Pathways to Community Leadership in Rapidly Diversifying Communities: Preliminary Results

Presentation made at Latinos in the Heartland (12th : 2014 : St. Louis, Mo.) and published in the annual conference proceedingThis proposed research begins with the idea that leadership becomes more challenging as groups that include a diversity of cultures and agendas become involved. How do integrative leaders communicate with, inspire, and work with diverse coalitions that cross cultural, national, sectorial, and partisan boundaries? The University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality proposes to conduct an explanatory case study of "Integrative Leadership in Rapidly Diversifying Rural Communities." Specific research questions asked included: a) What specific strategies have public, private, and non-profit sectors deployed to create integrative leadership across sectors and ethnic differences? b) To what extent have demographically diverse communities promoted opportunities for integrative leadership? and c) How can successful integrative leadership strategies be best incorporated into a leadership education program