Call for 2021 Cooperative Extension Award Nominations

Nominations are being accepted for the 2021 Extension Awards program through May 1, 2021. The Excellence in Extension Awards, recognize Cooperative Extension professionals - 1 National Award, and 5 Regional Awards - who excel at Extension programming, make a positive impact on constituents served, and provide visionary leadership for the System. The Award for Diversity is designed to focus national attention on innovative models and techniques that ensure that Extension programs equitably and effectively engage all audiences. A new Team Award for Excellence is under development for later release. The Awards include a cash prize and travel stipends to attend a reception and the Board of Agriculture Assembly Awards Session at the 2021 APLU Annual Meeting. With only 3 months before the deadline, visit www.aplu.org/CESAwards and start completing nominations today.



Application Process Open for FSLI's Seventeenth Cohort - Applications are now being accepted for the seventeenth cohort in the Food Systems Leadership Institute starting in the fall of 2021. The Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI) offers executive leadership development to upper-level leaders in higher education, government, and industry to prepare them to meet the leadership challenges and opportunities of the future. More information on the FSLI program can be found in the short video on their website. Go to https://fsli.org/apply to apply. For optimal consideration interested parties should apply before March 1! 

Updated Guide to Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and Communities - It can be difficult for farmers and ranchers to navigate the wide range of USDA resources and stay up to date with program changes after each Farm Bill. Thanks to the newly updated Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and Communities, producers, researchers, nonprofits, and landowners can easily find USDA programs that can help them achieve their goals. For more information, download your free copy of Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and Communities.

eXtension Responds to Evolving System Needs for Operational Excellence Online - eXtension Foundation would like to remind Directors & Administrators that all Extension professionals can join Connect Extension regardless of membership in the eXtension Foundation. Extension staff are invited to join the Technology in Extension Education Subgroup to access and contribute resources for delivering Extension programming in a virtual world. Also, for 2021, the Impact Collaborative program is hosting a Leadership series available to members leading teams of five or more. The topics in this series are a result of work with individuals & teams from across Extension wondering: What does effective leadership look like when we no longer have the ability to put a hand on a shoulder? How do we reduce friction, confusion & underperformance for individuals, teams, and organizations? Learn More & Register here.

Upcoming Webinar on Federal Resources for Creative Community Development - On Tuesday, February 9 at 4 p.m. ET, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations, and Metris Arts Consulting are offering a free web seminar on Federal Resources for Creative Community Development. This seminar is designed to help gain access to federal funds and harness the power of arts and culture for community development. The seminar will feature the new Creative Placemaking Public Resources Guide and will discuss a curated selection of federal funding sources that can be used to advance equitable community development, examples of initiatives that have transformed community development through create partnerships, and practical tips on accessing federal grant programs. To view the complete session details and register, click here.

2021 NEDA - Save the Dates

This weekly news update appeals to the work of Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators in the USA with a focus on these Strategic Directions and Priorities. The ECOP Monday Minute shares member-driven opportunities designed to enhance resources, relationships and recognition for Cooperative Extension. 

The 2021 NEDA Planning Committee, Chaired by Immediate-past President of ECOP, Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, is pleased to announce the dates for the National Extension Directors and Administrators, or NEDA Meeting for 2021 that will take place virtually. 

Please save October 12-14, 2021! 

A brief survey to generate ideas for theme, topics, guest speakers and virtual format will be circulated through the Regional Associations with a deadline of February 12. The Planning Committee is grateful for the input. 

The next Learning for Leaders meeting on establishing a Racial Equity Plan, short- and long- term, is Friday, February 5, 2021, 3-4:30. p.m. ET.  Reminders to register by February 3^rd are coming soon. Click here for details.

Military Family Readiness Academy Offers Eight Free Sessions in 2021 - The Military Families Learning Network presents its 2021 Military Family Readiness Academy series, Disaster and Hazard Readiness in Action. Eight sessions will focus on the skills, contexts, and situations military family service providers may draw from and navigate as they manage disasters and emergencies within their professional fields. Participants can choose from a range of sessions that will prepare providers to support the readiness and wellbeing of military families during disasters and hazards in areas such as connecting with communities, caregiving, children and family needs, nutrition, and finances. Sessions will offer guidance on how to work effectively with families during disasters and hazards, and many will draw from recent and ongoing situations providers are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dialogue will be a central component of this series—lessons learned, resources, and insights will be shared across panelists and speakers, and participants are encouraged to contribute as much as possible. All eight sessions are free to participants and several continuing education credits will be available. For more information and to register go to: https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/mfra2021/





NIFA Plan of Work Reporting Webinar Opportunity - NIFA will hold a NIFA Reporting System (NRS) on January 27, 2021, at 2:00 pm ET and every fourth Wednesday of the month same time. For those already registered, New Connection Details are available upon request. For everyone else, it is not too late to register. Everyone should contact POW@usda.gov with "POW Webinar" in the subject line to either obtain the latest connection detail or to sign up for these helpful webinars. Who should attend?

• People with a role in putting together the Plan of Work updates, Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results, and the OGFM Supplemental (all due April 1, 2021);
• Organizational administrators who are helping onboard users of the NRS;
• Extension staff who are initiating programs in the NRS;
• People who help manage Hatch Regular, Hatch Multistate, and Evans-Allen research funds for updates on the rollout of the new research initiation module, expected to go live mid-March;
• Anyone else with interest.

2021 National Extension Conference on Volunteerism - The National Extension Conference on Volunteerism Planning Committee and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, encourages those who are interested to save April 26-29, 2021, for the National Extension Conference on Volunteerism "NECV” 2021! Plans are underway for an exciting Extension professional VIRTUAL conference with a focus on volunteerism. This conference is ideal for volunteer-focused professionals who are serving within all areas of Extension programs (4-H, ANR, FCS). For information about calls for proposals and registration opening:

• Join the NECV 2021 interest list-serv at: http://eepurl.com/gY8Pzz. Receive pertinent information about the conference without filling up email inbox! Unsubscribe at any time.
• Follow developments on Facebook at www.facebook.com/1NECV/

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.