Broadband Access & Digital Skills Priority Update

Broadband access and digital skills, vital to quality of life in today's world, is a national programmatic priority as explained in ECOP's Advocacy Toolkit adovcacy.extension.org. The ECOP Program Committee is pleased to spotlight the work of its Broadband Access and Digital Skills Program Action Team (PAT) consisting of the National Digital Extension Education Team and Southern Rural Development Center. The PAT welcomes Extension Professionals to join a new Community of Practice on Extension Foundation’s Connect Extension platform. This virtual space of co-learning is dedicated to helping people thrive in a digital world. The PATs list of goals in 2022 includes implementing Community Planning and Digital Skills Teaching Toolkits, growing a repository for existing Extension efforts, establishing common metrics, and researching impacts of broadband use on quality of life. For more information log into/join the platform or contact Rachel Welborn (rachel.welborn@msstate.edu) or Kenny Sherin (kmsherin@ncsu.edu).

Booster for EXCITE Project from CDC - The Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and the Center’s Deputy Director for Science, has expressed gratitude for the partnership with the U.S. Cooperative Extension System (CES) in this letter on the EXCITE project – which CDC is proud to feature as a spotlight on its Health Equity in Action page. The CDC awarded funds to USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture to partner with CES, because Extension field agents are known to be trusted messengers with the competency to apply knowledge in nearly every county, parish, city, or municipality across the nation, both big and small. 

Welcome Lewis-Burke Associates - Please join ECOP, the rest of the Board on Agriculture Assembly, the Board on Human Sciences, and APLU's Office of Food Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) to welcome Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC as our new Washington, DC-based federal relations consulting and lobbying partner for the land-grant university's collective tripartite mission. Lewis-Burke, with a successful 29-year track record in advocacy on behalf of colleges and universities, has a team of experts with extensive experience with House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations as well as the Farm Bill. Lewis-Burke will work in close coordination with FANR to engage with members of Congress, authorizing committees, and staff responsible for funding agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. The firm will also advocate for increased funding levels for agricultural research, teaching, and Extension in USDA and other federal agencies. This week the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee will have their first introduction to a Lewis-Burke expert.

Cooperative Extension Highlights from 2021 APLU Annual Report - Check out the following mentions of the important work of Extension recently published the 2021 APLU Annual Report.

• Federal Policy Engagement, page 7
• Driving Equitable Student Success, pages 18 & 19
• Building Prosperous, Equitable, and Vibrant Communities Locally and Globally, page 25

Don't Forget the Ag Outlook Forum's Registration is Available - As was previous announced in the ECOP Monday Minute (November 8, 2021), registration is open to attend USDA's 98th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, February 24-25, 2022. Learn more at www.labroots.com/ms/virtual-event/usda-aof-2022. 

Investing in Rural Recovery

Today the nation’s four Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs) released Investing in Rural Recovery: Findings from a Rapid Assessment of Stakeholder Priorities for Rural Development from a national survey of rural development stakeholders. Conducted in the fall of 2021, the survey is part of a year-long Listening Session Initiative aimed at identifying key priorities and critical investments for rural communities’ recovery and growth. The questionnaire served as a rapid appraisal of key informants’ perceptions about priorities, capacities, and potential to expand programming in eight critical topic areas. Respondents also reported the types of programs found to be most valuable and the resources, challenges, and opportunities they perceive for rural communities. The report marks the close of the first stage in the consultative feedback process being led by the RRDCs and will provide a basis for a series of facilitated dialogues in the initiative’s second phase in March and April of 2022.

Prioritizing Nutrition Security - Learn about the latest updates to the Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 3-4:30 p.m. ET. The virtual session will be led by the Framework authors and attendees are highly encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback during the live Q&A segment and the virtual breakout sessions. This event is the sixth installment of NIFA’s new monthly Nutrition Security Webinar Series. To register and for more information, visit the Prioritizing Nutrition Security webinar announcement.

New Deadline for 4-H Executive Position - Extended to Friday, January 28, 2022. The ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee (ECOP 4-H) seeks an Executive Director who is passionate about building partnership and policy foundations for future 4-H Youth Development programs and initiatives nationwide. The Executive Director will support the work of the Committee, including a bold vision and plan for engaging more youth in the 4-H program that also reflects the diversity of youth in the United States. The ideal candidate would be an experienced Extension Director/Administrator or State 4-H Program Leader with demonstrated past success in collaborative leadership and coordination of Extension system resources. Full description is here. To apply, send cover letter and resume to ECOP4-H@4-H.org.

Big Idea on Health Event - The ECOP Health Innovation Taskforce will conduct a "Big Idea" virtual event on February 10, 2022 from 2-4:00 p.m. ET to connect the dots of business, education, and health with the Cooperative Extension System. Please share the opportunity with university's colleges of agriculture, public health, and education, and with health industry leaders, and organizations invested in community development or the education pipeline. Task Force member Dr. Erik Porfeli, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, is providing leadership for the event. Read more and register at pages.extension.org/big-idea. Questions may be directed to Cooperative Extension's Health Director Dr. Roger Rennekamp rogerrennekamp@extension.org, or EDA Team member, Ali Mitchell amitchell@northeastextension.org.

Anyone seeking enlightenment about the nexus of the APLU, the Land-grant University System, the Board on Agriculture Assembly, and USDA-NIFA may register here for an orientation starting February 8 and running through February 10, 2022, from 2:30-5:00 p.m. ET. There is $25 fee to cover the sessions for all three days.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus on January 17, 2022. Visit The King Center for information on MLK Day.

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New Year's Message from Dr. Castille

Dear Extension Colleagues,

It has been a busy year at USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). We have built our staff to nearly 300 of the nation’s best experts to serve you. Many have strong Land-grant University experience and greatly appreciate the incredible value of Extension and the work we do together. I’m proud to share these 2021 highlights:

Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE)
This new program, an interagency agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to engage Land-grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension System to improve vaccination coverage in rural and other medically underserved communities, has delivered immunization education to over 4 million people nationwide.

Strengthening 4-H Leadership
When I first arrived at NIFA, I made a commitment to rebuild the staff expertise in 4-H Headquarters. Today, we have a robust staff that represents experience from all areas of the Land-grant System.

$10M for Extension, Education, and USDA Climate Hub Partnerships
In 2021, NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative established a new funding opportunity — supported by a $10 million investment — to provide effective, translatable, and scalable approaches to help next-generation agriculturalists and foresters incorporate climate change research into management practices.

Building Relationships and Improving Customer Focus
I visited with Extension partners to observe your work firsthand. The Sunbelt Agricultural Expo this fall was a wonderful opportunity to see Extension and research work on display and learn from staff and Extension directors.

What a thrill it was to finally make it to National 4-H Congress! As a former 4-H’er, I know the hard work that goes into earning a trip to Congress. I spent a day in community service with participants, had one-on-one conversations with delegates, and left with a renewed understanding that our future will be in very capable hands.

Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are central to all we do through Extension to reach farmers, producers, families, and youth across America.

Preparing for a Bright 2022
In the new year, we will continue to spotlight Extension capacity programs in our press releases, blogs, and especially USDA materials pertaining to climate change, disaster preparedness, COVID, food safety, nutrition security, and developing new and fair markets. Each of these priorities holds exciting opportunities for Extension to shine and show your unparalleled ability to deliver hands-on education in every U.S. community.

I look forward to a prosperous New Year working with you. Thank you for your generous support.

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Orientation for New Extension Leaders Resources - Last Friday, the ECOP Professional Development Committee conducted a virtual orientation with a panel of experienced leaders from Georgia, Minnesota, and New Mexico. Colleagues offered their best guidance on "what I know now that I wished I knew from the beginning." 34 members of the Cooperative Extension Section were in attendance. The recording is available at https://youtu.be/fWyn4vRMuc8. Other helpful sources are 
-- FAQ's by Extension Directors and Administrators

-- Learning for Leaders Series Archive, 2018-2021

ECOP Celebrates the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Rural Development Act of 1972 - Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs) were established by the Rural Development Act of 1972 and celebrate their 50^th year in 2022. ECOP has endorsed a resolution to celebrate this momentous occasion. The RRDCs are a trusted source of economic and community development data, decision tools, education, and guidance for our nation's rural communities. The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development is based at Purdue University. The Southern Rural Development Center is based at Mississippi State University. The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development is based at The Pennsylvania State University, and the Western Rural Development Center is based at Utah State University. Each RRDC is administered by a joint agreement between USDA and a host institution operating for the Extension Services and the Agricultural Experiment Stations in the respective region. Core funding is from NIFA for integrated research, education, and Extension activities.

MFLN Launches Curated Programming Clusters - The Military Families Learning Network (MFLN) has launched its curated Programming Clusters, hand-selected programming to help build professional skills and support military families. The “Building Your Professional Skills” programming clusters support the ability to communicate with colleagues and clients, work effectively and ethically to build strong professional relationships, and build understanding while examining resources and promising practices focused on human and cultural differences. Extension Professionals may sort through this list of credentialing agencies to choose webinars to learn, build skills and obtain continuing education credits at their own pace. Extension Directors and Administrators are asked to share this information with their faculty. 

Community Resource and Economic Development Tool to Measure Program Impacts - Continuing its webinar series, the Community Resource and Economic Development National Indicators Working Group is offering the session, Using the Community Capitals Framework to Measure Program Impacts. The session will take place Tuesday, January 25, 2022, 3PM ET. The Community Capitals Framework (CCF) has been a widely used educational tool, and it also has enormous potential to guide evaluation of community development work in Extension and beyond. Presenters in this panel will highlight ways they have employed the CCF in documenting community-level impacts of Extension programming, as well as their ideas for using the CCF more broadly to document collective impacts of programming within states and regions. Please share the link to register https://msstateextension.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMpceyrqzwrHdOWFSnOtl60az9j3Vup37i3