Twenty-five teams representing twenty-six Cooperative Extension institutions attended the first Virtual Impact Collaborative Summit on October 13th and 14th. Using technology – including Zoom and virtual whiteboards – participants were connected with tools, resources, coaches, facilitators, and Key Informants in a customized experience designed to catalyze their work.
Teams were provided one-on-one coaching from twenty-six of our Impact Collaborative’s Innovation Facilitator network. Twenty-five Key Informants from across Extension and other external organizations assisted teams on a range of topics including catalyzing innovation; program development and evaluation; community partnerships; communications, marketing and digital engagement; diversity, equity, and inclusion; educational technology and instructional design; visualization; and more.
All teams were invited to apply for seed-funding grants made available by the eXtension Foundation with the opportunity of awarding one grant per Cooperative Extension region and to an additional team with a nationally focused program. 14 applications were received and five teams were selected. Descriptions of each are listed below:
National Team Award
Globalizing Extension Innovation Network
South Carolina State University, Virginia Tech, University of Kentucky, North Carolina State University, Florida A&M University, University of Minnesota, Penn State University, Purdue University
A Globalizing Extension Innovation Network for the US CES community which creates space for collaboration and connection, enabling global engagement, impact sharing, visibility, advocacy, and resource acquisition unlike standalone efforts.
Western Region Award
Malheur Workforce Readiness
Oregon State University
A workforce readiness program for underserved youth that connects the learning needs of youth to the talent needs of industry resulting in a more inclusive and vibrant local economy by equipping youth with job-ready skills breaking the cycle of poverty, unlike traditional Career Technical Education programs that end when students graduate from high school.
Northeastern Region Award
Tioga County Workforce
Cornell University
A training program for people, ages 14-24, that connects individuals with disabilities to a community collaboration enabling; education, engagement, and workforce goals unlike current structures that see many young people fall through the cracks.
North Central Region Award
Cook County Composting Initiative
University of Illinois
As the second most populous county in the nation, we believe Cook County can take the lead in reducing methane gas emissions from landfills by diverting organic waste through composting initiatives, thus helping to mitigate climate change and enhance the quality of our environment.
1890 Region Award
Bulldog Tenacity Youth Intervention and Prevention Support
South Carolina State University
An at-risk intervention program for non-violent and unintentional contact youth that reduces recidivism rates and further contact with DJJ and/or any other law enforcement agencies by providing support, intervention and education programs based upon evidence, research-based best practices enabling citizenship, financial literacy, college and career readiness.
Comments (0)