In the new report Driving Systems Change Forward , authored by the Urban Institute and published by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco , you’ll read key lessons from multi-site networks from across the country about what it takes to advance systems change forward by shifting power and promoting racial equity. Join us for a free virtual coffee chat on August 31 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET with one of the report authors— Corianne Scally —from the Urban Institute and contributing...

Deep-rooted structural racism, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic, have exacerbated inequities within our food system. Millions more people—mostly Black and Latino families—have gone hungry in the past year while high obesity rates put many at risk for severe COVID-19 complications. Grocery store clerks, meat packing plant staff, and farm workers making low wages have struggled financially while risking their health to feed our country. We need a more sustainable and resilient food...

Register HERE for the September 22, 2022 Project Info Session The EXCITE national program team is happy to announce the EXCITE program is continuing! The CDC, NIFA, and the Extension Foundation will support projects in our LGU Cooperative Extension communities to address adult immunization education. This opportunity is open to all Land Grant institutions regardless of previous EXCITE participation. As a reminder, EXCITE is a nationwide response by U.S. Cooperative Extension made possible...

In my role as a Well-Being and Equity Project Manager, I am working to co-create a process for youth and adults to promote equitable development in their community by partnering with Cooperative Extension. I’d like to take a moment to ponder some of the ways Cooperative Extension currently shows up in this movement for societal progress. It is time we deeply question the ways we promote and discourage equitable development in our work, for perpetuating the status quo hurts communities and...

A great thought-provoking article. We must all work together to transform in ways that ensure the future of Cooperative Extension.

I am relatively new to Extension and come at it from the Master Gardener Volunteer side. I will say that your article mirrors my experience with the organization very well. There are a lot of great people working hard to make a difference but the structure and culture of CES make that an uphill battle. I fear that if Extension doesn’t address these issues soon, their relevance is going to be diminished greatly. That would be a tragic waste of what could be a very good thing given some...

Sophia, thank you for sharing this. I agree, deep reflection and addressing some uncomfortable truths can lead us towards our aspiration to advance equity as a core system value.

Thank you so much for this article. I agree there is passion and dedication everyday within CCE. But the accepted culture and the inherent creation of silos prevents a lot of good things from happening. With many times, gaps being closely related to the lack of effective, inclusive communication leading to unwillingness to collaborate on projects, programming and mission.