Currently in its fourth cohort, the Urban Extension Initiative Leadership Fellows program (UEI) provides professional support for Extension Agents who serve and engage within urban communities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Its primary focus is to enhance community engagement, professional development, advocacy, and research for urban-centered Cooperative Extension.

This is the first year UEI has been offered to agents and administrators in other states, according to Dr. Jeff Young, who along with Dr. Kris Hains and Dr. Bryan Hains founded this unique program in 2020.

The addition of multi-state perspectives around conversations of critical importance to urban communities makes the program stronger, says Young, who serves as the UK Extension Director for Urban Extension. In addition, working closely with Dr. Kris Hains in the UK College of Education and Dr. Byan Hains in the College of Agriculture Food and Environment, the Community Innovation Lab has added veteran community engagement leadership.

Recruitment for cohort #5 will begin in Spring 2024. Contact Dr. Jeff Young at jyoung@uky.edu for more information.