Leaders Encouraging Collaborations with Diverse Communities

Last Friday, ECOP hosted a third in a series of Learning for Leaders conversations with a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion theme. Katie Hartmann, who recently completed her PhD in Education, Equity, and Transformation at Colorado State University, identified what excellence looks like to collaborate with diverse communities. The structures include but are not limited to a Relations Liaison, Inside Collaborator, and a community-specific sense of timing. What can be implemented in the short and long term?

To review Leaders Encouraging Collaborations with Diverse Communities, from March 5:

     -- View recording at https://youtu.be/KR2kUsUJgjM

     -- Click here to view/download slides

Extension Directors and Administrators are invited to closely follow the DEI series and complete this survey by Friday, March 12. Check out archives of the following here.

     -- Improving Inclusivity in Our Institutions and ECOP, February 5
     -- Inclusive and Equitable Organizations – An Evidence Based Model, January 8

SAVE THE DATE - The next Learning for Leaders is set for Friday, May 7, 3-4 p.m. ET. Topic/title are yet to be determined.  

eXtension is Now the Extension Foundation - eXtension’s mission has evolved over the past several years, from being an organization focused on creating technology solutions for the Cooperative Extension System, to a focus on helping Cooperative Extension faculty and staff find new and innovative ways to deliver their projects and programs, and helping Cooperative Extension make a greater impact in communities. Realizing that continuing the eXtension name might be a source of confusion for many, as it is reminiscent of the organization’s past, the Board of Directors announces that eXtension is now the Extension Foundation. Over the coming weeks, digital presence changes will be made to better reflect the mission and vision of the Extension Foundation and its role in Cooperative Extension. For more information, visit extension.org.

Net Inclusion 2021 Webinar Series - The Net Inclusion Conference has been a staple in the Digital Inclusion community since 2016, bringing hundreds of practitioners, advocates, academics, internet service providers, and policymakers together to share their knowledge. With social distancing still in place, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance will once again hold an online version of Net Inclusion to substitute the in-person conference. This Series will include eight one-hour webinars, every Wednesday from April 7 - May 26, 2021, at 1 PM ET. All webinars include an additional 30-minute wrap-up for conversation and Q&A with panelists and fellow participants. Find the topics, schedule, and register here.



HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period 2021 Now Open - Last week Health Extension Director, Roger Rennekamp, shared the following update with the Extension Institutional Contacts for Health and Well-Being.

The Department of Health and Human Services requests assistance in getting the word out about a special enrollment period for those in need of health insurance. This special enrollment period is now open through HealthCare.Gov, where there is information about programs and tools to help existing and new Health Insurance Marketplace participants. The deadline for enrollment is May 15, 2021. For more information, go to HealthCare.Gov.

Encouraging Collaborations with Diverse Communities

The next meeting of Extension Directors and Administrators widely known as Learning for Leaders, will take place on Friday, March 5, 2021, 3-4:00 PM Eastern Time. Leaders Encouraging Collaborations with Diverse Communities: Consider the Experiences of Extension Educators, will feature findings from the field and latest literature, and exploration of the characteristics that enable Extension educators and their programs to be successful by looking carefully at challenges that they face. There will be ample time during the hour to discuss what support structures are needed at the institutional and systemic levels. Invitations with Zoom connection details were sent by Sandy Ruble, Assistant Director, Cooperative Extension System/ECOP, on February 18. Email Sandy at sandyruble@extension.org for more information.

NEDA Planning Committee Takes Next Step -  October 12-14, 2021, are the dates for the 2021 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting! The Planning Committee is chaired by Immediate-past President of ECOP, Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University (1890s Region), and joined by Jorge Atiles, West Virginia University (Northeast Region), Shelly Nickols-Richardson, University of Illinois (North Central Region), Laura Stephenson, University of Kentucky (Southern Region), and Barbara Petty, University of Idaho (ECOP Member from the Western Region). At their most recent meeting, the group examined surveys by the Regional Associations and established some bright ideas with a focus on the limitless possibilities for the future of Extension. Stay tuned for more details for what is sure to become and productive and motivating virtual event. Registration will begin in May 2021. 

ECOP Spring Meeting Topics - The Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) serves as the executive board and representative body (15 voting members, 3 from 5 regions) of the Cooperative Extension System and typically meets face-to-face 3 times each year. The Spring Meeting, March 23-25, will consist of 4, 90-minute virtual sessions. The agenda includes, 4-H Reputation Management, an update to the Cooperative Extension Framework for Health, NIFA Partnerships and Opportunities, and the role of the Executive Directors and Administrator Team (EDA Team). For more information contact Executive Director Caroline (Crocoll) Henney carolinecrocoll@extension.org or Assistant Director Sandy Ruble. Thank you.

Military Family Readiness Academy Continues Free Sessions - The Military Families Learning Network continues its 2021 Military Family Readiness Academy series, Disaster and Hazard Readiness in Action focusing on the skills, contexts, and situations military family service providers and Extension educators may draw from and navigate to manage disasters and emergencies. Weekly sessions will cover the readiness and wellbeing of military families as they connect with communities, caregiving, children and family needs, and nutrition. Sessions will guide providers on how to work with families during disasters and hazards, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dialogue will be central in this series—lessons learned, resources, and insights will be shared by panelists, speakers, and participants. All sessions are free and several continuing education credits will be available. To register and get more information go to: https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/mfra2021/

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

Creating an Inclusive, Equitable Cooperative Extension System

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus on Presidents' Day, February 15, 2021.

Last Friday’s Learning for Leaders event, Improving Inclusivity in Our Institutions and ECOP, was a launching point by 36 Extension Directors and Administrators from 1890, 1862,  and 1994 Land-grants to create an inclusive, equitable Cooperative Extension System. Organizers of this event and last month's, hope their colleagues can say in 2022, "I finally saw change." For anyone listed here who was unable to attend and for participants wishing to review, links to the 5-minute dynamic topical presentations, slides, and survey are found below.  Save the Date, March 5, 2021, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. Details of the next Learning for Leaders will soon be released.
-- Programming–A Path Forward
-- Hiring/Recruitment/Pipeline/Retention
-- Professional Development for Leaders and Personnel
-- Support for New/Existing Diverse Employees
-- 1890/1862 Relationship – Lessons Learned
-- Best Practices, and Collaboration Between 1862/1994 Institutions
-- Click Here to view/download Power Point
-- Complete Survey at bit.ly/CES-DEI-Survey

USDA’s Forum Building Resilience in Agricultural & Food Systems through Innovative and Strategic Partnerships - Wednesday, February 17, 2021 from 1:00-4:30 pm EST -  Presenters include leaders from USDA, Ag industry and community organizations followed by open Q&A discussion. This forum discussion will highlight how innovative and strategic partnerships between federal, state, local and private partners support the building of resilience in agricultural and food systems, with a focus on food systems and disaster recovery. Held in conjunction with USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum, this Microsoft Teams Live Event is hosted by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) and Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area. Click here to register! The link to the event will be provided upon registration.

2021 Renewable Resources Extension Act Programming Webinars - For Extension Directors and Administrators with direct dealings in renewable resources, the Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) Programming website features informative webinars. Coming February 23, 2021 at 1 p.m. (EST), is one that deals with the uncertainty about the future transfer of family forest or rangeland enterprises. To learn more and/or to register, go to https://globalrangelands.org/rreasp/webinars.

Webinar: Applying for NEW AFRI “Education and Workforce Development” Funding on February 26 -  In FY 2021, the AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) applications cover seven areas: agricultural workforce training, professional development for agricultural literacy, training of undergraduate students in research and extension, fellowships for predoctoral candidates, fellowships for postdoctoral scholars, a new program for food and agricultural non-formal education (FANE), and a FY 2021-only program for evaluation of NIFA’s agricultural literacy and workforce development portfolio. 1890, 1994, and 1862 Land-Grant Institutions, and a host of others are eligible to apply. On February 26 from 2-3:00 PM Eastern Time, NIFA staff will provide an overview of 2 New! EWD programs, FANE and Civic Engagement Experience for Youth (CEEY). Learn more/register here.  

2021 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Virtual Conference April 12-13 - Registration is now open for the virtual Extension PILD Conference. PILD is sponsored by JCEP (Joint Council of Extension Professionals) and is conducted by and for Extension professionals. This year’s conference theme is “Building Our Future Together”.  Early registration is available through April 2. Speakers include Dr. Waded Cruzado, President of Montana State University, and Dr. Chuck Hibberd, Extension Dean & Director Emeritus, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. A special session especially for Extension Directors and Administrators will be organized by the ECOP Budget & Legislative Committee. Through speakers, workshops and panels, participants will learn how to communicate and engage with stakeholders and elected officials in advocating for Extension at the local, state, and national level. Information and registration is available at www.jcep.org/pild.