Community leadership in social work: A tool for empowering people in communities experiencing social exclusion

Abstract Community leadership is essential for effective community development, yet it is still poorly defined. In the Czech context, social exclusion plays a key role in community development, especially for ethnic minorities such as the Roma. To address these issues, community work interventions as a method of social work are being developed to create sustainable structures within communities, with leaders playing a key role. Community leadership combines two key elements: leadership and community work. Unlike traditional forms of leadership, it emphasizes partnerships and non-hierarchical structures, often referred to as participatory or distributed leadership. This study examines community leadership through qualitative research with fifteen community leaders who have experienced social exclusion and engaged in long-term community work. The article explores their interpretations of the term ‘community leader’, their perspectives on leadership in community work, and the values they associate with it. Thematic analysis reveals that activation, partnership, and volunteering are core to understanding leadership in this context. Participants highlighted motivation, the leadership development process, and the diverse activities leaders undertake within their communities as central themes. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of community leadership, with particular relevance to marginalized communities.