community leaders

Community leader is a designation, often by secondary sources, for a person widely perceived to represent a community. A simple way to understand community leadership is to see it as leadership in, for and by the community. Community 'is frequently based in place and so is local, although it can also represent a community of common interest, purpose or practice'.Community leadership is a specific form of the general concept of leadership. It is frequently based in place and so is local, although it can also represent a community of common interest, purpose or practice. It can be individual or group leadership, voluntary or paid. In many localities it is provided by a combination of local volunteers, business and government and is best served by what is called "place management", ie. a combination within a region of Government resources, professional and business skills and the energies of the local community [Sorenson & Epps, 1996:115-117; Osborne & Gaebler, 1993].