NEDA 2015 to Highlight Innovation Showcase

Unmanned aerial systems, urban food hubs, gardening for at-risk youth, and using commodities to fund Extension programs are just some of the innovative Extension efforts to be showcased at the National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting October 12-14, 2015 in St. Louis. Eight Extension innovations, plus eXtension, have been chosen from 151 reported to Ohio State State University as part of the ECOP-sponsored Cooperative Extension Innovation Inventory to be unveiled at NEDA 2015. The hands-on showcase will be available all day Tuesday, October 13, 2015 for viewing and engagement with university and eXtension colleagues. NEDA registration is available at www.cvent.com/d/wrq424. 

ECOP Members – Delbert Foster, Mark Latimore, Jr., and Celvia Stovall

1890 Land-grant Day August 30th – The United States Senate passed a resolution designating August 30, 2015 as “1890 Land-Grant Institutions Quasquicentennial Recognition Day.” The resolution, which Senator John Boozman (R-AK) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) led, recognizes the legacy of the Morrill Act of 1890, which helped establish public universities accessible to African Americans in states that had previously excluded them. The resolution notes the contributions 1890 Universities have made in developing agricultural leaders and urges the Department of Agriculture to “remain committed to supporting the goals of the Second Morrill Act.” ECOP members representing the Cooperative Extension 1890 Universities Region are Delbert Foster, Chair, South Carolina State University; Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, and Celiva Stovall, Alabama Cooperative Extension System.   

Health Focus of Planning Grant – The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded National 4-H Council a six-month planning grant to bring together diverse stakeholders from Cooperative Extension, Council, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to build on the ECOP National Task Force on Health work to transform the culture of health. Council will work in close collaboration with a Design Team comprised of Extension representatives to create a model enabling the Cooperative Extension System to address national trends that relate to major health issues, particularly childhood obesity. Design team members are Michelle Rodgers, ECOP Chair-elect (University of Delaware), Lorrene Ritchie (University of California), Tammy Bray (Oregon State University), Tom Coon, (Oklahoma State University), Linda Kirk Fox (University of Georgia), Rick Klemme (University of Wisconsin), and Celvia Stovall (Alabama A&M University) with USDA-NIFA liaisons Lisa Lauxman and Caroline Crocoll. 

Funding Through Prizes – Check out www.challenge.gov, a one-stop federal government site focusing on prizes to address tough challenges. Over the last five years, more than 400 public-sector prize competitions have provided more than $72 million in prizes. View a presentation on prizes and challenges provided recently to APLU staff at http://youtu.be/40bZKAF7pmo. Presenters were Jennifer Gustetic, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Christopher Nelson, Georgetown University. In addition to competing for prize money, using this competitive approach to finding solutions to vexing problems also has promise. 

Ohio State University in the City Webinar – The Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research invites you to it third Metropolitan Extension Models webinar at Noon PT, 3:00 p.m. ET, on Thursday, August 27, 2015. Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5524141399639986178. This fast-paced session begins with the framework of Ohio State University’s urban mission and OSU Extension’s emerging model in Ohio’s largest cities. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.