ECOP Standing Committees Insight

Since the adoption of the 2020-2023 Strategic Directions for ECOP and CES and the 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan and Ongoing Priorities for the Cooperative Extension Section (CES), much work has been accomplished by ECOP’s Standing Committees to align national-level efforts with CES priorities. From these plans, the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) with Jon Boren, New Mexico State University as Chair, has led the development of the Advocacy and Education Toolkit to provide ECOP leadership and CES with consistent messaging and resources focused on national advocacy and education priorities, including diversity, equity, and inclusion; climate mitigation, resiliency, and adaptation; economic and workforce development; health equity and well-being; 4-H and positive youth development; urban programs; broadband access and digital skills; and community nutrition education. The ECOP Program Committee, with Ivory Lyles, University of Nevada-Reno, as Chair, has developed Program Action Teams (PATs) for each of the priority areas, bringing together Extension experts to advance programmatic resources and partnerships. Each of the PATs has an Extension Foundation Catalyst and NIFA Liaison assigned to them. A strong partnership between the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee and National 4-H Council leads the 4-H positive youth development priority area, as well as advancements in the health arena. Through the New Technologies for Ag Extension Program, NIFA has provided supplemental funding to the Extension Foundation around ECOP/CES national priorities. Additionally, there is interest from other partners and agencies in providing national-level support. Stay tuned for further news from the Standing Committees, BLC, Program, and 4-H Leadership to advance Extension's visibility, communications, programs, impacts, and demonstrate the value of ECOP's investment of Cooperative Extension Section assessments.



Energy and Sustainability Summits Registration Open - The 2021 National Extension Energy Summit & National Sustainability Summit, a joint effort of the National Extension Energy Initiative (NEEI), National Network for Sustainable Living Education (NNSLE), and National Extension Climate Initiative (NECI), will take place October 4-6, 2021 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of Penn State University. Registration is now open here.



Applying Science to Support Universal Affordable Broadband Adoption - Save the Date for the October 27, 2021 conference Making it Count: Applying Science to Support Universal Affordable Broadband Adoption. This conference by APLU's Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) will feature presentations on papers that will inform current deliberations over how to structure, monitor, and evaluate the new suite of internet access and adoption programs made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Topics Include: Investments in Digital Literacy, Rural Broadband Business Models and Execution, Federal-State Policy and Funding Interaction, Data and Models to Support Program Evaluation and Labor Market Effects and Response. To receive complete details on registration, APLU Members can sign up for CECE free of charge here. 

Choices Magazine Special Issue Focuses on COVID-19 Impacts on Rural America - Choices magazine, which covers food, farms and resource use and is published by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), has just released a special themed issue on Rural Development Implications One Year After COVID-19. The issue contains eight peer-reviewed papers that explore the pandemic’s effects on aspects of rural life ranging from employment and childcare to recreational trail use and farming. Access to the quarterly can be found here.

Cooperative Extension Section Leadership Honored

At the close of the Cooperative Extension Section Annual Business meeting last week in Nashville, Ed Jones, 2019 ECOP Chair, presented tokens of appreciation. Earlier earlier this year 2 others were recognized for their national service.

ECOP Service Award to Bill Hare, University of District of Columbia,
2016-2019

ECOP Service Award to Tom Dobbins, Clemson University,
2016-2019

ECOP Service Award to Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska,
2010-2019

Also, acknowledged for their excellent contributions to the Goals of the Section:

• Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, Project Director of Well Connected Communities for the Extension Health Initiative
• Mark Skidmore, Director, North Central Region Center for Rural Development, for leadership of the Extension Opioid Crisis Response Workgroup
• Caroline Crocoll, for her representation on the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee, 2018-2019

Before the Business Meeting adjourned, Ed passed the gavel to Mark Latimore, Jr., Fort Valley State University (GA). In his first action, Mark presented Ed with an engraved plaque to commemorate his term as Chair. The 2020 ECOP Meeting Calendar, Section Budget, and List(s) may be found at www.extension.org/ecop. The next Annual Section Business/NEDA Meeting is schedule for September 22-25, 2020. The city/location will be announced very soon!


Next Generation Extension Learning for Leaders Series Continues on Friday, November 1, 2019 - Members of the Cooperative Extension Section are invited to meet online on a regular basis to discover emerging program, partnership, and resource opportunities, and to enhance the strengthen the national network. The more members to participate, ask questions and share, the more value is added to the System to benefit national, state and regional impact. Mark Latimore, Jr., Fort Valley State University, announces the schedule a series of 6 sessions during his term as the 2020 ECOP Chair as follows - please mark your calendars. Topics are announced closer to the actual dates. All 1-hour sessions occur on First Fridays, 3-4:00 p.m. ET and are archived for reference (Search this blog for topics).
  -- 11/1/2019
  -- 1/3/2020
  -- 3/6/2020
  -- 5/1/2020
  -- 6/5/2020
  -- 9/4/2020


4-H National Mentoring Program Funding Announced - The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has awarded National 4-H Council $4.85 million for the 10th year of the 4-H National Mentoring Program (NMP10), which comes as a direct result of Cooperative Extension’s success in providing youth mentoring services through local 4-H programs. The NMP10 grant is open to all 50 states. A portion of the funding ($1.25M) is a new grant, effective March 1, 2020, to support the 4-H Health Rocks!® Mentoring Program in 13 states (focused on reaching youth impacted by opioids in the Appalachian region). An Advanced Request for Applications (RFP) has already been released through Council’s Web Grants online portal and are due on October 18th. For more information, please contact Theresa Melton, National 4-H Council, TMelton@fourhcouncil.edu.


Save the Date! Legislative Education 101 for SNAP-Ed Leaders Webcast - The SNAP-Ed Program Development Team will be delivering this webcast on October 16, 2019 at 1:30 Eastern Time. Attendees will learn why educating legislators and other decision-makers is valuable within SNAP-Ed as well as key steps to begin this work. This webcast will be at a beginner’s level; designed for those who are new to legislative education and/or new to SNAP-Ed. The webcast will be recorded and posted for registrants after the event. Registration: https://illinoisaces.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d0TGj8eaQW7fWtL. Please contact Christine Hradek hradek@iastate.edu with any questions.

ECOP Meets South of the Border

There will be no ECOP Monday Minute on July 30. Please tune in again on August 6, 2018!

Candid moment of ECOP Meeting, July 17, 2018

This summer’s ECOP meeting occurred, as usual, as part of the annual APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly's Joint COPs Summer Meeting held this year in Guadalajara, Mexico. This location, like last year’s meeting in Canada, reflects APLUs interests in broadening public university engagement to include our neighbors. Highlights of actions by ECOP:

• Approved Extension Resource and Partnership Development Team continue working towards a System-wide Development/Fund Raising business plan. Draft plan due at October NEDA/ECOP meetings. 
• Approved the Reporting Themes Workgroup to continue its work towards a coordinated, streamlined reporting system aligned with NIFA and CES strategic initiative priorities. 
• Affirmed commitment to CES Strategic Agenda in the transition of the ECOP Chair from Chuck Hibberd to Ed Jones for 2019. 
• Approved appointment of an International Extension Workgroup to establish ways that the Cooperative Extension system can support 1862 and 1890 institutions increasing capacity in this arena. 
• Approved a Section-wide process to review and provide input on the Strategic Alignment (Line Consolidation) efforts being led by the BAA Policy Board. This review will lead to input to the Policy Board’s meeting on this topic in November. 
• Approved the continued process of engaging Section members on their perspectives on the expectations for Communications and Marketing Committee Plan of Work. This review will lead to input to the Policy Board’s meeting on this topic in November. 
• Provided significant input into the Nutrition Education Call to Action Advocacy Strategy being led by the Communications and Marketing Committee and kglobal. Extension Administrators and Directors will soon receive a summary of the current and planned strategies. 
• Affirmed the work of the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee, encouraging them to explore the possibility of new legislation to establish an additional authority for use of the 4-H name and emblem and to draft a new MOU http://bit.ly/4H_MOU document that would continue the work of the Committee beyond May 8, 2019

Two Timely Reminders -

1. Tune in to Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders: Unraveling the Mysteries of ECOP and CES on Friday, August 3, 2018, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. Contact ECOP Assistant Director Sandy Ruble to receive connection details.
2. Register for 2018 NEDA before September 10, 2018 - http://www.cvent.com/d/0gqxkw. Direct questions about this meeting to ECOP Program Assistant Marianne Klein.

eXtension Highlights - The Impact Collaborative, powered by eXtension, hosted its Facilitator Training last week in Detroit, MI. The Impact Collaborative trained 29 new facilitators from 20 institutions in the Innovation Kit process. Upon completion of this training, these members became qualified to host local Innovation Kit Workshop and Designathon One events with eXtension and can assist in facilitating. You can find more information on outcomes and what our Facilitators had to say about the training here. If your institution has had a Facilitator trained this year, the Impact Collaborative is offering Premium Member Institutions the chance to host a 20-60 seat Innovation Kit Workshop or Designathon One at no cost to the institution. The deadline for scheduling one of these events is August 1st, 2018, click here for more details. To learn more about eXtension member benefits like these Impact Collaborative events, become a member! Contact Beverly Coberly at beverlycoberly@extension.org for more information.

Webinar 8/14: Well Connected Communities Wave 2 Funding - The Well Connected Communities initiative is an effort to cultivate wellness across the country. Cooperative Extension, in partnership with National 4-H Council, is equipping volunteer leaders to help their neighbors be healthier at every stage of life. With the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health, these communities are cultivating wellness and fostering a Culture of Health in America. Extension Directors and Administrators who are interested in strengthening Well Connected Communities’ applications for Wave 2, are encouraged to join a national webinar. The next Request for Applications for funding is anticipated to be released during the spring of 2019. Webinar details:

• August 14, 2018 Time: 2:30 – 3:30 pm ET 
• Register here: https://extension.zoom.us/j/120831669
• Webinar Goals:
  -- Expand understanding of the Well Connected Communities initiative
  -- Explore strategies for building, connecting and weaving community coalition efforts
  -- Identify roles for supporting and creating change
  -- Learn from current Well Connected Communities

For more information or if you have questions, contact Janet Golden, National 4-H Council, jgolden@fourhcouncil.edu, 301-204-6841.

One Week Left to Complete the 2017 Census of Agriculture - The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) officially ends data collection for the 2017 Census of Agriculture on July 31. NASS asks for help in reminding farmers and ranchers that their response, every response, is important – even if it’s just to say that they are no longer a farmer. The stronger the data once every five years, the better-informed future decisions can be. Remember, the same law that requires response – Federal law, Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113 – also requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and to only publish data in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation. Producers can still complete the Census questionnaire online at www.agcensus.usda.gov or by calling toll-free (888) 424-7828 through July 31. Data release is planned for February 2019.

Breakthroughs 2030 Release - Additional Information - As reported last week, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released Science Breakthroughs to Advance Food and Agricultural Research by 2030 (Breakthroughs 2030) on July 18. As part of the webinar, the Academies are sharing background materials. The archived webinar recording will soon be made available at: http://nas-sites.org/dels/studies/agricultural-science-breakthroughs/report-release/. This site includes links to download the report or read the report online, the press release and an interactive infographic. Other materials of interest:
   • 3-minute video with the main messages from the report
   • 4-page brief summary of the report
   • Social media toolkit with sample promotional tweets, posts, and newsletter summaries

2018 Science-informed Decision Making and Policy Mid-term Update from ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd

View/Download: 2018 Mid-term Report Document 

Robust Meeting Agenda in Mexico - ECOP will address a number of important topics during its meeting on July 16-17 in Guadalajara, Mexico as part of the Joint COPs meeting. Four Big Ideas are on the agenda, Land-grant University Mission Alignment, Plan of Work Reporting Themes, Extension Resource and Partnership Development and International Extension Work, as well as the kglobal contract, revisions to the ECOP operating guidelines and CES Rules of Operation, consideration of a number of issues from the 4-H Leadership Committee, a review of eXtension’s role with the Cooperative Extension Section, and a conversation with Doug Steele (incoming Vice President for Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources). This agenda and the associated conversations will form the basis for the upcoming national dialogue scheduled to take place during the CES Business Meeting at NEDA on October 2 in Portland, Oregon. Remember to register for NEDA at http://www.cvent.com/d/0gqxkw.


NC-FAR Cooperative Extension Seminar - Invitation - Jason Henderson, Purdue University, Extension Director, and former Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, will present a National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research  (NC-FAR) seminar titled: Ag Workforce Development – the Role of Cooperative Extension. With historically low unemployment rates, employers are scrambling to find workers with entry-level and advanced skills. Jason will address how Land Grant Universities are innovating and partnering to expand the technical, professional, and life skills training opportunities for America’s agricultural workforce. Directors and Administrator are encouraged to share the following details with staff members of their respective Congressional delegations:

• Tuesday, July 24th
• House Side - 12:00 p.m. ET, lunch served, location to be determined (Please use link provided below to sign up for this detail. Thank you.)
• Senate Side - 2:30 p.m. ET, 328A Russell Senate Office Building
• Registration - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8GHkV_HbrULGJKKBlE4RXWMTQmCEoOcdmSCC3JEZdYixXpA/viewform

NASS Thanks Extension for Contributing Data - The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) produces a weekly crop progress report during the growing season (April-November). Every Thursday and Sunday night NASS Regional Field Offices sends emails to about 4,000 respondents. Extension agents/educators are the biggest group of respondents to the weekly survey due to making visual observations and frequent contacts with farmers in their counties! All reports are reviewed and processed by mid-day Monday. State-level estimates are then compiled into a national report that is released at 4 p.m. E.T. the same day. In addition to the national report, each NASS Regional Field Office publishes a report specific to the states within their region. The results are highly anticipated by data users (e.g. farmers, agribusinesses, commodity traders, insurance agents, etc.) with these reports getting some of NASS’ highest web traffic. The reports as well as graphical products can be found on the NASS website. Response rates are high, but it’s important to maintain momentum! The better the response, the stronger the data. The stronger the data, the better it is for American agriculture. Thank you for your participation, and for helping to spread the word about the importance of this survey and survey response.
 

Seeding Success: Tools, Technology and Techniques for a Successful Extension Natural Resources Career - New Extension forestry and natural resource specialists, agents and associates are part of a national network of diverse, knowledgeable colleagues. This course will provide our new colleagues with a grounding in Extension theory and practice. Early career Extension employees will be able to connect with peers from across the nation and learn the ins and outs of how to get started on their work and how to navigate the particular challenges associated with these positions. For complete details go to https://sref.info/seedingsuccess/index.html/?searchterm=seeding%20success. A core theme of the CES Strategic Agenda is to enhance leadership and professional development.

Opioid Zoom Conference Follow-up

Thank you for the excellent participation in the inaugural Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders Series on Dec. 1. ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd directs the attention of all Extension Directors and Administrators to the "Learning Center" found on the right panel of the ECOP Monday Minute Web View to track the 1-hour recordings and resources. The recording of the session, Leadership Opportunities for Extension Directors and Administrators to Make A Difference With The Opioid Epidemic?, is now available online.

ACTION:

1. ECOP Program Committee Chair Chris Boerboom requests submission of curricula, programs, or resources that address the opioid crisis to tinyurl.com/ECOPopioid. Please forward the link to appropriate program leaders or specialists as needed to submit these valuable resources. 
2. Stay tuned to the ECOP Monday Minute for the release of the "toolbox". 
3. Please mark your calendars for January 5, 2018, 3:00 p.m. for the next Zoom conference. Topic, details, and a calendar invitation will be released soon!

Other resources:

• PowerPoint presentation go to bit.ly/L4L_Opioids2 
• USDA Rural Health and Safety Education funded projects resource bit.ly/L4K_Opioids1 
• Rural Health and Safety Education: Combating Opioids Webinar Series, How the Opioid Crisis Impacts Individuals and Rural Communities
• Recent article by Centers for Disease Control: Rural America in Crisis: The Changing Opioid Overdose Epidemic

Pesticide Safety Education Program Agreement - Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinators at Land Grant Universities are invited to apply for funding through a new cooperative agreement eXtension recently received from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This program leverages national efforts to advance pesticide safety education programs and enhance educational materials with corporate dollars, through the National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC) - the new non-profit incubated by PSEPs across the country with eXtension. This program also creates new capacity for the entire Cooperative Extension System by strengthening eXtension's ability to pass through funding, contract with every LGU, and use an online portal for application, reporting, and communicating with awardees. PSEP Coordinators received personal invitations to apply this week. For more information about the program, visit https://www.extension.org/2017/12/07/pesticide-safety-education-grant-application-system-is-live/

Orientation Presentations Are Available - The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has provided links to the three parts of a pre-workshop webinar held last Tuesday, Dec. 5th. Extension Directors and Administrators who are participants of this week’s orientation in Alexandria, VA and who were unable to attend the webinar, are asked to review these three presentations prior to participation. For others, you are encouraged to use the videos as background information for Land-Grant University administrative roles.  

• The History of the Land-Grant Colleges & Universities https://youtu.be/4KCBWZFyGxA (10 Min.) 
• APLU & Board on Agriculture Assembly Overview https://youtu.be/yPo0B_8RHI0 (15 Min.)
• USDA NIFA Overview https://youtu.be/u-m_dxwRxMI (17 Min.)

Updated Monday Minute Format

Executive Director Rick Klemme is working with ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd to align Cooperative Extension Section communications, including ECOP Monday Minute, with a focus on progress and/or opportunities relative to the Section’s Strategic Agenda Core Themes:

1. building partnerships and acquiring resources, 
2. increasing strategic marketing and communications, 
3. enhancing leadership and professional development, 
4. strengthening organizational functioning. 

The goal is to have 1-3 articles per edition that connect Administrators and Directors to the Cooperative Extension Section Strategic Agenda. Other articles will focus on important partner news and updates.

First Friday Zoom Conferences Kick-off - Last Friday, December 1, the Next Generation Extension – Learning for Leaders series kicked off with the presentation Leadership Opportunities for Extension Directors and Administrators to Make A Difference With The Opioid Epidemic? Over 70 colleagues, including more than 25 Extension Directors and Administrators were in attendance. The recording of the session will soon be made available with a means to continue learning on this topic. Please mark your calendars for the next Zoom conference January 5th from 3-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time; the topic, invitation, and details are forthcoming.


Health Implementation Team Executive Summary and Final Report - For the past 3 years, 5 action teams made up of 48 professionals from 28 land-grant universities representing Cooperative Extension and Experiment Station Sections have been implementing Cooperative Extension’s Framework for Health and Wellness. The full report to ECOP is available at (you may want to shorten the current link) of the Cooperative Extension's Framework for Health and Wellness. CLICK HERE to read the Executive Summary (page 1-2) and individual team reports. The work of the teams has evolved into the Culture of Health Project in partnership with National 4-H Council and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In addition, the original ECOP Health Task Force was an initiating force behind the Healthy Food Systems, Healthy People initiative.


Technology and Innovation Report - The ECOP Ad Hoc Technology and Innovation Committee report is available at bit.ly/2017ExtTech_Innovate. The report contains recommendations for Extension leaders and specific examples across all regions. ECOP had charged eXtension Foundation with leading a short-term committee to (1) examine the technology aspects of innovation, and (2) recommend ways to implement and use the Horizon Report along with any further ECOP actions. The Committee’s objectives were to address the following recommendations from the ECOP Innovation Task Force addressing technology and innovation:

1. promote innovation in Extension leadership; 
2. create a culture of innovation; and 
3. innovate learner engagement. 

ECOP received the report as information on October 4, 2017

Census of Agriculture Is Underway - As of this week, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service started mailing the 2017 Census of Agriculture to our nation’s producers. Mailing in phases, all census questionnaires should be received by mid- to late December. The deadline to respond is February 5, 2018. Producers can respond online at www.agcensus.usda.gov (take advantage of new timesaving features and the convenience of being accessible on most mobile and desktop devices) or by mail. Conducted once every five years, the census aims to get a complete and accurate picture of American agriculture. The resulting data are used by trade associations, researchers, policymakers, extension educators, agribusinesses, and many others. The data can play a vital role in community planning, farm assistance programs, technology development, farm advocacy, agribusiness setup, rural development, and more. The census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every state and county in the nation. Every response matters. Every voice helps shape the future of U.S. agriculture. For more information, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call (800) 727-9540.

Next Generation Extension – Learning for Leaders #1: Opioids and Extension

On Friday, December 1, 2017, 3:00 p.m. ET, the first in a series of web-based meetings will take place for the Cooperative Extension Section called Next Generation Extension – Learning for Leaders. In communities across the Nation, opioid addiction is increasing rapidly with dreadful results – hospitalization and death, weakened parenting and increasing out-of-home child placements, and family and workplace economic collapse. Incidence of opioid abuse has risen dramatically across geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic groups. Can Extension make a difference? Chris Boerboom, North Dakota State University, and the ECOP Program Committee, Anne R. Lindsay, University of Nevada-Reno, and Mark Skidmore, North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, will provide an overview of the national situation related to abuse of opioids and will highlight examples of current Extension strategies. They will also collect relevant resources and curricula from interested participants, which will be shared with the System. Directors and Administrators have received the invitation with connection details and are encouraged to participate and/or share the invite with interested faculty and staff. The session will be recorded and electronically archived. Resources are available at http://articles.extension.org/pages/74079/opioid-resources-for-extension-professionals.


REMINDER: Passing of the Gavel - The Cooperative Extension Section (CES) gathers this evening, November 13, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. ET, at the APLU Annual Meeting at the Wardman Park Marriott, Washington, DC. ECOP Chair Fred Schlutt, University of Alaska will preside and hand over leadership to Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska. Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware will receive recognition for her service, 2013-2017. The meeting will be highlighted by presentation of the 2017 CES Annual Report and the brand new CES Strategic Agenda. Follow CES activities on Twitter at @Ext100Years #leadext #CoopExtAward during the #APLU2017 meeting @APLU_News.

Promoting SNAP-Ed at LGUs - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) is a vital contributor to the Land-grant University (LGU) mission; it provides evidence based and evaluated nutrition education and obesity prevention service to high need audiences. It is critical that LGUs and Extension play an active role in the support and promotion of the strong impacts realized as a result of SNAP-Ed to ensure its continued funding. As the Federal Fiscal Year 2018 begins, please take a moment to plan how to promote, educate, and advocate on behalf of SNAP-Ed. Consider the following options to formulate a plan:

• Convene a meeting between Extension and SNAP-Ed leadership to discuss the importance of SNAP-Ed at your LGU, promotion and educational priorities, and strategies for sharing the impacts of SNAP-Ed with internal and external stakeholders. 
• Connect SNAP-Ed staff with your institution’s legislative liaisons to ensure SNAP-Ed impacts and value are part of educational and advocacy priorities for the coming year. 
• Engage critical SNAP-Ed partners as advocates for SNAP-Ed within and beyond your state. 

For more information, please review national reports, and state reports, about SNAP-Ed within the LGU system, or contact Christine Hradek (hradek@iastate.edu) of the Legislative Education Committee of the LGU SNAP-Ed Program Development Team.

eXtension Offers Course on Civil Rights Training and Ensuring Inclusiveness - Civil rights are front and center in our nation’s news, which makes Extension professionals' responsibility for understanding the importance of civil rights training and ensuring inclusiveness in programming more important than ever. A new online course developed by more than 40 University of Minnesota Extension faculty and staff and led by Renee Pardello, Key Informant for the eXtension Impact Collaborative, is now available nationwide through eXtension. The course, which works best as a small-group activity, can be accessed at: https://campus.extension.org/course/view.php?id=1481

Beverly Samuel, NIFA and
NEAFCS President Theresa Mayhew

Beverly Samuel Receives NEAFCS Award - National Program Leader Beverly Samuel of USDA NIFA in Division of Family & Consumer Sciences was honored at the National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) 2017 Annual Session. She received the “Friend of NEAFCS Award” at the conference held September 16-20, in Omaha, Nebraska. Initiated in 2005, the annual “Friend of NEAFCS Award” is the highest honor bestowed by the Association in recognition of an individual or organization, who has made significant contributions to Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Science education programs across the nation. To read full article, CLICK HERE.