Author: Jill Heemstra

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Newsroom

December News Roundup

From all of us at eXtension, we want to wish you a joyous holiday season and Happy New Year! We hope you get time to spend with family and friends and to take time to rest and recharge. Personally, I find uninterrupted time to think to be my recharge mechanism. How about you? Do you use reading, meditation, seeking out other people, or other ways to refill your professional “tank”? Let us know how you like to recharge by tweeting to @eXtension4u and using the #coopext and/or #eXtIC hashtag.

News Roundup

Impact Collaborative. The Impact Collaborative catalyzes next-level Extension programs and professionals! eXtension Foundation is supporting four cohorts in 2018 for anyone at member institutions (and their community partners).

The process for all four will kickoff in January 2018 with Designathon One, and continue with Designathon Two events in April/May 2018. The process will also include tailored professional development events (online), and access to key informants. Selected projects will have the opportunity to apply for fellowships, innovation funding, or invited to serve as mentors/key informants to the 2019 cohorts.

Designathon One. We are now up to TEN Designathon One events! Dates and locations are below.

  • Northeast Region: Portsmouth NH, February 5-7, 2018 (co-hosted by University of New Hampshire Extension); Ithaca, NY, February 20-22, 2018 (co-hosted by Cornell University)  Pittsburgh, PA, February 26-28 (co-hosted by Penn State University Extension)
  • Southern Region: Raleigh, NC, January 22-24, 2018 (co-hosted by North Carolina State University); San Antonio, TX, February 12-14, 2018 (co-hosted by Texas AgriLife Extension & Prairie View A&M University Extension) & Atlanta, GA, March 5-7, 2018 (co-hosted by the University of Georgia Extension and Fort Valley State University Extension)
  • Western Region: Portland OR, February 5-7, 2018 (co-hosted by Oregon State University Extension) & Denver CO, February 26-28, 2018 (co-hosted by Colorado State University Extension)
  • North Central Region: Indianapolis, IN, February 12-14, 2018 (co-hosted by Purdue University Extension). Madison WI, February 19-21, 2018 (co-hosted by University of Wisconsin Extension)

You are welcome to attend the event most convenient to you, even if it is outside your geographical region. More about Designathon One…

Designathon Facilitators. Sixteen innovative Extension Professionals from 13 different states have earned certificates designating them as Impact Collaborative Facilitators for Designathon One. To earn this certificate they participated in a 2 ½ day workshop in which they took a real or imagined project through all six levels of Adobe Kickbox.   Learn who these facilitators are…

Jason HendersonBoard of Directors. eXtension is pleased to announce its Board of Directors for 2017-18. Serving as chair is Jason Henderson, Purdue University. Vice-chair is Barbara Petty, University of Idaho. Ken LaValley, University of New Hampshire is the Treasurer. Additional members of the board include Gary Jackson, Mississippi State University, Courtney Owens, Kentucky State University, Jane Clary Loveless, USDA NIFA (ex officio), and Rick Klemme, Interim Executive Director, ECOP (ex officio). More on each board member…

national pesticide safety education center logoPesticide Safety Grants. eXtension recently received an EPA Cooperative Agreement to support Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEPs) at Land Grant Universities (LGUs). As a result of this award, the Cooperative Extension system has a new capacity for contracting with every LGU and using an online portal for application, reporting, and communicating with awardees. This new system meets all the legal, policy, and procurement rules to accept direct federal funding on behalf of the system. The Cooperative Agreement is being handled in partnership with the new National Pesticide Safety Education Center, which has been incubated by eXtension and Crop Life America. More about the online portal…

iDevice Video Production. Some new resources from the University of Wyoming can help Extension professionals interested in using their iPhone or iPad for video.

eXtension logoFrom the eXtension Blog

  • Do you ever ask yourself, how do I best serve ____ in my programs? Don’t wait until the end; involve your audience early and often to keep your impact evaluation on track. Read more…
  • Digital Green has developed an innovative approach to using technology in Extension efforts. Learn more about how your project can be involved in an effort to bring this platform to U.S. Extension. Read more…
  • Are you looking for professional development opportunities around working with people with developmental disabilities? Take advantage of this offering from Rutgers University. Read more…

eXtension LearnUpcoming Webinars

Check out these (among many more) upcoming professional development events listed on learn.extension.org

  • Join Gary Felton associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science & Technology at the University of Maryland for a webinar on Compost Health and Safety on Friday, January 19, 2018, at 2:00 pm EST. Find out more… This webinar is number 8 in a series of 12. Find out more about the entire series HERE.
  • Find Support for Your Community by Joining the Food Systems Impact Collaborative – Part 1. Join us to learn how to support your Community with Food Systems programs and projects, through the Impact Collaborative.This 30-minute webinar will go over how to apply for the Impact Collaborative and will introduce you to community project ideas and suggestions: Come prepared to be inspired, share your thoughts, and ask questions! Find out more… December 19, 2018, at 2pm EST. Presenter: Melanie Weir, eXtension Food Systems Fellow

Upcoming Food Systems Impact Collaborative Webinars:

  • Early January (eating responsibly, farm to school yards/ kitchens, farm to chef and tourism, sustainability, greener animals and planet, urban food hub and food shed, and value chain coordination)
  • Mid January (fisheries perspectives, food aggregation & distribution, food banks an allergy and college campus perspective, solidarity purchasing groups and technology for good)
  • Late January (nature connection, regenerative and organic agriculture and agroforestry, pathways to resilience & education programs, slow & seasonal food production, water conservation and health)

Search Recordings on Learn

Visit learn.extension.org anytime and search for topics in your area or expertise or in areas in which you need to get started. Want to know about bugs, financial management, food safety, or military children? There are dozens of recordings being added every month to this valuable resource. Visit learn.extension.org…

Categories
Information Newsroom

Pesticide Safety Education Grant Application System Launched

national pesticide safety education center logoThe eXtension Foundation is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for Land Grant University Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEP) for the fiscal year 2018. In September 2017, eXtension received a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and administer a national sub-award program in support of pesticide applicator education, and training for certified applicators of restricted used pesticides.

The National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC) has been invited to collaborate with eXtension to lead the professional development part of the grant and to assist PSEPs in enhancing some of the educational products they develop as part of the expectations attached to the funding. Together, eXtension and NPSEC are working to create a user-friendly and seamless transition to the new process. eXtension has implemented a new online application process, administration of sub-awards, compliance of subrecipients and reporting. Based on program changes, here’s what is new:

  • Subrecipients are required to:
    • agree to share one educational material or product in coordination with NPSEC for the purposes of enhancing PSEP programs both regionally and nationally.
    • agree to participate in the national network of educators through NPSEC to increase resource sharing. Participation can include but is not limited to, engaging in online workshops or training, attending onsite meetings and sharing materials developed with other PSEPs both regionally and nationally.
    • submit progress reports every six (6) months using a standard online template.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants must be affiliated with a U.S. Land Grant University. Only one application per state will be eligible for funding and preference will go to 1862 Land Grant Universities. Please contact your state’s pesticide safety education coordinator if you have any questions about participation by your institution.

Funding Period

The funding period for this sub-award will be Jan. 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018.

Funding Available

Each PSEP will be eligible to apply for a base amount of $22,500.00 USD plus 5% of the funds after they have been divided proportionately based on the percentage of the number of certified applicators in each state or territory. The number of certified applicators in a state or territory will be based on the most recent figures of certified applicators as supplied by the EPA. The additional amount available to the state or territory will be listed in the budget section. Paments to successful sub-awardees will be made January 15 – 25, 2018.

Key Dates

Application System Opens: December 6, 2017, at 8 am EST
First round of reviews: December 16, 2017
Second round of reviews: December 23, 2017
Remaining Applications Due: January 9, 2018, at 8 pm EST
Final round of reviews: January 10, 2018
Sub-Award Notification Announcement: January 11, 2018
Funds distributed by January 25, 2018

Application Review Process

eXtension is using a multi-step approach in the receiving and review of applications for this program. Each application will be reviewed by eXtension and an advisory panel including representatives from NPSEC for eligibility, compliance, completeness and the potential for enhancing educational materials or products to be shared through NPSEC. Additionally, through this new process, applicants will have the unique opportunity to engage with NPSEC and serve as a participant in an NPSEC subject group and be involved in creating educational materials if they wish to do so.

Application Submission

In an effort to make the application process as streamlined and user-friendly as possible, applicants will be able to download the sub-award agreement from the application site allowing for the opportunity to provide these documents signed, with the submitted application. Before an application can be submitted there must be a signed sub-award agreement uploaded. An application CAN NOT be submitted without this signed document and therefore will not be considered for funding.

Those interested in participating in this opportunity should contact your state’s pesticide safety education coordinator. The deadline for applications is January 9, 2018, at 8 pm EST.

About eXtension Foundation

The United States Cooperative Extension System, with funding from Cooperative Extension
directors and administrators, and USDA-NIFA, shares resources and tools through eXtension
that enables the Extension workforce to scale up its local and national impact. eXtension is an
integral part of the national Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and is
organized as a 501(c)3 non-profit membership organization. Its Board of Directors represents
the five regions of Cooperative Extension, ECOP, and USDA-NIFA.

About National Pesticide Safety Education Center

The NPSEC seeks to strengthen the national system of university extension Pesticide Safety Education Programs by improving the quality, consistency, and accessibility of educational offerings, promoting collaboration and leveraging of educational resources and learning assessment tools, and increasing revenue generation. The Center has received start-up funding from CropLife Foundation and crop protection companies BASF, Bayer, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, and Syngenta.

Categories
Fellowships Food Systems

Digital Green Helps Solve Food System Challenges with Digital Technology

digital green mobile appDigital Green is a global non-profit development organization that empowers smallholder farmers to lift themselves out of poverty by harnessing the collective power of technology and grassroots-level partnerships. They partner with extension actors in developing countries to solve problems like market access, farmer training, and rural nutrition education using digital technology. Digital Green developers build cutting-edge software, such as mobile apps and online data collection and analysis, to benefit farmers worldwide.

After much success working in developing countries, Digital Green now seeks to partner with United States Cooperative Extension to pilot digital solutions in our local food systems. This is an exciting opportunity for Extension professionals looking for a strong partner to help implement local solutions through technology!

With sponsors like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and a focus on grassroots change through Extension, Digital Green is poised to be fruitful partners with Extension in the US. All they need are your ideas, vision, and partnership!

Jennifer Cook, the Digital Green eXtension Fellow, is looking for your local ideas and wants to help you implement a pilot project, partnering with Digital Green to develop digital solutions in your local food system. “We want to help you and your community develop efficient and practical digital solutions. You know the local challenges in farm production, market access, nutrition, food waste, and education. A partnership with Digital Green can help you transform obstacles into solutions.”

The video below is a recorded webinar on this opportunity.

jennifer cookIf a project meets the above criteria, Digital Green will partner to develop, implement, and evaluate the pilot project. Total estimated costs are $100,000. A portion of the costs will be contributed by Digital Green, securing outside funding may be needed.

Interested? Get involved by participating in the Impact Collaborative and contact Jennifer Cook, < Jennifer.cook@colostate.edu> the Digital Green Fellow, to discuss the opportunity to pilot your ideas for digital solutions in your food system!

Categories
Newsroom

News Roundup – November

Congratulations! You Failed.

At the recent First State Innovate! Event, a panel of Extension innovators talked about the role of failure. One key is to test your ideas so that failures occur early and allow you to pivot and iterate quickly. These kind of “failures” are more likely to lead to programs that provide new insights, new practices, or reach new audiences.

What have been some of your ‘favorite’ failures in your career? How have those helped shape your work today? Let us know by tweeting to @eXtension4u and using the #coopext hashtag.

News Roundup

Impact Collaborative. eXtension Foundation is supporting three Impact Collaborative cohorts in 2018 for Extension professionals at member institutions. The first will focus on Food Systems with the application process expected to open in November. This will be followed by Behavioral Health and Diversity and Inclusion. The process for all three will kickoff in January and February 2018 with Designathon One, and continue with Designathon Two events (one for each cohort) in April/May 2018.

The process will also include tailored professional development events (online), and access to key informants. Selected projects will have the opportunity to apply for fellowships, innovation funding, or invited to serve as mentors/key informants to the 2019 cohorts. Past participants have shared how their experience helped them expand leadership skills, gain greater visibility at their institution, work differently as a result of their concept map, and advocate for their programs and ideas.

Some important information:

Project Manager. eXtension is pleased to welcome Tira Adelman as the project manager for the recently-announced EPA pesticide safety grant. She will be in charge of establishing and administering a national sub-award program in support of pesticide applicator education and training for certified applicators of restricted use pesticides. Tira previously worked as a Research Project Manager for Susan G. Komen, the largest funder of breast cancer research. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. The grant program is a collaborative effort between eXtension, the National Pesticide Safety Education Center, U.S. EPA, and other partners.  Learn more about the NPSEC…

digital green logoDigital Green Webinar. Last March, we announced a collaboration between Digital Green and eXtension. This is the first of many solution partners we plan to introduce to the Impact Collaboratives to incubate projects and bring new opportunities to the table. The goal of this collaboration is to pilot test a platform, used successfully in Asia and Africa, in U.S. Extension projects. Possible connections for food systems projects include an online organized network, database, or mobile application, information access, commodity aggregation, transport services, or data collection and analysis. Join the eXtension Digital Green Fellow, Jennifer Cook, Colorado State University and Karin Lion, Digital Green’s Director of Global Agricultural Strategy for this 30-minute webinar. November 14, 2017, at 2:00 EST. Register for the webinar…

From the eXtension Blog

Civil Rights Course. Civil rights are front and center in our nation’s news, which makes Extension professionals’ responsibility for understanding the importance of civil rights training and ensuring inclusiveness in programming more important than ever. A new online course developed by more than 40 University of Minnesota Extension faculty and staff and led by Renee Pardello, Key Informant for the eXtension Impact Collaborative, is now available nationwide. The course, which works best as a small-group activity, can be accessed at eXtension’s online Campus.

ed tech ln logoEdTechLN. The Ed Tech Learning Network held a Tweetup on November 2 around the topic of “Clear, effective communication with clientele”. You don’t need to be on Twitter to read the Tweetcap which includes great examples and advice from Extension professionals (and others) from across the U.S. Read the Tweetcap… | Learn more about the EdTechLN…

Upcoming Webinars

Check out these (among many more) upcoming professional development events listed on learn.extension.org

 

  • Open Data and CGIAR’s Big Data Platform. Open data is increasingly becoming a priority and requirement from funders. Some universities have created systems for compliance such as maintaining repositories under the direction of the university libraries while others have left compliance up to the researchers. This webinar will focus on the need for a culture that values data as a product in itself and targets efforts towards best practices to managing it and following FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles.November 16, 2017, at noon EST. Learn more or register for the webinar…

 

  • Make your story maps shine! Learn more about how to use the popular story mapping tool to increase visibility and engagement with your clientele. November 20, 2017, at 2 pm EST. Learn more or register for the webinar…

eXtension LearnSearch Recordings on Learn

Visit learn.extension.org anytime and search for topics in your area of expertise or in areas in which you need to get started. Want to know about bugs, climate change, composting, or military families? There are dozens of recordings being added every month to this valuable resource. Visit learn.extension.org…

Categories
Newsroom

News Roundup – October 2017

Ask Your Extension Director if they know how to Kickbox!

At the National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) meeting, Adobe Kickbox was introduced as an innovation toolkit which will be used in the upcoming Designathon One event for the Impact Collaborative.

What are your favorite ways to test ideas or to spur innovation? Let us know by tweeting to @eXtension4u and using the #coopext hashtag.

News Roundup

Designathon One. The Impact Collaborative was officially launched at the National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) meetings last week. Based on feedback and lessons learned from the Issue Corps program, we have made improvements to the process. The first you will notice is the addition of “Designathon One”, which focuses on design thinking and will include Adobe Kickbox innovation kit (and other exciting tools). Eight regional events in January and February 2018 will allow you to attend the one most convenient for you. Learn more or signup to be the first to know when registration opens!

Innovate Extension. You are invited to participate in a panel discussion on innovation at Delaware’s First State Innovate! Join eXtension innovation pioneers Jamie Seger (The Ohio State University) and Paul Hill (Utah State University) as they moderate a panel discussion featuring Bradd Anderson (University of Missouri), Bob Bertsch (North Dakota State), Shane Bradt (University of New Hampshire) Christy Mannering (University of Delaware), Daphne Richards (Texas A&M ) and Michelle Rogers (University of Delaware) and they explore the successes and challenges of working differently and innovation in the workplace. Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 9:45 a.m. EDT. Register for the webinar…

national pesticide safety education center logoPesticide Education Grant. eXtension received formal notification from the EPA of a grant to establish and administer a national sub-award program in support of pesticide applicator education and training for certified applicators of restricted use pesticides. eXtension Foundation was invited in early 2017 to apply for this grant by pesticide safety education coordinators and the National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC). The goal of the newly-formed NPSEC is to support Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) educators. Read more… | Learn more about the NPSEC…

Success Stories. Grace Peterson (Louisiana State University) and Marlin Bates (Kansas State University) may work in two different program areas, but they both know the power in building a community around an issue they care about.

From the eXtension Blog. We hear the word ‘bias’ a lot these days. Much like beauty, bias is in the eye of the beholder. What if we turn that eye onto ourselves and examine our own biases? Julie Huetteman, Purdue University and eXtension/NAEPSDP Fellow, offers some thoughts on how to uncover our own biases by inviting other perspectives into our programming. Read more…

Julie is presenting a webinar on ”Cullture and context in program evaluation” on October 11, 2017 at 2 pm EDT.

Common Measures. The 4-H Common Measures program will be working with eXtension and using Campus for the delivery of professional development. A competency framework has been created and courses are being set up in Campus.extension.org. More on this coming soon!

ed tech ln logo21st Century Professional. The EdTech Learning Network hosts two “Tweetups” per month. The latest was on “Painting a portrait of the 21st century Extension professional”. The discussion topics include things like the role of Extension program staff and the fear of change. Check out the Tweetcap… (You don’t need to have a Twitter account to read the Tweetcap.)

Pueblo Mini Maker Faire. Extension professionals and volunteers interested in the Maker Movement (one of the Horizon Report topics) and especially how to incorporate it into 4-H programming are invited to the Pueblo Mini Maker Faire.  Among the events are Makers in the Dark, MakerCon Costume Contest and Maker Marketplace with robot and drone challenges. Dorms are available for those who need overnight accommodation. October 27 & 28 in Pueblo, CO. For scholarship or dorm information, contact Jane Crayton, CSU Extension. Faire Website | Call for Makers

eXtension LearnUpcoming Webinars

Check out these (among many more) upcoming professional development events listed on learn.extension.org

Search Recordings on Learn

Visit learn.extension.org anytime and search for topics in your area of expertise or in areas in which you need to get started. Want to know about bugs, financial management, food safety, or military children? There are dozens of recordings being added every month to this valuable resource. Visit learn.extension.org…

Categories
Newsroom

eXtension Foundation receives EPA grant for Pesticide Safety Education Funds Management Program

national pesticide safety education center logoWe are excited to announce that eXtension is part of a national grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which will fund grants to state Extension programs about pesticide safety.

eXtension Foundation logoGrant Background

In early September 2017, eXtension received formal notification from the EPA of their acceptance of the grant application to establish and administer a national sub-award program in support of pesticide applicator education and training for certified applicators of restricted use pesticides. eXtension Foundation was invited in early 2017 to apply for this grant by pesticide safety education coordinators and the National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC). The goal of the newly-formed NPSEC is to support Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) educators.

The NPSEC seeks to strengthen the national system of university extension PSEPs by improving the quality, consistency, and accessibility of educational offerings, promoting collaboration and leveraging of educational resources and learning assessment tools, and increasing revenue generation of Extension programs. The eXtension Foundation currently provides contractual services to NPSEC to deliver online programs and temporarily serves as the Center’s fiduciary service provider. NPSEC and eXtension are partners in the grant deliverables and implementation.

Startup Phase

The startup phase of this grant is in progress and because of changes in EPA requirements, the process will be different than in the past. Tom Smith, Director of the NPSEC and Beverly Coberly, eXtension Chief Operating Officer, will co-chair an advisory committee and lead this effort.  Things to look for as this grant is rolled out are:

  • EPA rules have changed so the application process, use of funds, compliance understanding and reporting of outcomes will require more accountability.  There will be an online application system and award system to help with the transparency and accessibility of information for, applications, awards, reports and communications.
  • Survey Monkey Apply will be used for those completing these processes due to the familiarity that many PSEP Coordinators are likely to have with Survey Monkey. At this time, these systems are being put into place by eXtension
  • An Advisory Board will be formed to provide input and advice regarding the educational products developed throughout this program.  One requirement for each state will be to develop an educational product that can be shared with another state, regionally, or nationally.  Efforts will be made to reduce duplication of efforts and to help those interested in similar products to collaborate.
  • A Project Manager will be hired to lead this effort.  Applications for the position are being taken and will be reviewed soon.
  • Standard Operating Procedures are being developed so that as the grant is administered, the procedures will be transparent and sub recipients will be fully aware of the procedures of the grant and will have greater ease of use through the online system. These processes will be evaluated and improvements to streamline and facilitate the process will be made in the future as necessary.

Projected Timelines

The planned timelines are:

  • Hire Project Manager by October 15, 2017.
  • Create Advisory Board by October 30, 2017
  • Have on-line application system in place by late October 2017.
  • Take applications and distribute funds November-December 2017
  • Grant in in full implementation January 2018

What Can Extension Professionals Do?

  • Understand new expectations and timelines to support your state’s PSEP Coordinator

To Learn More

The primary contact is Chief Operating Officer Beverly Coberly beverlycoberly@extension.org.

The Executive Director of the NPSEC is Tom Smith 517-202-3019 or smitht48@msu.edu.

Categories
Newsroom

eXtension Welcomes Program Manager, Instructional Technologist, and Two Fellows

eXtension is thrilled to welcome three new faces (and one familiar face in a new role) to staff meetings.

Impact Collaborative Program Manager

After serving and guiding communities and professional development for the eXtension Foundation for many years, Ashley Griffin has accepted a new role as the Impact Collaborative Program Manager to design the process of the 2017-2018 Impact Collaboratives. Ashley has devoted her career to the work of the Cooperative Extension Service beginning as an Extension Associate coordinating equine youth activities for Kentucky and national programs then later as a Communications Specialist for the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

“I am especially excited about the new direction of the Impact Collaborative and the potential impact it has for all Extension professionals to create innovative approaches to local programming. These new strategies have impressive potential for professionals who are willing to embrace design thinking by uplifting and energizing the work they do every day. What an amazing time to be an Extension professional and for me to personally have the opportunity to be a part of this process. Every element of my background will be drawn upon to make the new Impact Collaborative an exciting and valuable experience to our eXtension Foundation members and the Cooperative Extension Service.”

You can contact Ashley at ashley.griffin@extension.org

Instructional Technologist

molly immendorfMolly is joining eXtension after almost 19 years working for the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension as an Instructional Design and Technology Specialist. She holds an M.S. In Curriculum and Instruction, concentrating in Educational Communications and Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband, one of their two sons, and two very fat cats.

I am excited to join eXtension as the new Instructional Technologist for the Impact Collaborative because I will be able to work with a visionary, future-oriented team that supports Extension colleagues to make a difference on local issues across the country. I anticipate the breath of issues and projects will be varied. I enjoy finding solutions together that will meet the unique needs of you, your learners, and programs.

I am passionate about learning and enhancing learning through the use of technology solutions. I will share my enthusiasm, tips and techniques to help colleagues grow professionally. I’m also curious about gadgets- both tech and cooking. Ask me what’s the latest gadget I’m having fun with. I’m always experimenting with a new one.

You can contact Molly at mollyimmendorf@extension.org

Food Systems Fellow

melanie weirAs a creative designer and food system researcher, Melanie focuses on artistic expression, community leadership, diversity in entrepreneurship, and urban food system growth and development. As a strategic advisor, Melanie has worked on projects that inspire her and that are aligned with creating a better Earth and better communities in a world value system focused on people and planet.

She is passionate about the intersection of innovation, technology, design, research and emerging markets. Melanie has spent her last decade collaborating on community-focused projects. Her most recent work has been bridging her love of design and improvisation in ‘collaborative platform development for social impact’ including work with organizations such as the North American Food System Network, CropMobster and Open IDEO’s Food Waste Alliance, Sirolli Institute, the International Food Blogger’s Association, Sacramento’s Urban Ag Coalition and UC ANR’s Innovation Vine Collaborative.

“What excites me most about joining the Impact Collaborative is working with a creative team, exploring ways to amplify the social impact of Extension professionals by expanding on their knowledge of design thinking and building on a pre-tested program that provides skills, training and that provides creative license to explore new ideas with creative confidence in a team setting. As a Food System Impact Fellow, I get to study, explore and work with creatives shaping ideas that can impact the future. I can’t imagine a better way to spend my time.”

You can contact Melanie at melanieweir@extension.org

Digital Green Fellow

jennifer cookJennifer Cook will serve as the eXtension Digital Green Fellow and will work to pilot the innovative technology platform of Digital Green with selected Impact Collaborative projects.

She holds an MS in Agriculture from Colorado State University. Inspired by traveling and trying new ideas, Jennifer has developed innovative programming and education for her clients in Colorado. She hopes to foster a partnership with US Extension agents and Digital Green in developing a few pilot programs that use software to streamline food system market linkages.

“I am really excited to expand Extension engagement and develop programming ideas in food systems and explore the connections with an innovative technology platform.”

You can contact Jennifer at jennifer.cook@colostate.edu

What’s Next?

We are close to announcing the Behavioral Health and Diversity & Inclusion Fellows for the Impact Collaborative. Stay tuned!

Categories
Newsroom

September News Roundup

Design Thinking

The eXtension team met last week to design the upcoming Impact Collaborative. We are really excited about it and think you will be too! As part of the homework for that meeting, I read a book called “Change by Design” by Tim Brown. It is about how design thinking transforms organizations and inspires innovation.

Do you recommend any other reading material on design thinking? If so, share your recommendations by tweeting to@eXtension4u and using the #coopext hashtag.

News Roundup

New Staff Members. eXtension is thrilled to welcome three new faces (and one familiar face in a new role) to staff meetings.

  • Ashley Griffin (Kentucky) has been with eXtension for more than 10 years supporting communities of practice. She is transitioning into the role of Program Manager for the Impact Collaborative. ashley.griffin@extension.org
  • Melanie Weir (California) is the Food Systems Fellow. She will spend the next year setting up the support network for the Food Systems Impact Collaborative and helping teams progress through the Collaborative experience. melaniew1@extension.org
  • Molly Immendorf (Wisconsin) has joined the staff as the Instructional Technologist and will be responsible for leading professional development for the Impact Collaborative. mollyimmendorf@extension.org
  • Jennifer Cook (Colorado) will serve as the eXtension Digital Green Fellow and will work to pilot the innovative technology platform of Digital Green with selected Impact Collaborative projects. jennifer.cook@colostate.edu

Introductions for each are being written and will be sent out in the upcoming weeks. We are also close to announcing the Behavioral Health and Diversity & Inclusion Fellows for the Impact Collaborative. Stay tuned!

Left to right: Ashley Griffin, Jennifer Cook, Molly Immendorf, and Melanie Weir

L to R: Ashley Griffin, Jennifer Cook, Molly Immendorf, Melanie Weir

Pesticide Education. The U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs is awarding a cooperative agreement to support Extension educators through a partnership with eXtension and the newly-formed National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC). NPSEC seeks to strengthen the national system Pesticide Safety Education Programs by improving the quality, consistency, and accessibility of educational offerings, promoting collaboration, and increasing revenue generation of Extension programs. The eXtension Foundation provides contractual services to deliver online programs and temporarily serves as the Center’s fiduciary service provider. Additional partners include the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC), Association of Pesticide Safety Educators, and CropLife America Foundation.  Learn more about the NPSEC…

Project Manager. eXtension is hiring a project manager for the above EPA Pesticide Safety Education Funds Management Program (PSEFMP). Applications will be reviewed September 29, 2017. Read the position description…

Christy ManneringSuccess Stories. Thanks to her Issue Corps experience, Christy Mannering, University of Delaware, was able to not only tackle an issue near and dear to her heart, but also increase her visibility on campus.  Read more about Christy’s Unity Event and online modules…

Ant Pests Community. A new resource topic has been added to the articles.extension.org website. The Ant Pests community has published a wide array of science-based information on dealing with troublesome ant species. Read more… | The community leaders are Paul Nester and Robert Puckett, Texas A&M University.

register today for the military families learning network virtual conferenceMFLN Virtual Conference. Is your state experiencing change?  Change is hard!  Do you feel change accelerating in your professional or personal life? Do you thrive on workplace change? Join the Military Families Learning Network Virtual Conference to LEARN strategies for managing change, GROW your understanding of your capacity for change and begin to THRIVE as you connect with colleagues facing similar challenges.  September 26-29, 2017. Register or learn more…

4-H, Google & Computer Science. Congratulations to recent eXtension Fellows Paul Hill and Dave Francis, Utah State University, for leading a collaboration with Google to help 4-H members across the country develop their computer science skills! Read more… 4-H.org |  Google blog

Health in All Policies Professional Development. Extension professionals looking to incorporate health impacts into programs and policy across Cooperative Extension should check out this free online course. Extension Health in All Policies (HiAP) was developed in partnership with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) action team for Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health and Wellness and delivered by Oregon State University.  This educational resource emphasizes a systems perspective to strengthen Extension’s capacity to impact the culture and context for population health improvement and promote health equity for all people living in America. Learn more…

eXtension Foundation logoeXtension Blog. If you are not following the eXtension blog, you are missing out on innovation, inspiration, and impact. The topics of some recent additions to the blog include:

BeeWise is one of five innovation projects funded by eXtension in 2017.

eXtension LearnUpcoming Webinars

Check out these (among many more) upcoming professional development events listed on learn.extension.org

Search Recordings on Learn

Visit learn.extension.org anytime and search for topics in your area or expertise or in areas in which you need to get started. Want to know about bugs, financial management, food safety, or composting? There are dozens of recordings being added every month to this valuable resource. Visit learn.extension.org…

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eXtension Project Manager for the EPA Pesticide Safety Education Funds Management Program (1.0 FTE)

The eXtension Foundation is seeking a full-time individual to manage all projects, processes, funding, and reporting for the EPA Pesticide Safety Education Funds Management Program (PSEFMP) with eXtension. This includes identifying and assessing needs, seeking and implementing creative solutions, including technologies and assessing outcomes and impacts, creating funds management processes, and leading professional development with PSEFMP stakeholders.  The Project Manager will work closely with each of the grant and the sub-awardees, state leaders who implement the program and the eXtension senior leadership team. This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer with additional accountability to the Chief Financial Officer.

Duties & Responsibilities

  • Serve as a leader and manager of the application process and sub-award disbursement process. Monitor and bring continuous improvement to the process.
  • Work with sub-awardees to meet the requirements of 2 CFR 200.331 and EPA’s Subaward Policies.
  • Create and implement a simplified online registration process.
  • Work with sub-awardees to assure compliance.
  • Lead the disbursement of funds to meet EPA guidelines for timelines and reporting, including record keeping and tracking.
  • Develop a support network online to be utilized by sub-recipients.
  • Offer training with partners annually for sub-recipients (three trainings per year).
  • Create a network among the sub-recipients for sharing information, forming partnerships and compliance assistance.
  • Develop evaluation information for baseline and continuous improvement, with the goal of an improved process overall.
  • Ensure that sub-recipients complete and submit annual reports based on expectations in their sub-awards.
  • Develop and implement an efficient online reporting system.
  • Monitor subrecipient progress and review deliverables.
  • Engage with partners (AAPSE and CropLife) to ensure professional development by creating a national network enabling participants to engage in online workshops.  Workshops will provide incentives, educational materials, and training to receive updates from the pesticide safety industry.
  • Create an advisory team of pesticide educators, industry professionals, and operational development experts to conduct regular system reviews and suggest needed improvement.

Skills Needed:

  • Project organizational skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to meet set deadlines and meet all sponsor reporting requirements in a timely manner.
  • Demonstrated ability to solicit participants on administrative systems and implement appropriate improvements.
  • Demonstrated ability developing professional development programs and professional support groups.
  • Self-starter, learner and critical thinker with who thrives in a culture that is dynamic, mission-driven and service-oriented.
  • Ability to work in a virtual environment.
  • Demonstrated success in project planning, implementation, management, coordination, reporting and financial controls.
  • Ability to be a positive, entrepreneurial and high-energy team member.
  • Proved ability to work effectively with team members, PSEP Coordinators, and strategic partners.

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and at least six years of experience in the field of education and a minimum of two years direct experience in project management or grant administration.
  • In-depth knowledge of and experience with:
    • Project management
    • Effective communications
    • Problem analysis and problem-solving
    • Virtual communication methods
  • Working knowledge of current applicable EPA rules and regulations.
  • Knowledge of the EPA’s Pesticide Safety Education Funds Management Program desirable but not required.
  • Knowledge and familiarity with Pesticide Safety Education programs and the pesticide industry desirable but not required.
  • Strong communication skills that include written, verbal, face-to-face and virtual connections.
  • Experience in a virtual team environment preferred.
  • Working knowledge of Cooperative Extension preferred.

How To Apply

To apply for this position please submit the following information to Brenna Kotar, Assistant to the CEO, eXtension Foundation, ceoassistant@extension.org. The first round of reviews will be done on September 29, 2017.

The eXtension Foundation is a vital part of the national Cooperative Extension System, the nation’s largest non-formal education system with offices in nearly every U.S. county.  eXtension’s mission is to help Cooperative Extension professionals increase their measurable local impact.  The eXtension Impact Collaborative is the only national network in the Land Grant University System that uses a proven process to accelerate capacity for projects with problem-solving teams so that significant local change happens.  We do whatever it takes to clear the way with customized and consistent practices offering exceptional expertise and tools that change the way people see what’s possible.  The effect is unstoppable momentum.  We are catalytic, engaging, and empowering.
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‘Learning Through Change’ Virtual Conference to Be Held September 26-29, 2017

register today for the military families learning network virtual conferenceIs your state experiencing change?  Change is hard!  Do you feel change accelerating in your professional or personal life? Do you thrive on workplace change?

Join the Military Families Learning Network (MFLN) Virtual Conference to learn how to ADAPT to change, GROW your understanding of your capacity for change, and THRIVE as you connect with colleagues facing similar challenges. Cooperative Extension professionals will find lots of great information to help navigate change at work and with their clientele.

Save September 26-29, 2017 to join the MFLN for a free Virtual Conference on “Learning Through Change.”

Register for free!

Download the conference flyer