For Immediate Release
November 14th, 2018
Contact: Aaron Weibe, aaronweibe@extension.org
Indiana Coming Together from Purdue University earns Most Fundable project award at eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Summit
Indianapolis, IN. A team from Purdue University called Indiana Coming Together participated in eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Summit from October 16th – 18th in Indianapolis, IN. The Summit united design thinkers from the Cooperative Extension System and partners from organizations confronting the most pressing challenges of our time to shape positive futures for communities. Three days of co-creating, hands-on learning, and collaborative conversations sparked innovation and creative implementation planning in over 30 projects designed for local community impacts. Summit teams, which included Extension professionals and partners, along with diverse partners from regional and national organizations and businesses explored the processes and practices that enable co-creative approaches to the challenges and opportunities in our communities.
The Indiana Coming Together team included Kris Parker and Mindy Mayes. Their project addresses a community need to engage in dialogue and action around issues of race and racism. This research-based, deliberative, and action-focused project explores, through guided facilitated discussions and activities, the impact of race and racism in a community to improve the quality of life for those involved and impacted.
At the end of the three-day Summit, teams participated in a “PitchFest” where they each presented the advancements on their projects and the important next steps and investments needed to move forward. The PitchFest was judged by external partners/investors, Extension leaders, and peer co-creators.
As a result of the PitchFest, Indiana Coming Together earned an award for Most Fundable project. This award has earned the team strategic support from the eXtension Partner Development team to advance their project and design funding over the next three months.
To learn more about eXtension’s Impact Collaborative and how it is helping Cooperative Extension professionals make a more visible, measurable, local impact – visit us online at eXtension.org.
