4-H Grows in the Spotlight

On Friday, January 4, ECOP Chair Ed Jones, Virginia Tech, was joined by Jen McIver, National 4-H Council, Vice President of Field Marketing and Partnerships, to kick off the 2019 Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders series. The purpose of the hour was to renew the Cooperative Extension Section's appreciation for the 4-H Grows campaign (increase 4-H membership to 10 million youth by 2025) and collect the input of Directors and Administrators and answer their questions on the value of a unified 4-H brand and national marketing program. The video recording Growing Extension’s Reach and Relevance Through the 4-H Brand and PowerPoint from the session are now available for sharing and review across the nation and Section. Send questions and comments to ecopblog@gmail.com as the exciting dialogue continues.


Increasing Knowledge and Support for EFNEP - Nominations Requested by January 15 - In a detailed 3-page letter from NIFA Director Scott Angle released on December 10, nominations were requested to recognize the "remarkable contribution of selected EFNEP staff and champions who have been instrumental in the success of EFNEP, and participants who have significantly enriched their lives through EFNEP opportunities." Extension Directors and Administrators and their associates are encouraged to act before close of business January 15, 2019. The link to submit nominations is found on page 2, paragraph 1 of the letter.

Cohort 12 FSLI was recognized on November 11, 2018 at the APLU Annual Meeting.
Congratulations to Rosalind Dale, NCA&T State University, Roger Rennekamp, Ohio State University,
Jeff Hyde, Penn State University, Gary Jackson, Mississippi State University, and Dawn Mellion-Patin,
Southern University.

Application Process Now Open for The Food Systems Leadership Institute’s Program - The Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI) offers executive leadership development to upper-level leaders in higher education, government, and industry to prepare them to meet the leadership challenges and opportunities of the future. The two-year FSLI experience includes three week-long residential sessions, personal leadership coaching, mentoring, distance learning activities, and an individual leadership project. The FSLI is designed for experienced leaders; participant titles include program directors, vice presidents, experienced department heads/chairs, deans and associate deans, and others working in leadership of administrative capacities. More information on the FSLI program can be found at www.fsli.org.

eXtension’s Impact Collaborative 2019 Member Benefits - The Impact Collaborative works directly with eXtension members to help make more impactful programs. Benefits to members institutions include:
  • Send one individual to be trained at no cost as an Innovation Facilitator to provide support for your programs, & help lead local innovation skill-building events.
  • Staffing and support for a statewide or institution-wide Impact Collaborative event contextualized to your needs that engages your leadership team and helps make more impactful programs.
  • Send teams to our national Impact Collaborative Summits to bring new capacity to your program teams, provide strategic support to members, and help teams bridge gaps in their project or program planning.
  • Unlimited access to Engage & Empower Online, a new resource designed to collectively drive innovation and action forward toward real impacts.
  • Access to our eFieldbooks: a go-to resource for Extension professionals to begin discussion, help establish processes, and assist with the delivery of new programs.
Questions? Please contact Beverly Coberly.

Military Families Learning Network Offers Sesame Street Webinar - Military families can face unique circumstances and challenges around violent and traumatic events. On January 17, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. ET, Sesame Street for Military Families and the Sesame Street Workshop will facilitate a 90-minute webinar on the impacts of childhood trauma and community violence. The webinar, offered through the Military Families Learning Network, is available at no charge to Cooperative Extension. This unique learning opportunity will highlight resources and activities to help children cope, and offer strategies to assist with self-care following a traumatic event. To learn more about this webinar and others in the “Kids Serve Too” series, click here.