Strategies for Reconnecting with Stakeholders

Last Friday, May 6 Extension Directors and Administrators from every region convened for Extension and the New Normal, Strategies for Reconnecting with Stakeholders through Programming and Personnel, hosted by the ECOP Professional Development Committee. This important dialogue is captured with the links provided below. All members of the Cooperative Extension Section are encouraged to review them. Direct questions to Caroline Henney at carolinecrocoll@extension.org. 

   --  Notes are captured at https://bit.ly/L4L-May22.

   --  Video is available at https://youtu.be/w-ZZG0akodk



Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE) Concluding its First Year - EXCITE teams have reported 131,148 engagement events and activities, with print materials and direct communication being the most frequently used methods to deliver immunization education. EXCITE teams have reached 9,978,580 individuals, with mass media being the single engagement activity reaching the most individuals. 730 vaccination clinics have been held in collaboration with community and healthcare partners, and 25,492 immunizations administered. Diverse assets, including text and images, social media graphics and videos have been developed through EXCITE projects, and these assets are archived at the National Registry of Cooperative Extension Programs & Assets. For an update on EXCITE project(s), in your state visit the new EXCITE Dashboard.



Upcoming APLU Mental Health Summit - Registration is now open for the APLU Virtual Mental Health Summit. The state of student mental health has been a rising concern for campus administrators for the last decade. Indeed, the COVID pandemic has only exacerbated these concerns. In response to this trend and feedback from membership, APLU will hold the first APLU Virtual Summit specifically addressing mental health. Leading voices from across the United States will provide a discussion on the state of student mental health from a variety of vantage points and perspectives. The event is Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 2:00-5:00 p.m. ET. For details and registration, click here.



Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health - The White House announced its commitment to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, reduce diet-related diseases and close disparity gaps by 2030. As part of this commitment, the White House will hold a conference this September to catalyze the public and private sectors around a coordinated, whole-of-government strategy to accelerate progress and drive significant change. As of this writing, details are unavailable. A means to find out more or express ideas is found here. USDA Secretary Vilsack statement on the conference is found here. Stay tuned to the ECOP Monday Minute for more information.



NIFA Employment Opportunities Webinar - NIFA will host an Employment Opportunities Webinar on May 18 at 2 p.m. ET. This webinar will review various employment positions at NIFA. It will provide overviews of the available roles, how to view NIFA vacancy postings online, tips for navigating USAJobs, and NIFA staff will be available to answer questions.

White House Office of Public Engagement Listserv - The White House Office of Public Engagement offers weekly updates specific to federal programs, state and regional updates and priority areas from the administration. For more information and to stay connected, visit Office of Public Engagement | The White House.

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.

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

Appreciation, Upcoming Events and Important Information

ECOP Chair Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, pictured left, is grateful to all members of ECOP for their national leadership during the Joint COPs Meetings in July. Because of the commitment of time to that event and the necessity for ECOP Member's participation in Cooperative Extension Section meetings 5 weeks from now, the decision has been made to cancel the August 27th ECOP Meeting. Note that Mark Latimore’s last meeting as ECOP Chair will take place on September 22nd and his term culminating with the passing of the gavel to Chris Watkins, Cornell University, on September 24th. Registration for the virtual National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting, Leading in a Time of Social, Economic and Political Disruption, will be released this week!

Healthy People 2030 Launch Webcast - On August 18, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will unveil the latest edition of Healthy People. Healthy People 2030 is a set of science-based, 10-year national objectives for improving health and well-being in the United States. During the webcast, participants will learn the new 2030 goals and objectives and an overview of the development process. Guest speakers from HHS will discuss Healthy People 2030 data, social determinants of health, health equity, and more. No registration is necessary. Just visit hhs.gov/live on August 18, 2020, at 1 PM EDT.

Leadership in the City Course for Urban Extension Professionals - The Leadership in the City online comprehensive professional development program prepares Extension professionals working in urban areas to be relevant locally, responsive statewide, and recognized nationally. The program is based on a foundation of entrepreneurial theory and urban Extension practice and will build upon existing leadership experiences, management training, and Extension professional development. The five content modules span five months so participants can balance work and life. Each competency-based module incorporates interactive digital delivery and the flipped classroom for active learning and engagement. The course is led by Dr. Julie Fox from the Ohio State University Extension. Complete details and registration can be found at https://cityextension.osu.edu/leadership. The deadline for registration is November 30, 2020. For more information contact Michelle Gaston at gaston.6@osu.edu.

COVID-19 Resource for Restaurant Owners and Operators - Although COVID-19 continues to spread, businesses are beginning to re-open to the public. As they do, it is essential that they do so in a safe, thoughtful, and science-supported manner. In North Carolina, the NC Restaurant and Lodging Association, NC DHHS, Visit NC, and NC State Extension have collaborated to create Count on Me NC. This public health initiative provides retail food establishments, businesses, and their visitors/guests with training and guidance needed to keep individuals safe during this pandemic. The free comprehensive training includes courses for restaurant owners and operators; front house staff; and back house staff. Additionally, there are two generic courses for all businesses that address cleaning and disinfecting, and general best practices for COVID-19 management. All five courses are available in English and Spanish and may be used throughout the Cooperative Extension System. For more information, contact Ben Chapman. 

Urban Agriculture Stakeholder Input Gathered for NIFA - In response to a recent call from NIFA for stakeholder input to help inform and set priorities for $40 million of grant funding for research, education and extension around urban, indoor and emerging agriculture the Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research, the National Urban Extension Leaders  (NUEL) and a number of local Farm Bureau chapters located in urban counties from across the country partnered to host four online, interactive listening sessions and an online survey. The listening sessions had 153 participants and the survey had 68 respondents. Input was gathered from stakeholders from 38 U.S. states, territories and districts. The summary report provided to NIFA on June 22 is available here.  

Leading in a Time of Social, Economic and Political Disruption - 2020 NEDA

SAVE THE DATE! Virtual NEDA Meeting: The 2020 National Extension Director and Administrator Meeting (NEDA) will occur September 23-24 (ECOP Meeting on September 22). The theme for this NEDA meeting will be Leading in a Time of Social, Economic and Political Disruption. The meeting will be conducted on a virtual platform for All 76 members of the Cooperative Extension Section and System partners, who are encouraged to save the dates and watch for registration to be open within the next few weeks. Stay tuned for the invitation and other details with registration! 

NIFA Funding Opportunity - 1862, 1890, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and others. are eligible to apply for a new program area priority, FY 2020 Rapid Response to Novel Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2): Innovating Formal and Non-Formal Educational Experiences in Food and Agricultural Sciences During the Time of Social Distancing, to address the need to develop and deploy rapid, reliable, and readily-adoptable strategies in workforce preparation through formal K-14 education, as well as in youth development through non-formal education to cultivate interest and competencies in STEM and agriculture during this challenging time. Funded projects are expected to develop tools, techniques, and other practices that can be rapidly adopted at home or by educators and Extension specialists to ensure the effective formal and non-formal education of K-14 students and other youth development opportunities. A web version of this announcement can be found at: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDANIFA/bulletins/2963fd7. The application deadline is Aug. 20, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Interested applicants are invited to attend an informational webinar on July 28, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Click here for more information and to register. 

ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee Resolution and Commitment to the Deconstruction of Systemic Racism within the 4-H Program - In light of recent events across the nation and the reaffirmation of the core values of the 4-H Youth Development Program, the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee statement on the deconstruction of systemic racism within the 4-H Program can be found here. The document was affirmed by the ECOP Executive Committee last week. 

2021 National Extension Conference on Volunteerism - The National Extension Conference on Volunteerism Planning Committee and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, have declared April 26-29, 2021, the dates for the National Extension Conference on Volunteerism "NECV” 2021! Plans are underway for an exciting Extension professional conference with a focus on volunteerism at the Hard Rock Hotel and Conference Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma! This conference is ideal for volunteer-focused professionals who are serving within all areas of Extension programs. For more information, visit this website. 

Data and Policy: Responding to Human Services Needs - The Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research has released the next white paper in their Leading Edge Dialogue series: Data and Policy: Responding to Human Services Needs. Data is needed for decision-making, particularly around human services and community development, which are complex and intersectional issues. Skill in leveraging and presenting data will position research at the forefront of social policy conversations and decisions; however, retaining current silos of data and research could lead to suboptimal policy decisions and erosion of support for public universities. In fact, in the government human services sector there is a thirst for better data to legitimize and support social policy decisions; this creates a potential for partnerships and interface between Extension and government agencies. 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.

Building Extension Understanding and Leadership in an Environment of Systemic Racism

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus on July 6^th and will return on July 13^th. Have a safe and pleasant Fourth of July.

Last Friday, Administrator and Director colleagues and their Associates from approximately 45 Extension Institutions, the Board on Humans Sciences, and Tribal Colleges, from Florida to Guam and many locations in between participated in the dialogue, Building Extension Understanding and Leadership in an Environment of Systemic Racism. Participants listened to one another in small groups answering 2 probing questions: How does racism impact you and the ones you love day to day?  If you woke up tomorrow and your hopes for racial equity had been realized within your system, what is the first thing you might notice yourself doing, thinking, seeing or feeling? They learned how Coming Together for Racial Understanding (CTRU) is unfolding and what is needed to support for this effort further. ECOP Chair Mark Latimore (Fort Valley State University) presented potential actions for fellow leaders and ECOP to consider. Stay tuned for more details. 



ECOP/eXtension to Host Extension Futures National Action Dialogues, July 13^th or 14^th, 1 PM - 3 PM ET - The purpose of the Action Dialogue is to imagine near-future possibilities for how Extension can better serve individuals and communities in the face of evolving needs and capabilities. The outcome of this dialogue will support transitional aspects of more digital engagement and community platforms, and inform the need for funding of infrastructure/equipment needed for the envisioned futures. Focus topics include National Community Learning Networks, Digital Cooperatives, Professional/Continuing Ed/Workforce Development, Infrastructure (access/capability to use it), and Living Ecosystem of Professionals. All Cooperative Extension professionals, including Directors/Administrators, Agents, & Educators are invited. Registration available here, Please choose only one day to participate.



A Time Like No Other: 4-H Youth Development and COVID-19 - In this Journal of Extension thought leader commentary is a review of the potential devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people, including trauma, impacts on mental health, socioemotional distress, and changes in academic learning. Stating that 4-H is uniquely positioned to mitigate these effects through intentional positive youth development efforts, there is a call to action for 4-H Educators and Extension Administrators as the nation moves from initial reaction to recovery and beyond. This commentary recommends four research-based strategies to ensure that youths not only survive but thrive in this time like no other. Go to: https://joe.org/joe/2020june/comm1.php 



A Request from USDA APHIS to Extension Colleagues - Earlier this month, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) declared eradication of Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 from U.S. greenhouses. APHIS is asking Extension Administrators and Directors and the agents in their coverage areas to help share information about this pathogen with nursery and greenhouse operators, landscape managers, homeowners and gardeners. A fact sheet that describes R. solanacearum symptoms, transmission, and management is on the APHIS web site. For more information about R. solanacearum, please contact Lynn Evans-Goldner, National Policy Manager by phone at (301) 851-2286 or by email at Lynn.Evans-Goldner@usda.gov.



Urban Agriculture Stakeholder Input Gathered for USDA NIFA - In response to a recent call from NIFA for stakeholder input to help inform and set priorities for $40 million of grant funding for research, education and extension around urban, indoor and emerging agriculture, the Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research, the National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) and a number of local Farm Bureau chapters located in urban counties from across the country, partnered to host four online, interactive listening sessions and an online survey. The listening sessions had 153 participants and the survey had 68 respondents from 38 U.S. states, territories and districts. The summary report provided to NIFA on June 22 is available here.

Welcome Caroline Crocoll - Cooperative Extension System/ECOP Executive Director

Caroline Crocoll, Executive Director, Cooperative Extension System/ECOP, officially begins today! She will work with Executive Consultant Rick Klemme over the next two months. In addition to assisting with Caroline’s transition, Rick will lead a BAA effort on communicating the value of capacity funds. Caroline is very much looking forward to this new opportunity, stating, “I am honored to be a part of the continuum, the dignity, and the diversity that personify the Extension Service mission. Serving our nation for over a century, Extension is integral to our country and a model for the world. I am committed to advancing our work for the health of people, communities and agriculture.”
Caroline: carolinecrocoll@extension.org, 202-478-6029, APLU, 1307 New York Ave. NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005
Rick: rickklemme@extension.org, 608-234-1994, Madison, WI



Reminder: Capturing Extension’s Leadership on Climate and Extreme Weather - All members of the Cooperative Extension Section have been invited to join the next session of Learning for Leaders on on Friday, June 5, 2020, 3-4:00 PM ET. ECOP Chair Mark Latimore will moderate a national conversation with state Extension personnel and the new eXtension Climate and Extreme Weather fellows. Hear select state successes and learn about the Fellows’ work to catalog the many ways Cooperative Extension addresses climate and extreme weather issues. For Zoom connection details, contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org. The archive of the conversation will be available next week right here in the ECOP Monday Minute.



ACE Goes Virtual! Registration for 2020 Digital Conference - Registration is open for the 2020 Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) Conference, being held virtually June 24-25. ACE is the premier organization for communicators in the Cooperative Extension System, including agriculture, natural resources, and life and human sciences. This newly imagined virtual conference features an exciting 1½ day meeting via Zoom that will include all the familiar and loved aspects of an ACE Conference: two keynote speakers; general session talks on subjects ranging from diversity and inclusion, emerging technologies, communication and extension development; and the latest on distance learning and COVID-19. Registration deadline is Friday, June 19! Learn more and register at aceweb.org.

Reaching 10 Million Youth Leading Edge Dialogue -  The Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research and National Urban Extension Leaders have released a white paper from the Reaching 10 Million Youth Leading Edge Dialogue, a session from last summer's National Urban Extension Conference. Co-authors of the of the paper are ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee's Co-chair Andy Turner (Cornell University) and National 4-H Council's Eliza Hernandez. The work is a result of a 90-minute interactive session facilitated by eXtension Foundation which explored critical issues facing our cities and universities. The article, first in a "Leading Edge" series, is available here.

Crisis Response Opportunities and State/Regional Strategies: Farmer Mental Health

Last Friday Administrators and Directors or their respective Farmer Mental Health experts from 28 states joined ECOP Chair Mark Latimore for a timely Learning for Leaders session. For all who missed the presentation - Resource Inventory, 2 Institutional Examples, NIFA Support, Regional Program Response, Ideas for Leading on Challenging Issues - go to YouTube Archive. The interactive slide presentation with expanded resources shared in the Zoom Chat is found here.



Preparing to Help Rebuild Communities | Virtual NACDEP Conference June 1-2 - The Annual NACDEP Conference, to be held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire has been transformed into an engaging, informative professional development online experience that will be held June 1 -2, 2020. Participants can choose from a variety of presentations including thought provoking and COVID responsive plenaries and timely community re-building concurrent sessions. Discounted registration is $105/member, $195/non-member (includes a year of professional development webinars we couldn’t fit into the 2 days!). Please share registration information found here. Contact Susan Kelly susan_kelly@ncsu.edu for more information.



Searchable Database of Extension COVID-19 Resources Now Available - The COVID-19 resource hub located at https://virtual.extension.org/extension-responses-to-covid-19 is being converted to a searchable database that will allow users to easily locate COVID-19 resources on a particular topic such as farmworker health or coping with income loss. The new database resides on the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) COVID-19 resource page located at https://extensiondisaster.net/current-situation-covid-19 Once at the site, a "filter" option allows a user to narrow the resource collection to a particular subject, audience, or institution. A “sort" option allows a user to display resources in a particular order. The links to each institution’s COVID-19 resource hubs will remain at https://virtual.extension.org/extension-responses-to-covid-19 for the immediate future.



4-H at Home – Mitigating Learning Loss for Children - In order to address the opportunities for school children impacted by school closures associated with COVID-19, 4-H programs around the country are contributing to 4-H at Home, a consumer-facing compilation of virtual positive youth development programming for families. This resource is designed to promote the important role of the land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension—and to mitigate the substantial learning loss that has occurred and could continue over the summer. Please consider directing State 4-H Program Specialists and Leaders to submit content/links at https://bit.ly/4-HatHome. Thank you.

COVID-19 Proposal and Ideas for Rapid Response for Funding in the Future

On, April 7, 2020, ECOP Budget & Legislative Committee Chair Jon Boren moderated a virtual conversation with Directors and Administrators during PILD. Click here to listen to the 25 minute, to-the-point conversation, COVID-19 Proposal and Ideas for Rapid Response for Funding in the Future; reasons why the proposal was was made; the need to collect impact data and tell stories of Extension's response to crisis; ideas for ECOP to consider on to rapidly respond to budget and legislative initiatives in the future. At the end, Jon Boren invites his colleagues to send him feedback.





Economic and Community Engagement 2020 Webinar Series - The founder of the Rural Learning Exchange Forum, APLU’s Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) is proud to announce the 2020 CECE Webinar Series Green Economies and Community Engagement. Cooperative Extension Section members who serve on the CECE Executive Committee and the Commission welcome Cooperative Extension colleagues members to join the free webinar series. In an era where climate change, energy innovation, and sustainability initiatives are poised to be an integral part of economic development, the agenda will feature sessions developed by CECE members and their partners addressing a wide variety of programs, projects, and strategies universities deploy to address these particular needs of their economies and communities. The webinar series will take place the second Thursday of every Month from 2:00-3:15 PM EST June-November. Click Here to sign up.



Answering the Call - The Role of Extension After an Emergency - Last week, with the historic Louisiana Flood of August 2016 as their conceptual lens, a Team of Extension Professionals described how their land-grant institution responded to help mitigate future losses and much more. The recording of the highly instructive webinar by Southern University Ag Research and Extension Center is available here. The Team participated in the Impact Collaborative Summit in October 2019 and received a $5,000 grant from eXtension to support their recovery efforts.



Addressing Kids’ Needs During COVID-19 - 55 million school children have been impacted by school closures and need help, especially the 7 million who do not have internet access in the United States. To respond to these Kids needs for a sense of belonging and caring adult mentors, The Fourward Fund was launched to inspire donors and consumers to support Cooperative Extension as it responds to COVID-19. More information can be found through this FOURWARD Fund FAQ document. Assuming the minimum funding level is reached by June 1, Institutions and 4-H Foundations may apply for funding.

New Executive Director Announcement

Dr. Caroline Crocoll to begin 6/1/2020

ECOP Executive Director Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, is pleased to congratulate Caroline Crocoll, as Executive Director of the Cooperative Extension System/ECOP beginning June 1, 2020 and to thank Rick Klemme who will stay on as Executive Director to conduct business as usual through May 31, 2020. Additionally, Rick will help Mark, the Executive Committee of ECOP, and the EDA Team through July 31, 2020 to bring Caroline up-to-speed in her new role. Crocoll currently serves as the National Science Liaison for Human Sciences, 4-H, and Community Resource and Economic Development at USDA-NIFA and has dedicated her career to the advancement of Extension since 1993.

Awards Reminder - Nominate by May 1 - $5,000 goes to each winner of the National Excellence in Extension and Diversity in Extension Award. The list of previous recipients is found here. There is no better time like the present to reward Extension Professionals for how well they translate science for application in culturally relevant settings to empower people and improve lives. For complete details go to www.aplu.org/CESawards. Direct questions and concerns to Assistant Director Sandy Ruble, sandyruble@extension.org.




2020 4-H Pathways Leadership Institute - Last Friday, the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee invited Extension Directors and Administrators to apply to the 2020 4-H Pathways Leadership Institute. The Institute is an intensive, two-day, virtual leadership program that will take place on July 14 and 15 with the goal of driving innovation and developing creative partnerships. It will equip teams of 3 from State 4-H, Extension and Land-grant University Leadership, with tools needed to achieve the strategic change and growth that is sought for 4-H and Extension programs, in alignment with the broader goals of Universities. Apply via this link by Friday, May 15, 2020. Frequently Asked Questions are found here. Contact Co-chair Andy Turner at ast4@cornell.edu with questions.




NIFA COVID-19 Webinar Follow Up - NIFA conducted a webinar last Thursday (April 16) on COVID-19 impacts on NIFA programs. The Frequently Asked Questions link has been (and will continue to be) updated at COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions. Check https://nifa.usda.gov/coronavirus to view the webinar slides and recording as it becomes available.

Appreciation and Encouragement from ECOP

ECOP Chair, Mark Latimore (Fort Valley State University) extends his sincere appreciation to all of his director and administrator colleagues across the country at 1862, 1890 and 1994 Land-Grant Universities, for exemplary work during these difficult times. Mark says, “The ability to work through the major disruptions in our personal and professional lives due to COVID-19 shows the perseverance and resiliency that defines the Cooperative Extension System. Please continue to stay safe while you direct operations and maintain important relationships at institutional/state/local levels. ECOP with its Committees, Budget and Legislative, 4-H Leadership, Professional Development, Program, and Innovation Task Force on Health, is firmly committed to work with the many key partners that make up the System to maintain and enhance national support and opportunities.” The next ECOP Zoom meeting is set for April 23, 2020, 11:00 a.m. ET.



Webinar Answers FAQs on COVID-19 Affects on NIFA Programs - NIFA Director Scott Angle recently announced that on April 16 from 3-4:00 p.m. ET, NIFA will host a webinar for their Land Grant University and other science partners to clarify answers to frequently asked questions about how the current situation caused by COVID-19 will affect NIFA programs. Please register here in advance to attend. Also, kindly send questions in advance, to Director Angle’s Chief of Staff, Bill Hoffman.



New Normal, New Realities, New Opportunities - For Directors and Administrators who missed virtual 2020 PILD last week, here is a chance to review the Capnote Address by colleague Marshal Stewart (University of Missouri).





Results from the National Action Dialogue - eXtension hosted a system-wide National Action Dialogue on Community Based Programming in the COVID-19 Age. 440 individuals from across Cooperative Extension participated in the two part event that prioritized issues of most concern, co-created possible solutions, and then encouraged individual next step actions to focus and gain forward momentum to address and/or solve the most pressing issues they faced. Top issues identified in Part I included: shifting to the digital mindset, the social and emotional well-being of clients and staff, continuity of programs, how to find creative methods to continue to support outside of the traditional curriculum, helping our youth, working virtually, the inequity of resources, and maintaining communication internally and externally. 99% of participants said they would or may recommend a National Action Dialogue to a colleague. The full report is available here.



May 1 Last Day for Awards Nomination - Today Extension Directors and Administrators will receive a reminder to share the reminder that May 1 is the last day to submit nominations for National Extension Awards. Go to www.aplu.org/CESAwards for details or contact Cooperative Extension/ECOP Assistant Director Sandy Ruble for more information, sandyruble@extension.org, 202-478-6088.

Demonstrating Value of Land-grant Extension Programs

The National Impacts Database Committee encourages all Extension colleagues to submit impact statements regarding COVID-19-related and other Extension programs. These impact statements provide the foundation for a special Content Writing Group that is commissioned each year to develop consistent statements to use in 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant advocacy efforts. The Group met January 31 - February 2, 2020 in Louisville, KY, and reviewed the 2019 peer reviewed impact statements that were submitted to www.landgrantimpacts.org. Their effort, financed by ECOP and ESCOP, produced 64 products including 49 fact sheets, 14 web stories, and the production of an animated video (see below).  Browse to “Areas of Impact” at the website to explore and widely share these products with potential stakeholders and social media outlets.




Celebrating 1994 Land-grant Programs - First Americans Land-grant Consortium (FALCON) is pleased to announce the release of a video highlighting three selected 1994 land-grant programs. This video found below was produced in partnership with RezKast Media LLC, a Native-owned small business, and three 1994 land-grant institutions:  College of Menominee Nation (Keshena, WI), Iḷisaġvik College (Barrow, AK), and Diné College (Tsaile, AZ). The participating 1994s were selected through an open process that included a survey of capacities, submission of story lines, and a final panel review that included criteria of geographic and programmatic diversity. FALCON considers this video as the first phase in a larger initiative to celebrate 1994 land-grant programs through video storytelling. Phase two will include securing funding to produce more 1994s’ video stories over the next year.




COVID-19 Resource Collection Grows - A comprehensive collection of COVID-19 resources developed by the Cooperative Extension System is available at  https://virtual.extension.org/extension-responses-to-covid-19. To date, 48 land-grant institutions have contributed to the collection with new items being added nearly every day. In addition to materials submitted by states, the site also includes a number of general resources that Extension professionals and others may find useful. Recently added were collections of materials related to farmworkers, food systems, and health insurance for farm families. Navigation of the site has been aided by the addition of labels indicating whether a particular link contains information regarding institutional policies and procedures related to COVID-19 or programmatic resources for engaging the public. Links to additional resources can be sent directly to contact-us@extension.org. 



eXtension Offers Connect Extension to Entire System - COVID-19 is driving a need for rapid connection and sharing among program leaders, multi-state, and institutional teams across the country. eXtension has obtained a commercially available technology solution, Connect Extension, that is contextualized in an environment that enables the Extension System to stay away from the noise of platforms in shared public spaces. It is an interactive and “living” virtual space, as opposed to being simply an online resource page. In one week, 1000 Cooperative Extension professionals joined the platform and 90% are actively participating. eXtension invites the entire Cooperative Extension Service to use Connect Extension for both accessing opportunities made available through the eXtension Foundation and across the system, and for program and project leaders to create specific groups for internal collaborations. Learn more here and visit Connect Extension here.

EDEN Records Activities in Response to COVID-19

The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) has developed a reporting system for tracking the reach and impact of Extension's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. EDEN is requesting the help of Directors and Administrators in directing Extension faculty and staff to an online form they can use to report how they are delivering both new and ongoing programs in innovative ways. Extension personnel may report as frequently as they wish, either as events or activities occur or at regular intervals. The reporting form can be accessed at bit.ly/EDEN-COVID19-Activities-Report (worksheet found here). EDEN is collaborating with eXtension and ECOP to mount a comprehensive and coordinated effort to support a systemwide response to the current pandemic. Visit extensiondisaster.net and virtual.extension.org for the most recent information.

Big Ideas from the March 27 Learning Through COVID-19 Zoom Meeting - Last Friday, colleagues Chuck Hibberd (University of Nebraska), Ami Smith (West Virginia State University), Laura Stephenson (University of Kentucky), Ken LaValley (University of New Hampshire), and Mike Gaffney (Washington State University) joined ECOP Chair Mark Latimore (Fort Valley State University) and Health Extension Director Roger Rennekamp to present a Learning for Leaders Zoom meeting of the Cooperative Extension Section. More than 70 individuals joined! Although the video recording is at this time unavailable, click here to view/download 14 big ideas that were shared by the group. Contact Roger at rogerrennekamp@extension.org if you have any questions.



National Awards Nomination Deadline is Less than 5 Weeks Away - Go to www.aplu.org/CESawards for details and to obtain handy prep forms. Respond by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, May 1, 2020. Assistant Director Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org will help answer questions or address concerns.



National System Dialogue Opportunity - Q: What is the National Action Dialogue? A: An online community of Extension Professionals (116 and growing) that is currently exploring a Community-Based Programming in the Digital Networked COVID-19 Age. Other conversations to follow. To learn more and join, go to: https://connect.extension.org/g/national-action-dialogue.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service COVID-19 Update - Currently, all NASS reports are on schedule, but the health of producers and employees is the first priority. NASS is evaluating each report as conditions change, and will promptly announce any changes to the report schedule on nass.usda.gov and Twitter @usda_nass. NASS has temporarily suspended all in-person data collection. Midway through data collection for several surveys, NASS asks producers to respond online or by phone to decrease the need for additional follow-up and in-office mail processing. See the press release for more information.

Leading Through COVID-19 and the New World of Virtual Extension

Last Friday Cooperative Extension/ECOP Executive Director Rick Klemme, on behalf of ECOP Chair Mark Latimore (Fort Valley State University), invited members of the Cooperative Extension Section to meet via Zoom on Friday, March 27, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. This special Learning for Leaders session is called Leading Through COVID-19 and the New World of Virtual Extension. Five colleagues, one from every region, will share ideas on how to be an effective leader in a world pandemic or similar emergency. Directors and Administrators are encouraged to send questions to be posed during the hour and links to resources to Health Extension Director Roger Rennekamp rogerrennekamp@extension.org. The recorded version of the session will be released in next week's ECOP Monday Minute. Click here to download/save calendar file or contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org for connection details.



Cooperative Extension Learning Resources for COVID-19 - A collection of relevant learning resources for supporting institutional response to COVID-19 can be found at virtual.extension.org. Under "Extension Responses to COVID-19", discover outward-facing resources for the general public and internal guidance for Extension professionals developed by contributing institutions. Additionally, resources designed to help Extension professionals adapt to working in remotely is found under “Working Collaboratively in a Virtual World”. To submit resources by region and institution, forward links (no attachments, please) to contact-us@extension.org. Questions or comments regarding Extension System’s COVID-19 response can be directed to Roger Rennekamp rogerrennekamp@extension.org.



System-Wide Announcement: Powerful and FREE to ALL Extension Professionals - All Extension Directors and Administrators are invited to share the following opportunities widely with Cooperative Extension Professionals everywhere and across all areas of Extension programming and on-line learning/communications professionals.

• Connect Extension Hub connect.extension.org, is a new, open and very powerful way to engage system-wide for rapid response and collaboration. Aaron Weibe aaronweibe@extension.org may be contacted with questions/concerns. There is no cost to join to connect on rapid ground-breaking topics like this one:
  
• National Action Dialogue for Community Based Programming (CBP) in the Digital Networked COVID-19 Age, March 26 & April 1, 3 - 4:30 PM ET. The purpose of this series is to support Extension colleagues in their rapid response to CBP in the Digital networked COVID-19 issue by delving in, capturing collective wisdom, inspiring innovative thinking, and focusing on new opportunities, partnerships, solutions, tangible actions and collaborations on issues for farms, families, businesses, and communities that will exist long beyond this public health crisis. This is open to ALL Cooperative Extension professionals. Facilitated by Molly Immendorf, eXtension Foundation; joined by a panel of innovative thinkers from around Extension. Register here.    

International Scene Update - The North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) is being established as an affiliate of the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS). GFRAS is an international NGO that provides networking, learning, and information exchange for agricultural extension programs, practitioners, and stakeholders across the world. GFRAS has regional network affiliates covering most countries in the world. NAAAN aspires to link agricultural extension communities of practice (and related stakeholders) in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. with each other, and through GFRAS, with their counterparts in other countries across the globe. For more information, contact David Nielson dnielson0427@gmail.com, Kerri Wright Platais at Kerri.Wright.Platais@ColoState.edu, or Ashley Stokes Ashley.Stokes@colostate.edu. Click here to learn where NAAAN will be housed in Denver at  Colorado State University System's Northwestern Center.

COVID-19 Social Distancing Strikes Movement

In response to preventing the spread of COVID-19:

• The ECOP Meeting set for this week is transformed to a Zoom meeting on March 18. Contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org for more details.
• ECOP's Health Director is assembling a state-by-state list of outward-facing Extension websites dedicated to the COVID-19 pandemic that contain resources for public consumption. Summary of be posted by eXtension! Contact Roger Rennekamp rogerrennekamp@extension.org for more details. 
• ECOP Leadership considers scheduling a Learning for Leaders aimed at systems-equipping Extension Directors and Administrators.
• eXtension releases virtual.extension.org, Resources for Extension Professionals Working Online, a means through which Extension educators and administrators can share with their Cooperative Extension colleagues various resources and guides about teaching and working virtually. To share resources with eXtension, email to contact-us@extension.org.

Stay tuned to email and this blog for further details.


2020 National Recognition Opportunity - Land-grant Cooperative Extension professionals and institutions deserve recognition for excellence through the annual National Cooperative Extension Awards Program. 1862 Directors and 1890 Administrators are encouraged take this opportunity to nominate by May 1. For complete details go to www.aplu.org/CESawards. Self-guided prep forms are available from download. Contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org for more information.


Extension's Behavior Health Strategic Plan Bumps Up - Last week’s Monday Minute announced the Rural Community Action Guide. This resource supplements the Extension Opioid Crisis Response Workgroup's Report to ECOP and impact essential resources found at opioidresponse.extension.org. The Guide also highlights the PROSPER Partnership Model as one of three “Evidence-Based Prevention Strategies That Work” for Cooperative Extension. That Model is guiding plans for the formation of state partnerships among states choosing to participate in the new behavioral health network. Professionals from across the System can connect on this important issue through the National Behavioral Health Extension Network (NBH e-NET); contact Greg Pliler at 515-294-4426 or nbh_enet@iastate.edu.


Data Collection for Census of Agriculture Special Studies - Last chance to respond to the 2019 Organic Survey and the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties. NASS is collecting the data through March. Producers can respond online, by phone, or mail. Promotional materials for websites, social media, newsletters, email signatures, and more are available on the NASS Partner Tools webpage. Results for both Special Studies will be available at www.nass.usda.gov this fall. Stay connected with us on Twitter @usda_nass for the latest information!