Greetings and Happy Holidays to my colleagues and to Extension Directors around the country. I am writing to share a few brief updates as NUEL is working to our momentum and address the needs of our Extension system working to remain relevant, responsive, and recognized in our urban communities. The NUEL Steering Committee held our latest Bi-Annual Face to Face meeting in New Orleans, LA, December 6-8, 2023 . Special thanks to Anthony Tuggle and the Tennessee Extension System for their...

As of this fall, Kansas State University is excited to offer an Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Urban Food Systems , as well as our professional track Masters of Science in Horticulture with an emphasis in Urban Food Systems - both of which can be completed fully online or in-person at our Olathe & Manhattan, KS campuses. We have rolling admissions for domestic students and NO out of state tuition fees through our Olathe or Global campus. This is a great graduate program for...

Now recruiting for Cohort 4, Urban Extension Initiative - Leadership Fellows is expanding to accept Extension professionals nationwide. Hosted by the University of Kentucky faculty, this year-long experience will connect you virtually with others working in larger communities through monthly Zoom meetings and other interactions. Want more information? Check out the attached flyer or contact me, Jeff Young at jyoung@uky.edu.

Tennessee Extension is looking forward to hosting the National Urban Extension Conference in Nashville. We have opening up hotel registration today. Please reserve your hotel room at the below link. If you need a double room, please call the hotel directly at 1-877-901-6632. https://book.passkey.com/e/50633971

The National Urban Research and Extension Center (NUREC), formerly the Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research, is accepting applications for our Fellows program (Deep Dive, Urban Sabbatical, and Graduate Fellows)! The deadline for applications is July 31, 2023 ! For more information, see: https://metroextension.wsu.edu/fellows/ . Applications will be accepted on any topic of interest that addresses our mission and goals including projects related to: Extension programs;...

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...

Greetings and Happy Spring to my Extension colleagues working in Urban Communities across the Country! I serve as Chair for the National Urban Extension Leaders Steering Committee. I am the County Extension Director in Wake County, Raleigh, North Carolina – a rapidly growing urban community home to NC State University. During my 30 years with Wake County Cooperative Extension, I have also served as a 4-H Program Assistant directly supporting justice involved youth, the Wake County 4-H Agent...

About Deep Dives, Urban Sabbaticals, and Urban Graduate Fellowships are designed to enhance the impact of Extension, and the broader land-grant university system, in metropolitan communities. Learn more or meet our past fellows at https://metroextension.wsu.edu/fellows/ . Application: Click here Application deadline (11:59 PDT): July 31, 2022: Fellowship Programs DEEP DIVES: Deep Dives were created to spur innovation within Extension, address complex issues facing metropolitan areas, and...

The latest issue of the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension is now available online (Volume 10, Number 2). To access it, visit JHSE’s website at: Journal of Human Sciences and Extension | Mississippi State University (msstate.edu) This special issue of JHSE focuses on Extension engagement in urban communities. The 35 authors who contributed to this issue represent a range of geographic and programmatic viewpoints. Insights shared in this special issue demonstrate that diversity in our...

From the most recent NACo County News! How many of your cities have some sort of urban 'livestock' ordancies? I know Settle allows chickens and miniature goats! Urban poultry raising is increasingly popular, but county officials find that a “not-in-your-backyard” attitude often applies. It took years for Charlotte County, Fla., to pass an ordinance allowing backyard chickens, said Shaun Cullinan, the county’s planning and zoning and code enforcement official. “I’ve been with the county for...

Some new research coming out of King County, WA (Seattle) around using reclaimed water for crop irrigation versus river water for peri-urban farms. "Fresh water availability is a growing concern as snowpack storage and rainfall decrease during our dry summer months. Access to a stable water source is important for farmers who rely on river water during the summer months to irrigate their crops. Yet this use, impacts the habitat of the aquatic life that rely on the river streamflow to survive...

Full USDA press release: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/06/01/usda-announces-framework-shoring-food-supply-chain-and-transforming. Goals of USDA’s Food System Transformation framework include: Building a more resilient food supply chain that provides more and better market options for consumers and producers while reducing carbon pollution Creating a fairer food system that combats market dominance and helps producers and consumers gain more power in the marketplace by...