Leadership Role in Community Service By Aaron J. Lewis, Graduate Assistant, Extension's Urban Affairs Unit

Community involvement becomes more pertinent as we strive to emerge as leaders, scholars, activists, and thinkers. Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, defines leadership as the "process or concept of leading," or as "those entities that perform one or more acts of leading." Keeping the definitions in context, it's important to be a community leader. The question then becomes how does one lead in the community?

In order to effectively lead, by definition, we must continue to serve our community. Thus, being an advocate of community service makes you a leader. Leading means giving back to your community, while taking a vested interest in its well-being. Emerging as an advocate for community service generally helps to strengthen unity among the people living in your neighborhood.

As the next generation of leaders, we must not do what so many others have done in the past. We cannot turn our backs on our communities that have afforded us so many opportunities. Instead, we must function cooperatively and become a team in pursuit of community action. With violent crimes on the rise across the nation, it's time for us to stand up and function as leaders if we are going to save the next generation.

Young leaders must also do their fair share and take a vested interest in their communities. Playing a pivotal role in shaping our communities helps us to raise the status quo. We can ensure that our neighborhoods and those living in our neighborhoods have the necessary tools to benefit themselves and others. Such tools produce leaders who can effectively participate in social and community affairs.

Writer Hilary Owen stated that, "leadership is a journey of discovery. It is the expression of a person at his or her best whose aim is to transform something for the better and to develop this potential in others." Undoubtedly, effective leaders inspire others to join a cause, to raise awareness, and to instill pride, which can only help to strengthen a community and the people's level of commitment to community service.

References
Owen, Hilary. (2002). What makes a leader? USA Today. Retrieved December 20, 2006.

Wikipedia. (17 January 2007). Leadership. Retrieved January 18, 2007.

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