New Member of ECOP Karl Martin

The North Central Region has appointed Karl Martin, Dean and Director, Division of Extension, University of Wisconsin-Madison, as their latest member of ECOP. Early in his tenure as Director of Extension, Karl participated in ECOP's CES Capital Quest Event in Washington. From then on, he has amplified his capacity for national leadership by serving as a voting member of the ECOP Budget & Legislative Committee, Chair of the Executive Director Search and Screen Committee, and as a panelist in thought leadership sessions for NEDA Meetings and First Friday Events related DEI and Climate Resiliency. Karl has agreed to serve on ECOP until the fall of 2027. Thank you for your national leadership, Karl!

Diversity Catalyst At-Large - Brian Raison, Extension Field Specialist, Community and Organizational Leadership at Ohio State University, (pictured left) was appointed by ECOP in 2017 to represent the Cooperative Extension Section on ESCOP's Diversity Catalyst Committee. Today, he serves as Chair! Of his appointment, Brian writes, "Our DCC team wishes to promote the great value that’s found in diversity, equity, and inclusiveness. Expanding perspectives improves our work, strengthens research, and multiplies impact. Our focus is on uniting Experiment Station leaders (along with our Extension colleagues) in promoting a more diverse and inclusive future that will absolutely improve lives of individuals in our country and around the world." Brian is a well-respected, active member of ECOP Program Committee's DEI Program Action Team, also. Thank you for your national leadership, Brian!

NIFA Stakeholder Listening Session - Research Facilities Act Program - On April 13 at 3 p.m. ET, NIFA will hold a virtual, open, public listening session with remote participation only to collect stakeholder input on the implementation of a new competitive grant. The purpose of the Research Facilities Act Program (RFAP) is to assist eligible institutions with the construction, modification, acquisition, modernization, refurbishment, or remodeling of their agricultural research facility to conduct research in the fields of food and agricultural sciences. NIFA is particularly interested in achieving the most impact and identifying suggested priorities in the program. Written comments (two-page limit) may be sent to REE.NIFA.RFAP@usda.gov by April 17 at 5 p.m. ET. Register listening sesseion here.

NIFA Listens Stakeholder Opportunity Ends Soon

Extension Directors and Administrators and others across the System are encouraged to submit written comment to NIFA to answer several questions posed by the agency to invest in science and transform lives. ECOP Members Vonda Richardson, Florida A&M University, Jason Henderson, Purdue University, Chair of the Budget & Legislative Committee, and folks from the 4-H Program Area gave NIFA their verbal answers live on November 2. ECOP Chair Bev Durgan, University of Minnesota, is pleased to share the document she submitted and that Vonda and Jason used as guidance at the following link. The deadline NIFA has set to receive as many comments/answers as possible is 5:00 p.m. ET on November 30. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c2O1VJ4gj05eHyptI55TPUgmztCq6BhC/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117572418052990065789&rtpof=true&sd=true

Health Framework Lightning Sessions - Hear how twelve land-grant universities across the nation are utilizing Cooperative Extension's National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being to ensure that all people have an equal opportunity to experience lifelong health. Presenting on Tuesday, November 15 beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET in a lightning round format (five slides in seven minutes) are the University of New Hampshire, University of Florida, The Ohio State University, Kansas State University, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Georgia. Six additional institutions will present in a similar format on Thursday, December 15. The sessions are open to all Extension personnel. Register for the November 15 session here.

DEI PAT Engages with Section - At ECOP's "First Friday" Zoom event on November 4, the Professional Development Committee organized an engaging session by the Program Committee's DEI Program Action Team (PAT). After and quick update, the delegation of 1994, 1890, and 1862 Extension leaders shared what was most needed in three areas of interest:

• Developing a Community of Practice/Resource Depository
• Establishing Metrics
• Fostering Collaboration Among 1890, 1994, and 1862 Institutions

A full report of what took place, including a collection of recommendations and who to contact for other ideas, is available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uFGAeAOFpr_CB7lMkQrYsGU87aSiUOiP/view?usp=sharing. The DEI PAT is always recruiting new members and is the primary source of information made available at advocacy.extension.org/#diversity. 

New Health Framework Serves as Roadmap

Health Program Action Team Update - Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being outlines a bold and ambitious plan by which the Cooperative Extension System can advanced its work to improve population health and achieve equity in health status. The Framework includes five high-level recommendations and a robust set of specific recommendations for achieving this goal. National 4-H Council, through the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, along with the Extension Foundation and USDA-NIFA have joined forces to provide funding to support implementation of the recommendations. Leadership for implementation of the recommendations will be provided by the Health Program Action Team of the ECOP Program Committee. The Health Program Action Team is currently being established through a transitional process that will incorporate membership of several existing groups (including the Health Innovation Task Force) into a consolidated leadership group. Messaging information about this work is located here. For more information, contact Roger Rennekamp, Extension Health Director, at rogerrennekamp@extension.org.

Thank You! to the 55 Members of the Section plus 2, 1994 Extension Directors, from 44 states and 1 US territory, who participated in 2021 NEDA last week! - Watch for highlights and Leadership Resources. Have a look during the week at ECOP Chair Wendy Powers's 2021-2022 Action Plan at www.aplu.org/CESgoals and hold 3-4:30 p.m. ET every first Friday beginning November 5 (except August 2022) to virtually meet with Wendy for member-driven updates and/or Learning for Leaders events. 

Leadership Development for the 21st Century (LEAD21) Call for Application Deadline November 30 - The LEAD21 program is intended to meet the future needs for leadership development of faculty, specialists, district and regional directors, program and team leaders, research station and center directors, department heads and chairs, and others in the universities’ colleges of agricultural, environmental, natural resources, veterinary sciences, and human sciences and USDA/NIFA. Individuals from land-grant, NARRU institutions, and USDA are encouraged to participate. The primary purpose of LEAD21 is to develop leaders in land grant institutions and their strategic partners who link research, academics, and extension in order to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment, either in their current position or as they aspire to other positions. Learn about the program goals, components, and costs here.




DEI Professional Development Opportunity for Extension Professionals - Michigan State University Extension’s Tollgate Farm and Education Center is hosting a virtual professional development panel discussion series for Extension and educational professionals about learning to better incorporate the perspectives of diverse groups in educational programs. Moderators and panelists from each community provide a chance for educators to deepen their teaching practice in a safe online space for open conversation and community. Interested parties may register here for upcoming sessions, including:

• November 4: Incorporating Indigenous Perspectives and Maple Sugaring Experiences in Place-based Teaching and Learning
• December 2: Incorporating Black Perspectives in Place-Based Teaching and Learning
• February 3: Special Needs Perspectives and PBE In and Beyond the Classroom
• March 3: Engaging with LGTBQ+IA Communities in PBE in Formal and Non-Formal Settings
• April 7: A Latinx Lens: Incorporating Latinx Perspectives through Place-Based Educational Programming
• May 5: Incorporating Asian Principles, Practices, and People in Community- and Place-Based Learning

RFA Vaccine Hesitancy of the Cooperative Extension System: PROPOSAL DEADLINE EXTENDED - The EXCITE team invites all Land-grant Institutions to apply for up to $300,000 funding for Dec. 1, 2021- April 30, 2023, to: 1) assess vaccine hesitancy of Extension field educators, specialists, and administrators, and 2) create and implement a strategy to reduce vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19 and other adult immunizations to increase confidence and willingness to become immunization educators in their community. The goal of this project is to reduce hesitancy around vaccination and increase willingness to serve in educational roles around adult vaccination among Cooperative Extension personnel at all three types of Land-grant institutions (1862, 1890, 1994). View the Vaccine Hesitancy of the Cooperative Extension RFA, and view the application guide. The deadline for the RFA is now November 12, 2021.

Leaders Examine Potential of the 4-H Equity Strategic Plan

Almost half the LGUs within the Cooperative Extension Section were represented at last Friday's Learning for Leaders - 4-H Equity Strategic Plan. The conversation reinforced and built upon the collective mindset of Extension Leaders that establishes short- and long-range goals for system change for diversity, equity, and inclusion at national, state, and local levels. To review elements of the event, use:
   --> YouTube video (~ 40 min.): youtu.be/LyKIZSMdk7s
   --> Slides
An analysis of the small group discussion is in process to more deeply inform ECOP on next steps. Thank you to everyone who participated. 

SNAP-Ed Program Development Team Meets - The annual meeting of the Land-grant Universities SNAP-Ed Program Development Team (PDT) was held virtually on April 19-21. Representatives from USDA Food Nutrition Service, and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Cooperative Extension met with current and incoming members of the PDT. The PDT reviewed progress on the strategic plan and developed goals for the upcoming year. Highlights of the meeting and the past year are now available for review. Nineteen members from the 2020 and 2021 PDT were able to attend by Zoom. The work of the PDT is funded through assessments to Cooperative Extension Services providing education to SNAP recipients.

USDA Hosts First-Ever Virtual Fair on Food Waste Reduction Innovations and Leaders - The USDA will host the first-ever Food Loss and Waste Innovation Fair on May 26 (12 - 4 p.m. ET), to showcase USDA investments and business leadership in reducing food loss and waste throughout the food system. The Innovation Fair will present businesses and research teams that have received USDA funding to research or commercialize cutting-edge food loss and waste solutions. For more information, read the USDA press release.




Act by May 28 NIFA Partnership and Hall of Fame Awards Nominations - All Land-grant Universities and cooperating institutions and organizations supported by NIFA may submit nominations to their 2021 Hall of Fame and/or Partnership Awards Program by May 28, 2021. Links to each:

NIFA Partnership Award website - For outstanding contributions in support of the NIFA mission and USDA Strategic Goals that provide an outcome that positively impacts agriculture, the environment, communities, or people. 

NIFA Hall of Fame Awards website - Former inductees include several Extension Directors and Administrators who have have worked, coordinated, or supported activities exemplifying NIFA’s synergy of excellence in any combination of research, education, and extension approaches on local, regional, national, or international levels and demonstrated a measurable and positive impact on the lives of citizens and NIFA's mission to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal challenges.

Winning nominations will be recognized at the NIFA Day of Appreciation on a date to be announced for either June or July 2021.  

Equity Strategic Plan for 4-H

All Extension Directors and Administrators are invited to attend the next Learning for Leaders, Friday, May 7, 2021, 3-4:00 p.m. ET, to explore the National 4-H Equity Design Team Strategic Planning Report. with their colleagues, 1 per region, listed on page 13 here. The event will reinforce and build upon the collective mindset of these Extension Leaders that establishes short- and long-range goals for system change for diversity, equity, and inclusion at national, state, and local levels.  Portions of the program will be recorded and made available here in the ECOP Monday Minute. 4-H Department faculty and Administrative Leadership Teams are welcome. To register, email Sandy Ruble. 

Brent Hales, Director, Penn 
State Extension

Hales to Liaise with Urban Extension Leaders - Last week at their April Meeting, ECOP affirmed Brent Hales, Penn State, to represent the Cooperative Extension Section with the National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) steering committee. Brent has served on ECOP since September 2020. The  steering committee of 17 meets virtually each month to 1) advance the strategic importance and long-term value of urban Extension activities, and 2) to foster collaboration at the local, regional and national levels that create greater capacity within the Cooperative Extension System to serve urban communities. Jason Henderson, Purdue University, served as ECOP Liaison to NUEL 2018-2021, and continues to serve the Section/ECOP as Vice-chair of the Budget & Legislative Committee. 

2021 National Urban Extension Leaders Virtual Summit - NUEL’s 2021 Virtual Summit will be held May 17-20, 2021. The purpose of NUEL is to advocate and advance the strategic importance and long-term value of urban Extension activities by being relevant locally, responsive statewide, and recognized nationally. Register for the Summit here.

$10 Million for Partnerships/Collaborations with Climate Hubs - USDA NIFA will award approximately $10 million in competitive awards (AFRI) to support Cooperative Extension partnerships and collaborations with the USDA Climate Hubs. This program area priority will support projects that provide effective, translatable, and scalable approaches to address climate change through regional partnerships including the USDA Climate Hubs and Extension. This is a new program priority (program is A1721) in the current AFRI Foundational and Applied Science RFA – it is on page 71. The RFA is located here.

Farm of the Future Integrated Research and Extension Competitive Grant Planning - USDA NIFA is seeking input to establish a new Farm of the Future competitive grant program. Section 799 of the FY2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill provided $4,000,000 to NIFA “for a competitive grant to an institution in the land-grant university system to establish a Farm of the Future testbed and demonstration site.” NIFA plans to implement this program by supporting an integrated research and Extension project. At this stage of planning, the agency is seeking expert stakeholders, customers, and partners opinions on how Federal investments can best address current needs and challenges facing farms of the future. Today, there are 2 ways to provide input (see below). Direct general questions to NIFA.FarmOfTheFuture@usda.gov

    -- Register here to attend a virtual stakeholder listening session on
        Thursday, May 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. (CT).
        Each participant who wishes to speak will be unmuted for up to
        3 minutes. 

    -- Submit written comments (2-page limit) to:
        FarmoftheFuture@USDA.gov by May 6, 2021.

Leaders Encouraging Collaborations with Diverse Communities

Last Friday, ECOP hosted a third in a series of Learning for Leaders conversations with a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion theme. Katie Hartmann, who recently completed her PhD in Education, Equity, and Transformation at Colorado State University, identified what excellence looks like to collaborate with diverse communities. The structures include but are not limited to a Relations Liaison, Inside Collaborator, and a community-specific sense of timing. What can be implemented in the short and long term?

To review Leaders Encouraging Collaborations with Diverse Communities, from March 5:

     -- View recording at https://youtu.be/KR2kUsUJgjM

     -- Click here to view/download slides

Extension Directors and Administrators are invited to closely follow the DEI series and complete this survey by Friday, March 12. Check out archives of the following here.

     -- Improving Inclusivity in Our Institutions and ECOP, February 5
     -- Inclusive and Equitable Organizations – An Evidence Based Model, January 8

SAVE THE DATE - The next Learning for Leaders is set for Friday, May 7, 3-4 p.m. ET. Topic/title are yet to be determined.  

eXtension is Now the Extension Foundation - eXtension’s mission has evolved over the past several years, from being an organization focused on creating technology solutions for the Cooperative Extension System, to a focus on helping Cooperative Extension faculty and staff find new and innovative ways to deliver their projects and programs, and helping Cooperative Extension make a greater impact in communities. Realizing that continuing the eXtension name might be a source of confusion for many, as it is reminiscent of the organization’s past, the Board of Directors announces that eXtension is now the Extension Foundation. Over the coming weeks, digital presence changes will be made to better reflect the mission and vision of the Extension Foundation and its role in Cooperative Extension. For more information, visit extension.org.

Net Inclusion 2021 Webinar Series - The Net Inclusion Conference has been a staple in the Digital Inclusion community since 2016, bringing hundreds of practitioners, advocates, academics, internet service providers, and policymakers together to share their knowledge. With social distancing still in place, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance will once again hold an online version of Net Inclusion to substitute the in-person conference. This Series will include eight one-hour webinars, every Wednesday from April 7 - May 26, 2021, at 1 PM ET. All webinars include an additional 30-minute wrap-up for conversation and Q&A with panelists and fellow participants. Find the topics, schedule, and register here.



HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period 2021 Now Open - Last week Health Extension Director, Roger Rennekamp, shared the following update with the Extension Institutional Contacts for Health and Well-Being.

The Department of Health and Human Services requests assistance in getting the word out about a special enrollment period for those in need of health insurance. This special enrollment period is now open through HealthCare.Gov, where there is information about programs and tools to help existing and new Health Insurance Marketplace participants. The deadline for enrollment is May 15, 2021. For more information, go to HealthCare.Gov.

Alliance with CDC to Help Rural and Underserved Populations

Extension Directors and Administrators are welcome to share this registration link https://extension.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0uf-6vrjwjEtZz_mAGOQYjvtBj8Ue-xc81 as appropriate for the webinar, Immunization Education - Faculty & Staff, Wednesday, February 24, 2021, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. The hour-long session is led by Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware. Michelle is the new Project Director for the developing alliance between the Cooperative Extension System and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to promote the immunization education and innovative models for community action. This alliance was launched by the ECOP Health Innovation Task Force. 

On a related note...

Aimed at improving the health and well-being of rural and underserved populations, the Cooperative Extension System’s work to reduce hesitancy and remove barriers to receiving the COVID-19 vaccines will be featured at a practitioner town hall scheduled for 2:00 PM ET on Wednesday, February 24. The town hall is part of the CDC’s National Forum on the COVID-19 Vaccine being held this week. The Forum is designed to connect representatives from the federal government with community leaders and health practitioners to promote the most effective strategies to build trust and confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and increase access nationwide. The Forum begins on Monday, February 22 at 10:00 AM EST and ends on Wednesday, February 24 at 3:30 PM EST. View the full agenda here. Register here to participate in either the entire conference, or just the sessions of most interest.

Expedite Nominations - Recognize the Best of Best in 2021 - The call for nominations for the Cooperative Extension Awards Program offered collectively by ECOP and USDA-NIFA began February 1. Whether they showcase innovation or shear excellence, winning nominations could take months to prepare. Ask administrative leadership teams to investigate the nomination process without delay at www.aplu.org/cesawards. The deadline to submit is May 1 only 10 weeks away. Direct questions to Sandy Ruble, Assistant Director, Cooperative Extension System/ECOP, sandyruble@extension.org. Thank you.

Coming Together for Racial Understanding (CTRU) Pilots Virtual Train-the-Trainer Workshop - With support from ECOP, CTRU recently piloted a virtual Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Previously, this has been a week-long intensive face-to-face experience, but the current situation called for experimenting with an online process. Three new states joined the CTRU pilot: Delaware, New Mexico, and Ohio. Five existing CTRU states (Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Virginia) filled empty team slots due to retirements or job changes, and two Regional Rural Development Center colleagues joined to help strengthen regional support. Over the next few weeks, the CTRU evaluation team will be examining the efficacy of the virtual workshop in comparison with the two previous face-to-face efforts. To learn more about CTRU, visit: http://srdc.msstate.edu/civildialogue/index.html or contact Rachel Welborn, Southern Rural Development Center, rachel.welborn@msstate.edu.




Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR)-Funded Report Outlines National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste - A FFAR-funded consensus study report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, “A National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste at the Consumer Level,” examines the cultural and societal drivers of food waste among consumers. The report provides a multilevel strategy for how the public and private sectors can provide the motivation, opportunities and abilities to help consumers reduce food waste.




2021 Trust In Food Symposium - With individuals and communities forging new ways to do business, communicate and go about their daily lives. Against this backdrop, our country’s food system – from producers to consumers – appears to be rapidly evolving, as well. From Feb. 23-25, the 2021 Trust In Food Symposium Regenerative Reset will help leaders from farms, agribusinesses, conservation organizations, farmer associations, food companies, food retail, government agencies and other sectors make sense of the changing landscape and position themselves for success. Learn more and register here: https://www.trustinfood.com/symposium

Creating an Inclusive, Equitable Cooperative Extension System

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus on Presidents' Day, February 15, 2021.

Last Friday’s Learning for Leaders event, Improving Inclusivity in Our Institutions and ECOP, was a launching point by 36 Extension Directors and Administrators from 1890, 1862,  and 1994 Land-grants to create an inclusive, equitable Cooperative Extension System. Organizers of this event and last month's, hope their colleagues can say in 2022, "I finally saw change." For anyone listed here who was unable to attend and for participants wishing to review, links to the 5-minute dynamic topical presentations, slides, and survey are found below.  Save the Date, March 5, 2021, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. Details of the next Learning for Leaders will soon be released.
-- Programming–A Path Forward
-- Hiring/Recruitment/Pipeline/Retention
-- Professional Development for Leaders and Personnel
-- Support for New/Existing Diverse Employees
-- 1890/1862 Relationship – Lessons Learned
-- Best Practices, and Collaboration Between 1862/1994 Institutions
-- Click Here to view/download Power Point
-- Complete Survey at bit.ly/CES-DEI-Survey

USDA’s Forum Building Resilience in Agricultural & Food Systems through Innovative and Strategic Partnerships - Wednesday, February 17, 2021 from 1:00-4:30 pm EST -  Presenters include leaders from USDA, Ag industry and community organizations followed by open Q&A discussion. This forum discussion will highlight how innovative and strategic partnerships between federal, state, local and private partners support the building of resilience in agricultural and food systems, with a focus on food systems and disaster recovery. Held in conjunction with USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum, this Microsoft Teams Live Event is hosted by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) and Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area. Click here to register! The link to the event will be provided upon registration.

2021 Renewable Resources Extension Act Programming Webinars - For Extension Directors and Administrators with direct dealings in renewable resources, the Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) Programming website features informative webinars. Coming February 23, 2021 at 1 p.m. (EST), is one that deals with the uncertainty about the future transfer of family forest or rangeland enterprises. To learn more and/or to register, go to https://globalrangelands.org/rreasp/webinars.

Webinar: Applying for NEW AFRI “Education and Workforce Development” Funding on February 26 -  In FY 2021, the AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) applications cover seven areas: agricultural workforce training, professional development for agricultural literacy, training of undergraduate students in research and extension, fellowships for predoctoral candidates, fellowships for postdoctoral scholars, a new program for food and agricultural non-formal education (FANE), and a FY 2021-only program for evaluation of NIFA’s agricultural literacy and workforce development portfolio. 1890, 1994, and 1862 Land-Grant Institutions, and a host of others are eligible to apply. On February 26 from 2-3:00 PM Eastern Time, NIFA staff will provide an overview of 2 New! EWD programs, FANE and Civic Engagement Experience for Youth (CEEY). Learn more/register here.  

2021 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Virtual Conference April 12-13 - Registration is now open for the virtual Extension PILD Conference. PILD is sponsored by JCEP (Joint Council of Extension Professionals) and is conducted by and for Extension professionals. This year’s conference theme is “Building Our Future Together”.  Early registration is available through April 2. Speakers include Dr. Waded Cruzado, President of Montana State University, and Dr. Chuck Hibberd, Extension Dean & Director Emeritus, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. A special session especially for Extension Directors and Administrators will be organized by the ECOP Budget & Legislative Committee. Through speakers, workshops and panels, participants will learn how to communicate and engage with stakeholders and elected officials in advocating for Extension at the local, state, and national level. Information and registration is available at www.jcep.org/pild.

Registration Ends 2/3/2021 for DEI Learning for Leaders Event

Since 1984 the third Monday in January is set apart from every other Monday as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to celebrate the birth and life of a leader who served as chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement. Please join the Cooperative Extension System/ECOP Office to remember Dr. King’s legacy and honor his dream. Normal office hours resume on January 19, 2021. 

Attention - To all Land-grant 1890 Extension Administrators and 1862 and 1994 Extension Directors who have not yet registered for the Learning for Leaders event, Improving Inclusivity in Our Institutions and ECOP, on Friday, February 5, 2021, 3-4:30 p.m. ET, registration IS required. Contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org to register and receive connection details before close of business February 3, 2021. This is required. Why attend?

“Please plan to join me at the Learning for Leaders Session on February 5^th.  Advancing our understanding, sharing successes, and challenging ourselves on how we embrace diversity, inclusivity and equity within our own organizations is critical to the success of the Cooperative Extension System.  This session is designed to support the work of Extension Directors around these critically important issues.” – Dr. Karl Martin, University of Wisconsin

“Given our strong Extension network and our passion for meaningful change, it’s time to combine our expertise and experiences to become part of the solution. I encourage you influential leaders to join us for a rich dialogue as we seek to advance the cause for diversity, equity and inclusion.” – Dr. Carolyn Williams, Prairie View A&M University (Texas)

“Dr. Archibeque-Engle gave me several things to think about, in addition to great examples from her own life story. I look forward to working in this upcoming session with her and especially with my fellow colleagues, to implement new ways to deliver vibrant, inclusive learning programs locally. I might only need to go as far as my own diverse network of colleagues, Directors and Administrators, to grasp and establish real change.” – Dr. Wendy Powers, University of California

National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NCFAR) Annual Report Released - NCFAR’s vital mission is to sustain and increase federal funding in food and agricultural research, Extension and education (RE&E). NCFAR leads through unique roles—the only coalition in which ‘Customers’— stakeholders who need and benefit from RE&E outcomes—are the leading voices in making an effective case for federal funding; provides a common forum and a unified voice, for diverse stakeholders; the only coalition whose focused mission is advocacy for federal funding for BOTH inter- and intra-mural food and agriculture RE&E. Read the report here. ECOP is a long-standing member of NCFAR and regularly contribute to the Lunch-n-Learn Series. Jason Henderson, Purdue University, is ECOP's appointed member of NCFAR Board of Directors. 




USDA Releases U.S. Ag Innovation Strategy Summary Report and Interactive Dashboard - The U.S. Ag Innovation Strategy and Dashboard was developed to provide a vision of Discovery Goals and to ensure a transparent and inclusive approach to addressing both challenges and opportunities in U.S. Agriculture consistent with the goal of the Ag Innovation Agenda to increase production/productivity by 40% and reduce the environmental footprint in half by 2050. The RFI process -- designed to hear the voice of the customer – provided a rich and compelling vision for how innovation and advanced technology can truly transform agriculture for the future. A complement to the strategy is the USDA Science Blueprint, which outlines the 5 key themes we believe USDA must expand as capabilities to bring many of the Discovery Goals to life. The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) has formed cross-agency theme teams to formulate the narrative, priorities, and strategies to build these capabilities. OCS will also be the home of the U.S. Ag Innovation Strategy for next versions and implementation oversight.



2019 SNAP-Ed Report Now Available - The 2019 SNAP-Ed through the Land-Grant University System Report and Infographic are now available here. The report features the outcomes and impacts of LGU SNAP-Ed programs representing 42 institutions and 37 states.



APLU Releases 2020 Annual Report - APLU has released its 2020 report, outlining the association’s work to support public universities in the midst of the pandemic, including through major advocacy efforts in Washington throughout the year. The report also details APLU's work to help an array of projects and initiatives centered on the three pillars of its agenda: expanding access and improving equity and student success to deliver the innovative workforce of tomorrow; advancing and promoting research and discovery to improve society, foster economic growth, and address global challenges; and building healthy, prosperous, equitable, and vibrant communities locally and globally.

Extension Leaders Explore Steps Toward Inclusive and Equitable Organizations

At Friday's Learning for Leaders meeting with participation by 31 leaders (1862, 1890 and 1994), from 21 states, Guam and American Samoa, participants learned the interdependent steps for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. ECOP Chair Chris Watkins, Cornell University, encourages his colleagues from across the System to familiarize themselves with the materials listed below and join him on Friday, February 5, 3-4:30 PM ET, for the next Learning for Leaders session, Improving Inclusivity in Our Institutions and ECOP.  Contact Assistant Director Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org for details on required registration.

-- YouTube Recording https://youtu.be/MyFrmSeyyuA

-- Slides found here

-- Theory and Practice of Multicultural Organization Development

2021 Outlook for Cooperative Extension System's Health Initiative - All Land-grant University Health Leaders, Extension Deans, Directors and Administrators and Friends are invited to register for a "State of Health" webinar for Wednesday, January 13, 2021, Noon-1:00 PM Eastern Time. 2020 was an exciting year for the Cooperative Extension System, particularly for its work related to health and well-being. Responding to a global pandemic, expanding the portfolio of programming related to mental health, continuing the extraordinary work in the area of food and nutrition, and working with scores of new partners was just a beginning! Distinguished panelists representing various components of the Cooperative Extension System including USDA-NIFA, National 4-H Council, the eXtension Foundation, and ECOP, will present the latest information about the partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the work of the Health Innovation Task Force, and the expanding health presence on Connect Extension. Register in advance at Webinar Registration - Zoom to either attend and/or receive the link to the recording. 

USDA Announces Castille as New NIFA Director - Dr. Carrie Castille has been named as the new, permanent director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. She started her role as NIFA director on Monday, January 4, 2021, and will be the first female NIFA director in a non-acting role. Dr. Castille has a wide range of experience with the agency as a NIFA stakeholder, a faculty member at a partner land-grant university, as a USDA colleague, and as a leader in both the Vilsack and Perdue USDA administrations. Having worked with NIFA in so many different aspects gives her a unique view of the organization and the customers served. 

USDA Seeks Members for Advisory Committee on Urban Agriculture - The USDA is seeking members for a new 12-person advisory committee on urban agriculture, including two representatives from an institution of higher education or Extension. This is part of a broader effort to focus on the needs of urban farmers. including two representatives from an institution of higher education or Extension. The committee will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production practices as well as identify any barriers to urban agriculture. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified individuals, with a broad spectrum of expertise. Self-nominations are also welcome. Read more here. and respond by March 5, 2021.



Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 - Updated jointly by the USDA and Health and Human Services (HHS) every five years, the Dietary Guidelines provides science-based advice on what to eat and drink to promote health, help reduce risk of chronic disease, and meet nutrient needs. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 is the first set of guidelines that provide guidance for healthy dietary patterns by life stage, from birth through older adulthood, including pregnant and lactating women. To develop the Dietary Guidelines, the Departments built upon the previous edition of the Dietary Guidelines with updates grounded in the scientific review of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, along with comments from the public and input from Federal agencies.