Atlanta, GA. The Straight from the Heart team, representing Tuskegee University, Fort Valley State University, and Prairie View A&M University, participated in eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Summit. As a result of their work, they have been invited to apply for a $5000 grant to help bring new capacity to their project. Members of the Straight from the Heart team include Jasmine Ratliff, Millicent Braxton, Cynthia Wilson Willis, and John Ferguson.
28 Project and Program teams across Cooperative Extension representing 36 institutions attended the Impact Collaborative in Atlanta for a unique opportunity to create impactful results at the local level by increasing Cooperative Extension’s organizational readiness and capacity for innovation and change. Teams were connected with skills, tools, resources, and partners that helped expand and deepen their impact.
Partners representing organizations external to Cooperative Extension were invited to attend the Impact Collaborative Summit and participated in our first national Partner Forum, with a guided discussion by leaders from the Institute for the Future. This forum was designed to connect private and public sector organizations focused on community impact, including leaders from Cooperative Extension, and look for future opportunities to engage collectively. After the forum, partners had the opportunity to spend time talking with teams and learning more about the work they are doing to make an impact in their states, locales, and across the nation.
After three days of hard work, teams participated in a LaunchFest where they presented their project or program to a panel of partners and Cooperative Extension leaders.
eXtension will continue its support of the Straight from the Heart team through Engage & Empower Online, our new resource that offers Impact Collaborative teams and Innovation Facilitators unique professional development opportunities including webinars and learning circles, exclusive access to publications and presentations, access to a new online version of the Impact Collaborative Innovation Skill-Building Experience tool, and a place where the Impact Collaborative can continue to connect teams with the resources they may need to continue project or program growth towards increasing innovation and local impact.
The next Impact Collaborative Summit will be from October 15th -17th, 2019 in Atlanta, GA.