2025 Impact Highlight
Jefferson County, Front Range Region
Building Civic Leaders in Jefferson County through FLTI 2025
In Jefferson County, historically underrepresented residents face systemic barriers to civic engagement and leadership. Community members often want to create change but lack access to structured opportunities that build the skills and confidence needed to participate in policy discussions or leadership roles. Local partners identified a need for long-term leadership development and culturally inclusive pathways for civic participation.
Colorado State University Extension supported Edgewater Collective in launching its first 20-week Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI) cohort.
CSU Extension Community Engagement Specialist Aliria Bello provided coaching throughout planning and implementation, ensuring fidelity to the FLTI model, which focuses on personal empowerment, systems understanding, and civic leadership. The program offered interpretation services to ensure full participation across language preferences.
Eleven community members completed the full 20-week curriculum and presented individual community projects addressing local needs in education, mental health, immigrant advocacy, and economic equity.
Participants demonstrated strong growth in civic engagement and leadership. Pre- and post-program data showed significant increases in several key areas:
- Circulating or signing a petition increased from 1.25 to 2.00 with a very large effect size (1.62).
- Contacting an elected official rose from 1.13 to 1.75 (effect size: 1.21).
- Speaking at school or community meetings grew from 1.63 to 2.38 (effect size: 0.85).
- Community organizing and volunteering also showed meaningful increases (effect sizes: 0.31 and 0.50, respectively).
Participants shared the impact of the experience in their own words:
- “FLTI helped me find my voice again… I have a responsibility and the confidence to use it.”
- “Before FLTI, I didn’t think people like me belonged in decision-making spaces.”
- “FLTI reminded me that real change happens when we show up for each other.”
Through the launch of FLTI in Jefferson County, CSU Extension helped expand access to civic leadership and supported the development of new community leaders. As residents gain tools to influence policy and take action, local systems become more inclusive, responsive, and grounded in lived experience.