An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Leadership Development Program for Rural Lay Leaders in Lawrence County Alabama

The effectiveness of a leadership development program for rural lay leaders on promoting community improvement in Lawrence County, Alabama was evaluated. The sample consisted of 16 disadvantaged rural lay leaders who participated in the 2-month program and 24-month follow-up activities; 60 disadvantaged rural lay leaders who only participated in the follow-up activities; and 200 disadvantaged heads of households. Pre- and post-data were obtained relative to: (1) attitudes toward public school officials and school programs; (2) attitudes toward organizing local community development programs; (3) participation in local community development activities; (4) home ownership; (5) public assistance recipients; and (6) opinions on community quality. Eight null hypotheses tested via community surveys, questionnaires, community attitude inventory, and community solidarity index scale revealed: (1) significant attitude changes among the 16 and the 60 lay leaders relative to public school officials and the school program; (2) a significant attitude change among the 200 heads of households relative to organizing a local community development program; (3) a significant change among the 200 heads of households relative to participation in local community development activities; (4) a significant change in the proportion of the 200 who owned their own home; (5) a significant difference between the mean community solidarity scores. (JC)