsor EXCEL pro-grams. The outcomes range from aspects ofpersonal growth and knowledge that increaseself-efficacy to changes in the number andcapacity of the community’s leader cadre andmaterial improvements in the community.The results show that the program producesthe intended outcomes.

Partnerships/Resources: Formation of a localsteering committee is a critical factor in developing and implementing a successfulprogram. The steering committee is theheart, soul and manager of the communityleadership program. A local facilitator fromUniversity of Missouri Extension typicallyprovides ongoing support and assistance dur-ing the process in collaboration with a cham-ber of commerce, a community bettermentorganization or other interested parties.

For more information, contact:Johanna Reed Adams, Ph.D.State Community Leadership Development Extension Specialist223 Gentry HallColumbia, MO 65211-7040Phone: 573-882-3978Fax: 573-882-5127

E-mail: adamsjr@missouri.eduhttp://www.communitydevelopment.missouri.edu/

What par ticipantsare saying aboutEXCEL:

One-third of Missouri’scounties and communities,over 6,500 citizens, haveparticipated in over 40locally-based, EXCEL-typeleadership programs. Asurvey of those associatedwith the various programsrevealed the following:

“The local United Waynow raises three timesas many funds as 3years ago. Most mem-bers of their board aregraduates.The boardseems better organized,more focused, and makesbetter use of resources.”

“The county fair wasreborn and is phenom-enal now. Many fairboard members wereEXCEL participants.”

“The more peopleknow about their com-munity, the betterthey can understandissues and problemsand seek viable solu-tions.”

“EXCEL helped me tobuild relationshipswith other communityleaders. Democratic gov-ernment doesn’t work un-less you participate.”

“Racial and ethnic bar-riers are beingcrossed.”

“Any project that goeson in the communityhas EXCEL participantsinvolved. A pool of net-workers who call on eachother has been created.”

“I learned that we’reall responsible formaking our town andcounty better. We needto get involved in pro-grams and make thingshappen.”

“Communities see

new people running

for public office,

more involvement

in community

activities and

organizations,

improved

community

appearance,

and boards and

commissions

functioning more

smoothly.“

EXCEL graduate

Rick Spencer, Owner, RAMS General ContractingCameron EXCEL Graduate

“EXCEL is an educational tool that showed me howeducation, community organizations and businesseswork together to make the community a better placeto live and work. The networking experience was huge!After EXCEL, I now have a better understanding ofwho to go to in order to get questions answered.”

Jan Simon, Program Administrator,Missouri Community Betterment

LEAD 2000 Graduate

Ms. Simon was a city council member fo the City of Concordia from 1990-1994, and ran for staterepresentative in 1996.

“LEAD helps broaden you as aperson. It gives you a resource basefor a wide range of issues fromeconomic development to childabuse. The people I met and theresources I was exposed to aretapped over and over again for manyvarious projects.”

For more inform

ation, contact:Johanna R

eed Adam

s, PhD

State Com

munity L

eadership D

evelopment E

xtension Specialist223 G

entry Hall

Colum

bia, MO

65211-7040P

hone: 573-882-3978Fax: 573-882-5127

E-m

ail: adamsjr@

missouri.edu

http://ww

w.com

munitydevelopm

ent.missouri.edu/

MO State Representative David Pearce,District 121,a 1986

Graduate of the Johnson County CLIMB

program had this to

say about his experience.“I love CLIMB.I am

still reaping thebenefits.I whole-heartedly encourage anyone to participate.You won’t be disappointed.”

CLIMB

stands for Com

munity Leadership and Involvem

ent Means Better

Comm

unities.