Urban Ag Event 12/10/2020

The ECOP Monday Minute is on hiatus on November 30^th and returns on December 7^th. Have a safe and pleasant Thanksgiving.

Urban Agriculture: Needs, Opportunities, and Actions - Last Thursday members of the Cooperative Extension Section were personally invited to a Zoom event set for December 10^th, 3-4:00 p.m. ET organized by the Cooperative Extension System/ECOP National Office. A special Thursday edition of  Learning for Leaders is planned to network and engage with a panel of experts who will present multiple strategies that support the sustainable development of commercial and community-focused urban agriculture. ECOP Chair Chris Watkins will moderate the conversation with his colleagues and 2 experts to reveal findings of a NIFA-funded research study and for engaging current opportunities at the state, region, and national levels. To receive complete details and connection information, contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org. 

USDA Ag Outlook Forum in 2021- USDA announced that its 2021 Agricultural Outlook Forum will be a virtual event, and registration will be free. The two-day forum will take place February 18-21. Its theme is “Building on Innovation: A Pathway to Resilience,” and builds on the current administration’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda, launched earlier this year to align USDA’s resources, programs, and research toward the goal of increasing U.S. agricultural production by 40% while cutting the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture in half by 2050. Agricultural Outlook Forum registration ▪ USDA – Agriculture Innovation Agenda




Safety Matters: Cybersecurity Put First for Youth - The FEMA Region 5 (out of Chicago) Regional Youth Preparedness Council is hosting a youth preparedness webinar next Monday, November 23,^rd from 6:00 – 7:00 PM CT. This webinar is open to anyone interested. Please feel free to register for this informational webinar and share with any interested youth or youth-serving organizations in your network. Guest speakers include Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Amanda J. Knutson, Supervisory Special Agent and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): Tony Enriquez, Cybersecurity Advisor (CSA) Registration Link: https://fema.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_RXZo2NsNQaulxPijx8euwg



Sustainable Ag Funding Opportunity - Applications to the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems program focuses on approaches that promote transformational changes in the U.S. food and agriculture system. NIFA seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach for projects focused on the themes in the USDA Science Blueprint: sustainable agricultural intensification; agricultural climate adaptation; value-added innovation; and/or food and nutrition translation. These projects are expected to significantly improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible agricultural products, while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America. These approaches must demonstrate current needs and anticipate future social, cultural, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts. For more information, read the AFRI SAS funding opportunity.

National Leaders Announced

ECOP Chair Chris Watkins-Cornell University, welcomes the newest member of ECOP, Rich Bonanno-North Carolina State University. Welcome also to the newest ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) members, Karl Martin-University of Wisconsin, Blake Naughton-Colorado State University, Dan Lerner-University of Vermont, and Gina Eubanks-Louisiana State University. To all mentioned here, thank you for your national leadership and dedication to the Cooperative Extension System! Click here to view/download the current lists of Board of Agriculture Assembly affiliated Cooperative Extension Section National leadership. Contact Cooperative Extension System/ECOP Assistant Director Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org to provide updates. 

FY2021 Budget Process Update - Last week's post by Cornerstone Government Affairs at www.land-grant.org is a response to the release of the Fiscal Year 2021 Agriculture Appropriations bill by the Committee on Appropriations of the United States Senate. Persons not receiving these messages directly from Cornerstone may contact Maggie Earle to sign up.

2021 National Health Outreach Conference - The NHOC conference will be held virtually May 3-7, 2021. With the theme of “The Grand Challenge: Building a Healthy Future for All,” there will be sessions related to health equity, effective behavior-change messaging, policy system and environmental change, health behavior, and pandemic response programming. Keynote speakers, concurrent and posters sessions will be relevant for professionals who address health, nutrition, youth development, workforce development, and human development. Organized by Cooperative Extension professionals, invitees include faculty in human sciences, food sciences, medical and other academic institutions across public and private colleges, and universities; public health professionals; youth development professionals; local, state and federal agency partners; practitioners in the health care industry; and students. Click Here for additional details about the conference and help spread the word to save the dates.

USDA-NIFA Invests Millions to Support Educators, 4-H and Others in Workforce Training During Pandemic - USDA-NIFA has announced an investment of more than $10.5 million to support educators at technical schools, community and junior colleges, and youth development programs, including Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program. USDA-NIFA will invest in eight regional and national projects, including a $3 million grant to National 4-H Council to support the continued development of 4-H at Home, Cooperative Extension’s positive youth development digital platform on 4-H.org. 4-H at Home is a dynamic resource designed to meet the growing needs for virtual and non-virtual education resources that can be rapidly adopted at home or by various educators and Extension specialists. It is intended to level the playing field and address the widening opportunity gap for youth and families as a result of the pandemic. Details about the award recipients and initiatives can be found here.

Final 2020 Military Family Readiness Academy Session - Planning for the Worst, Hoping for the Best: The final session of the Disaster and Hazard Readiness Foundations series, Planning for the Worst, Hoping for the Best, will be held Wednesday, November 18 from 11:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. ET. This final session ties together all planning aspects involved in military family readiness from both family and service professional perspectives. Dr. Angie Lindsey, University of Florida/IFAS, shares strategies, resources, and templates, with a focus on the who, what, when, where, and why of preparation, mitigation, and recovery. Nancy Beers, Director of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Midwest Early Recovery Fund, will be the guest speaker. Nancy oversees The CDP Early Recovery Fund, which focuses on supporting vulnerable populations in 10 states in the Midwest, following a disaster. Her presentation will focus on a Minnesota flooding event and how some specific military families were impacted by it in different ways. The 90-minute session is free and several continuing education credits are also available. To register and get more information go to: https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/event/mfra2020/

CDC’s Flu Season Digital Media Toolkit Available

As a trusted community resource, Cooperative Extension can play an important role in educating the public about the importance of immunizations, particularly in the months immediately preceding flu season. The CDC’s digital media tool kit is available to partners like Cooperative Extension to assist them in communicating the importance of vaccinations. This digital toolkit includes sample social media images, newsletter content, web assets, and media preparation materials. This material is downloadable, shareable, and some of the material is customizable. To access the media tool kit, visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/toolkit/index.htm or to go directly to their #SleeveUp to #FightFlu social media resources, at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/sleeveup/index.htm 

Calendar Update - A Learning for Leaders Event on the topic of Urban Extension on Thursday, December 10, 2020, 3-4:00 p.m. ET, was recently added to the ECOP Calendar. Extension Directors and Administrators should should save the date and stay tuned to email for more details and the official invitation from ECOP Chair Chris Watkins (Cornell University) and Caroline Henney, Cooperative Extension System/ECOP Executive Director. 

Quick Tip: For all things ECOP, Calendar, Lists, etc., go to www.extension.org/ecop. 



SNAP-Ed Program Development Team Update - The SNAP-Ed Program Development Team (PDT) would like to welcome Lauren Sweeney to the new role of SNAP-Ed LGU Assistant. Lauren is no stranger to SNAP-Ed through the Land-Grant System, as she has previous experience as the Program Coordinator of SNAP-Ed at the University of Florida, served as chair of the ASNNA leadership committee (the national SNAP-Ed organization), and has served as a consultant for the SNAP-Ed PDT for the past year. The PDT looks forward to the expertise Lauren can provide in assisting LGUs across the nation serve our SNAP eligible population. Soon all Extension Directors will receive the annual request for data that Lauren has responsibility to collect. Please feel free to reach out to Lauren (lauren.sweeney@sdstate.edu) if you have any SNAP-Ed questions or concerns.



Updated NIFA RFA Calendar Available - NIFA has updated its RFA calendar. Note that target dates are subject to change until the RFAs are published in Grants.gov. The current list applies to continuations, directed and second year RFAs of a multi-year solicitation. Bookmark this list and check back often for updates as target dates draw near. A new notification will signal when AFRI RFAs are added to the schedule.



Summer Internship Job Opportunities - For sharing with widely throughout the land-grant system, the OneUSDA Summer Pathways Student Internship Program is an exciting opportunity for both students and Extension's federal partner, USDA. Pathways interns have been an excellent source of talent helping advance the USDA mission. The deadline for summer 2021 internship applications is Monday, November 16. Application review will begin immediately and candidate notification will take place in early spring 2021. For more information on the program and eligibility, email internship@usda.gov.

Registration Extended for Leading Through Crisis and Uncertainty

Last week ECOP Chair Chris Watkins and all members of the ECOP Executive Committee met with Dr. Beth A. Cohen, a clinical and organizational psychologist with deep roots in Extension and with mass trauma expertise to inform the planning of a special 2-Hour edition of Learning for Leaders to be held this Friday, November 6, 2020, 3-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The demand for this opportunity has been overwhelming! Therefore, registration is extended through this week! Leadership Teams are encouraged to attend. Click Here to learn more and to register.  

 

LEAD21 - Apply By November 30 - Applications for Class 17 (2021-2022) of Leadership in the 21st Century (LEAD21) by November 30, 2020. The LEAD21 program provides leadership and professional development training for faculty and professionals within the land-grant system. The LEAD21 Board of Directors (BOD) consists of representatives from the various Board of Agriculture Assembly Section's Committees on Organization and Policy (headquartered at APLU) and strategic partners. The ECOP appointees to LEAD21 BOD are Carolyn Williams, Prairie View A&M University (TX), and Mike O'Neill-Chair, University of Connecticut. More information and the link to apply is found here.

2020 Proposals for EDEN’s Development Grants Program Due December 4 - The purpose of the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Development Grants Program is to invest in the development of innovative educational resources and Extension initiatives that can advance the work of EDEN and the broader land-grant and sea-grant systems across the nation in addressing the preparation for, response to, and recovery from hazards and disasters. The program focuses on a wide array of topics and issues. The anticipated amount available for grants in FY 2021 is approximately $140,000. The maximum amount allowed for any singular EDEN grant proposal is $35,000. Applicants are allowed a 10 percent indirect cost rate in their budget. However, the total amount may not exceed the $35,000 allocation. Applications may be submitted by Extension professionals employed by land-grant or sea-grant universities. At least one individual on the project must be an EDEN delegate. The RFP is found here.




Extension’s Role in Urban Green Infrastructure - The Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research has released the next white paper in their Leading Edge Dialogue series: Urban Green Infrastructure – Extension’s role. Green infrastructure is a strategically planned network at the city and even regional scale that includes both land (parks, urban forests, raingardens, bioswales, greenspace, to name a few), and water (rivers, watersheds, etc.). Working in green infrastructure also enables the clear illustration of often forgotten connections between local and regional food systems and water (roof gardens, community gardens, urban farms, fruit orchards, etc.). Other benefits of green infrastructure include improvements of physical and mental health, (e.g., decreasing high blood pressure and stress) for those who live or work in close proximity to urban green spaces, or have access to them. Emerging opportunities for collaboration from a panel of experts and participants at the 2019 National Urban Extension Conference during the 90-minute interactive Leading Edge Dialogue are available here.