The Impact Collaborative (IC) was created to foster innovative project ideas and accelerate their development toward implementation for local impact. One of the first IC activities was a series of Designathon One events. Now that the first wave of events is completed, what did we learn and what is next?
The IC Designathon One events were set up as regional workshops that lasted 2 ½ days. We received a lot of great feedback that indicated we were on the right path, and one theme was persistent in pre-workshop inquiries, in-workshop activities, and post-workshop evaluations. That was the need for additional local context and customized examples and activities suited for that context. As such, some of the original events were canceled in order to re-plan them around either state priorities or a focused regional initiative. The workshop was also redesigned to be a two-day event.
The IC process will continue with virtual professional development events and more Designathon workshops. The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) will be the first to host a redesigned IC Designathon One event. A Design Team made up of Kentucky CES educators was established to work closely with the IC Team to design an experience to meet the needs and goals of Kentucky. Their priorities are in addressing next steps for their Innovation Working Group and key initiatives across the state. This event will take place in late April at the Kenton County Extension Office in Northern Kentucky.
Designathon Two, virtual events, and another 10-12 Designathon One events are being planned and will move forward after the team concludes the Kentucky event and processes feedback and recommendations. To find out more about planned events or make a suggestion for an event location, contact Ashley Griffin at agriffin@extension.org.
The Impact Collaborative and its associated Designathon One events are open to extension professionals and their community partners at eXtension member institutions. We are still accepting new members for 2018! All inquiries about membership should be directed to Beverly Coberly at beverlycoberly@extension.org.
How does this affect applications for the Impact Collaborative?
We encourage everyone to submit their applications as soon as possible. Even if there is not a Designathon One event in your location, there will be opportunities to attend a Designathon One track as part of other upcoming events. By applying soon, you get to be a part of a community of innovative extension professionals and work toward solutions with key informants and others. The Program Fellows are planning virtual office hours and professional development events. Learn more about applying to the Impact Collaborative…
Request for Applications. The Food Systems Impact Collaborative is now accepting applications! Please share this opportunity with other Extension faculty and staff interested in Food Systems in your networks. The IC is designed to catalyze next-level Extension programs and professionals. The experience includes Designathon events, networking, professional development, access to key informants, and much more! Anyone at an eXtension member institution is eligible to apply.
Diversity & Inclusion (See below for the announcement on the Program Fellow)
Behavioral Health (Coming Soon!)
New! There will also be an “open” topic option for those that do not fit any of the above
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.
Designathon One. Registration is open for most of the Designathon One events! NOTE: Those planning to attend the North Carolina event at the end of January should be aware that the hotel room block cutoff is January 12.
Program Fellow. We are pleased to announce the Program Fellow for the Diversity & Inclusion Impact Collaborative. Dr. Shatomi Luster, University of Missouri, will devote the majority of her time in 2018 to the Impact Collaborative. She will be responsible for organizing the support network, recruiting teams to be part of the IC, and supporting their efforts to ensure a successful experience. More about Shatomi and her professional background and interests will be coming soon!
Success Stories. Two recently published success stories highlight how Extension professionals found new tools and approaches that increase their ability to impact their target audiences.
Check out these (among many more) upcoming professional development events listed on learn.extension.org
Engage with the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, starting at 2:00 pm EST for a webinar on the Communicating About Risks – It’s More than Just Information. Learn more or register for the webinar…
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 at 2:00 pm EST. Find out more at Learn more or register… This webinar is number eight in a series of 12. Find out more about the entire series HERE.
Learn more about Organic Tomato Seed Production on January 30, 2018, at 2 pm EST with the eOrganic team. Learn more or register…
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…
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).
New! There will also be an “open” topic option for teams that do not fit any of the above
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…
Board 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…
Pesticide 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.
PDF/quick guides on video production (Look under UW/WyoLearn/Online Training> Discovering America’s Rangelands iDevice Mobile Video Production Guide)
From 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…
Upcoming 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…
The Impact Collaborative (IC) was created to foster innovative project ideas and accelerate their development toward implementation for local impact. One of the first IC activities was a series of Designathon One events. Now that the first wave of events is completed, what did we learn and what is next?
Designathon Two, virtual events, and another 10-12 Designathon One events are being planned and will move forward after the team concludes the Kentucky event and processes feedback and recommendations. To find out more about planned events or make a suggestion for an event location, contact Ashley Griffin at agriffin@extension.org.
