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.
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.
