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The Leadership Development Initiative is an education and training project, begun in 1997; designed to address a critical need for life skills training and self-esteem building which will infuse this depressed community of historically disenfranchised people with the capacity for conceptualizing community economic development (CED) initiatives and becoming success-driven; while also empowering them to seize opportunities for personal and community growth. The undergirding theory which drives LDI is that the persistent poverty of this community is not just an individual reality but a systemic problem wherein all the ills--- low wage and nonexistent jobs, nonexistent affordable housing, impaired health, pervasive assault on self-respect, reduced human and social services, utter neglect and abuse---are inextricably linked and feed on each other. LDI communicates the potential for transforming and building community through direct participation and involvement in all facets of the development process. This education and training project forges collaboration and networking aimed at reconnecting the traditionally disadvantaged community and positioning them for advantage; restoring community voices which must be heard to shape comprehensive development initiatives, and makes visible the silent majority in Hoke County.

Original 1997 goals for LDI included training a cadre of 75 residents who would serve as a core group of CED informed and aware participants, committed to moving forth an holistic community development agenda. That goal has been met and surpassed. To-date more than eighty (80) community residents have participated in LDI contact sessions in basic proposal writing, serving on community boards, coalition building, and community problem-solving.

LDI offers a four day and 1/2 sessions certificate program which focuses on understanding community and community dynamics; understanding civic activism and serving on boards and commissions; targeting issues and mounting tactics for change; and fundraising for social change.

In 1998 as a result of this initiative, building on the support offered by BSHC CDC; an economically, racially and socially diverse coalition emerged to erect and endorse a slate for change in Raeford/Hoke County which included first-time ever African American candidates for County Sheriff and Clerk of Courts, and the first American Indian County Commissioner candidate in 20 years---two of those candidates were former BSHC CDC Board members. All of these candidates also won in the local May 5th primary election, facing no opposition for the November general election. The efforts and outcomes of this landmark experience of coalesced activity and dynamic people power was yet a beginning for instilling an understanding by the community of their tremendous potential capacity to make change in their community.

BSHC CDC continues to provide community education and community-building service requests. Typical requests include organizational development assessments, grant writing assistance, and a range of specifically designed contact sessions. As Hoke County continues the struggle to become a 21^st Century community which embraces and values all of its human capital; there is clear indication and support for the need of this type of ongoing initiative in the Raeford/Hoke County community.