Today's US Census Story behind the numbers is about multi-generational homes: Multigenerational households — three or more generations under one roof — made up 4.7% of all U.S. households but 7.2% of family households in 2020, an increase from 2010.... There were 6.0 million U.S. multigenerational households in 2020, up from 5.1 million in 2010, according to 2020 Census data released recently.

This helped with my reflection on a great NUEL Steering Committee, hosted by the North Central Region prior to their regional conference. I'm sure multi-generational households need strong communication amongst each other to move along a continuum of co-existence; cooperation, coordination; collaboration; and integration (see the Collaboration of Continuum - shared by @Marlin Bates) and the trust it takes to move along that continuum. In urban extension, our roles in supporting agencies, and Extension, in moving along this continuum for community (and maybe collective) impact requires the same communication effort and building of trust.  These were things we explored and modeled at the NUEL meeting (that I'm sure someone else will expand upon in a separate blog post).

But, the other area we as Extension professionals must navigate, and that we discussed at the Steering Committee meeting as well, is how do we manage a successful academic career while doing the good work of urban Extension. That is where the Continuum of Engagement comes in (thanks @Julie Fox for sharing). As professionals, what activities do we participate in across the tri-part function of the land-grant university (research, teaching, Extension (service))? And for me, how do we help transform our universities from an outreach mentality to and engagement mentality, "Outreach begins with an answer; engagement ends with one" - @Roger Rennekamp

These are the reflections I have from the Steering Committee meeting and as I explore how we transition the Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research (WCMER) into the National Urban Research and Extension Center (NUREC) and work with NUEL and the Extension Foundation in collaboration, engagement, and communication.

I welcome your thoughts and reflections on engagement, collaboration, or the recent NUEL Steering Committee meeting.