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Tagged With "innovation skill-building"

Blog Post

Six Tips for Building Wealth

Selena T Garrison ·
Extension Educators can change their clients’ lives dramatically by sharing information and tools to build wealth. One of the most valuable financial resources is time for compound interest to work its magic on regular savings deposits such as Roth IRA contributions.
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EXCITE(ing) Strengths!

Karl Bradley ·
Since launching in 2021, the EXCITE program has reached more than 12 Million individuals with immunization education in 1,017 counties across 48 states and territories through the hard work of Extension Professionals from 72 land grant universities and 410 community and healthcare partners. It all began with support for the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) "Vaccinate with Confidence" campaign in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. WHY EXTENSION? Cooperative Extension has an over 100-year...
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Practicing Gratitude and Building Better Thoughts

Jason M Jowers ·
For service providers and clients alike, life is a winding road of good things here and bad things there. Actively working toward wiring your brain to acknowledge the good and appreciating those good things can help individuals shape personal strengths and build protections. Creating protective factors which can help cultivate positive mental health and generate an asset-based outlook that reaches all aspects of life. November is National Gratitude Month Gratitude is the practice of being...
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JOHN W. GARLAND COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, AND AGRICULTURE AWARDED NEARLY $90,000 TO FUND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Central State Extension ·
The Central State University John W. Garland College of Science, Engineering, Technology, and Agriculture (JWGCESTA) was recently awarded nearly $90,000 in funding and in-kind gifts to bolster efforts to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion in technology development. Eighteen universities and colleges, including Central State, will share $2.3 million from the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN). Grants will be used to fund interdisciplinary teaching, career pipeline...
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New Grant Opportunities: Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services

Liz Woodward ·
The Administration for Community Living has released two Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services (INNU) funding opportunities for cooperative agreements to establish or replicate innovative approaches to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and outcomes of nutrition programs and services within the aging services network. The announcement can be found here and the grant opportunities can be accessed at the links below: INNU – Replication (HHS-2023-ACL-AOA-INNU-0008) Projects replicate...
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RFA: ECOP Health and Workforce Program Action Teams: Resilient Economies and Community Health (REACH)

Aaron Weibe ·
ELIGIBILITY: Competitive opportunity available to ALL Land-grant universities (LGUs) (1862, 1890, 1994) by completing a simple online application. The Extension Foundation in partnership with the ECOP Health and Workforce Program Action Teams, is offering two opportunities to apply and be selected to pilot a community development initiative in a community of their choosing. More specifically, successful applicants will have the opportunity to pilot test how Cooperative Extension can catalyze...
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RFA Deadline Extended! ECOP Health and Workforce Program Action Teams: Resilient Economies and Community Health (REACH)

MelaniePugsley ·
RFA: ECOP Health and Workforce Program Action Teams: Resilient Economies and Community Health (REACH) ELIGIBILITY: Competitive opportunity available to ALL Land-grant universities (LGUs) (1862, 1890, 1994) by completing a simple online application. The Extension Foundation in partnership with the ECOP Health and Workforce Program Action Teams, is offering two opportunities to apply and be selected to pilot a community development initiative in a community of their choosing. More...
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Job Opening: Association Lead Executive Director (Kingston, NY)

Charlie Pane ·
Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County is hiring a Lead Executive Director . The position is located in Kingston, NY. Read the full position description and apply online by Jan. 5th: https://cornell.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CCECareerPage/details/Lead-Executive-Director---Kingston--NY_WDR-00034546 The Lead Executive Director for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Ulster County represents and is accountable to the Association Board of Directors and the Director of the...
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Extension Skills 2022

MelaniePugsley ·
This past year, the Impact Collaborative's Extension Skills series has provided Cooperative Extension professionals with the opportunity to build capacity with tools, processes, and tech skills training. Each second Thursday of the month, a workshop was led by an Extension expert to give professionals the opportunity to learn new skills and share best practices to help them be more effective and innovative in their work! This year, the workshops focused on topics such as virtual engagement...
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Colorado State University- Online offers you PD in Evaluation & Applied Research in Extension Course & Spring Registration reminder

Dessa Watson ·
Greetings Extension friends! Spring 2023 course registration at Colorado State University Online is open through Monday, January 16th. Enrolling in courses is as easy as clicking this orange button and submitting your ESP- Employee Study Privilege form . You do not have to be enrolled in a Graduate program to take individual courses. Graduate courses are a great PD opportunity to enhance your skills and build up your CV. Spring 2023 Extension Education courses NEW!! AGED 600 - Evaluation and...
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2023 Leadership & Team Development offerings!

Karl Bradley ·
How do you know it's time to do leadership development? What would happen if you thought about it as a habit? Get your calendar out and register today! Personal Leadership Bootcamp This 3-part series invites individuals to get to know themselves, choose a path and take action with the power of their personal leadership philosophy! Register here: http://pages.extension.org/bootcamp From "Me" to "We": Values, Trust & Teamwork Discover the value of your values, how to show you’re...
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Helping Service Members Overcome Stress and Anxiety Challenges

Jason M Jowers ·
It’s a new year and many of us are getting back into the swing of things after the recent holiday break. Everyone is getting back to work prioritizing their to-do lists for the upcoming year. Many military service members and their families are doing the same. There are many great benefits to serving in the military, for service members and their families as well. Career and educational opportunities as well as fulfilling a sense of purpose. However, as with any great opportunity, there also...
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2023 Extension Foundation Professional Development for Members

Aaron Weibe ·
We are excited to invite you to join the Extension Foundation for our 2023 professional development events and offerings. We strive to provide relevant educational and professional resources to all our members. This year, we are offering an array of professional development and leadership development opportunities to learn new skills, enhance leadership potential, network with other professionals, and uplift the impactful work happening across the system! Professional Development Members...
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New Publication: How to Use Digital Dashboards to Improve Program Implementation and Evaluation

Rose Hayden-Smith ·
How to Use Digital Dashboards to Improve Program Implementation and Evaluation is available on the Extension Foundation’s bookshelf. This case study was written by Amy Patillo, Matthew Pezold, and Karen Funkenbusch from the University of Missouri. It outlines a strategy used by the University of Missouri (MU) Extension to manage and evaluate complex mental and behavioral health initiatives for farmers and rural communities. It highlights the processes and tools used to help a large,...
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New Report Provides Regional Assessment of Ecosystem Services in Northeast U.S.

Rose Hayden-Smith ·
A new report - Ecosystem Services in Working Lands Practice and Policy of the U.S. Northeast - has been added to the Extension Foundation’s bookshelf. Authored by Northeast Ecosystems Services Fellows Alicia F. Coleman, PhD, and Mario R. Machado, PhD, the report documents results from an assessment of over 1,300 ecosystem service provisioning programs and policies across the U.S. Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,...
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ECOP Health Equity Framework Available in Flipping Book Format

Rose Hayden-Smith ·
Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being has been published as a flipping book by the Extension Foundation. First published in July 2021, the report was produced by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), Health Innovation Task Force. The Health Innovation Task Force was established in March 2020 by ECOP to "investigate, explore, and provide recommendations in support of extension innovating for system-level change” particularly as it...
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The Perfect Meeting

Karl Bradley ·
"One can either work or meet. One cannot do both at the same time." -Peter Drucker Darn it! He's right again. Despite our best efforts we can only do one of these (effectively) at a time. Through this, he also reminds us of the multitasking myth. What we actually do is task switch. It takes 40% longer to accomplish two things we're switching on and longer when we add a third or fourth task. One thing we can do to help with effectiveness is to have better meetings. Most HR professionals will...
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View the Impact Collaborative Summit Climate Resiliency Keynote Speaker Sessions and Panel

MelaniePugsley ·
The 2023 Impact Collaborative Summit had a special focus on Climate Resilience in collaboration with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy's (ECOP) Climate Program Action Team and included Keynote speaker sessions to inspire and inform participants on how climate resiliency can be integrated into their Extension projects and programs. Keynote speaker sessions and panelists at the Summit included a Climate update from NIFA, a special panel by the USDA Climate Hub and NOAA...
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Uplifting the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Youth

Jason M Jowers ·
An estimated 5% of the 1.76 million youth in military families identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer. Surveyed LGBTQ youth with a parent currently serving in the military that experienced high levels of family support reported lower mental health challenges and suicide risk ( Trevor Project, 2022 ). When youth feel safe at home, their mental wellness is significantly improved. Fostering healthy family relationships translates into protective factors for younger and older...
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Three Strategies to Better Meet Military Families’ Needs

Anna Peterson ·
By Anna Peterson Summary Military-connected populations, including military families, face unique needs and barriers in finding services and care for family members. Extension educators/agents who serve military-connected populations can deploy three strategies to better meet their needs: 1) use the Social Determinants of Health model; 2) build collaborations with others; and 3) use a care coordination tool. Introduction The needs of the military-connected population (e.g., service members,...
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University of Arizona job opening - Extension Specialist (Associate/Full) and Director of SNAP-Ed & EFNEP

Vanessa da Silva ·
The School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness and Cooperative Extension at the University of Arizona welcome applicants for a twelve-month, continuing-track Associate Specialist or Specialist position responsible for leadership, strategic planning, and program direction of statewide nutrition and physical activity programs. Minimum qualifications include: a doctorate degree in Nutritional Sciences, or a related discipline; a record of scholarly accomplishments; and a record of managing...
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Extension Foundation and Innovation Collective Partner to Drive Innovation and Community Development

Aaron Weibe ·
The Extension Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the Cooperative Extension System, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Innovation Collective, an organization dedicated to unleashing human flourishing through building innovative communities and growing successful startups. The partnership will focus on fostering innovation, economic development, and building resilient economies served by the Cooperative Extension System. Through this collaboration, the Extension...
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Safety First!

Karl Bradley ·
Each of us strives to fulfill basic needs as humans otherwise we're surviving instead of thriving. When we perceive a situation isn't safe our fight/flight/freeze mode kicks in automatically so we can live through it. It's a great adaptation humans have developed over the millennia. We wouldn't be here without it. The problem comes when we live in this mode more than we feel safe. Cortisol and adrenaline flood our system even when we aren't actually in danger. Prolonged exposure to these...
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Position Announcement

Norma Sanchez ·
Good afternoon, Hope all is well. Please view and share the following position announcement. Thank you for your support! Coordinator (FCS) 127086 - Norma S. Norma Janet Sanchez Program Administrative Specialist College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Office of Human Resources Management & Compliance Programs Main: (301) 405-2935 / Fax: (301) 314-0118 Website: https://agnr.umd.edu/ careers
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Program Center Stage: Learn about the Free Tools and Resources Available for Extension Professionals

MelaniePugsley ·
In this month's Program Center Stage, Extension Foundation’s Aaron Weibe provided an overview of the Foundation’s free tools and resources available for Cooperative Extension and Land-grant Universities including professional development opportunities, leadership, and team development, and other Member Solutions. Aaron walks through the tools, how to access them, and answers attendees' questions. Many participants noted that this session made them aware of many new tools available to them,...
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New Publication - The Community Seminar Series Playbook: A model for community outreach and student development

Rose Hayden-Smith ·
Webinars offer a convenient and engaging way for people to learn and connect with others. As a result, they have become a vital part of Extension's offerings. A new playbook makes it easy to organize virtual Extension programs, providing step-by-step instructions on everything from choosing a topic to promoting your event. "The Community Seminar Series Playbook: A model for community outreach and student development" was created by a team from the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute...
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Earth Day Climate Resources for Extension Professionals

MelaniePugsley ·
Extension Foundation works to provide valuable educational and assistance to help producers become more familiar with and use new technologies related to climate to increase climate literacy. Learn more about our @USDA_NIFA-supported outreach and education programs about #climatechange.   See our resources below: https://extension.org/portfolio-item/extension-climate-extreme-weather-programming-successes-challenges-opportunities-report/ ...
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Rural Health Education Lecture Series part 2 April 25th 11am CST

Michelle McDowell ·
Community Health Engagement and Outreach invites you to join a bimonthly lecture series featuring renowned experts in the topic of resilience. Service providers, educators, and community members will engage in practical content related to stress, coping, and health equity. As part of a Rural Health Safety Education (RHSE) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), we strive to increase capacity for research- and evidence-based substance misuse prevention and resilience...
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GET MORE GRATITUDE!

Karl Bradley ·
What is gratitude ? It's a sense of wonder, thankfulness & appreciation for life . Gratitude helps increase optimism for life. It promotes positive thinking. It helps us cope with daily stress & traumatic events. Appreciating things in our life and focusing on the positive can help us move forward with purpose. Gratitude can also strengthen our relationships. People who feel gratitude towards others feel closer to them and report overall better relationships, even if they don't...
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Mental Health First Aid Summit- #BeThe1in15 during Mental Health Awareness month this May

Kimberly Cavalier ·
Have you taken a first aid class or been trained in CPR? What about Mental Health Frist Aid? Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. We were fortunate enough to attend the Mental Health First Aid Summit in LA on May 1 st . We spent the day learning from our peers about the importance of mental health and how we can bring the MHFA program to every corner of the country and the world.
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Job Posting -- UVM Extension Assistant Professor of Community and Economic Development

Lisa Chase ·
The University of Vermont is hiring an Extension Assistant Professor of Community and Economic Development . Details below and online at University of Vermont Employment Opportunities | Extension Assistant Professor (uvmjobs.com) . Review of applications will begin on June 15, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled. University of Vermont (UVM) Extension is recruiting for an exciting career opportunity as an Extension Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will join us in...
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Celebrating Active Aging

Holly H. McPeak ·
By ADM Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health In May we celebrate two National Health Observances, Older Americans Month and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month , both of which offer opportunities to explore the benefits of regular physical activity and their importance to healthy aging. Older adults – individuals aged 65 years and older – can reap big rewards from sitting less and moving more. As we age, the activities we do in everyday life can become more challenging. Being...
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Spotlight on Youth Mental Well-Being in Military Families

Anna Peterson ·
Edited by: Anna Peterson Written by: Karen Shirer, Ph.D. The popular media continues to draw attention to the national mental well-being crisis among children and youth, including those in military families. The CBS television station affiliate in Minnesota, WCCO-4, recently aired a three-part series on the pandemic’s impact on youth mental health . The reporter, Esme Murphy, interviewed the following national experts on youth development regarding the crisis: Doctor Sarah Jerstad, the...
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Rural Health Education Lecture Series part 3 June 27th 11am CST

Michelle McDowell ·
Community Health Engagement and Outreach invites you to join a bimonthly lecture series featuring renowned experts in the topic of resilience. Service providers, educators, and community members will engage in practical content related to stress, coping, and health equity. As part of a Rural Health Safety Education (RHSE) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), we strive to increase capacity for research- and evidence-based substance misuse prevention and resilience...
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The National Meat Summits Steering Committee: Introduction and Opportunities to Collaborate

Libby Christensen ·
Are you working to support meat supply chains in your region? Interested in learning from other efforts happening across the U.S.? Join us for this webinar to learn about the recently formed National Meat Summits Steering Committee, which works to build connections, increase knowledge, grow collective skills and advance market opportunities for local and regional meat supply chains. The webinar will also provide lessons learned from the 2023 Mountain Meat Summit and International Livestock...
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University of AZ - Associate Director for 4-H Youth Development

Cathy Martinez ·
Arizona is hiring and we encourage YOU to consider applying and joining our team! This is a full-time, year round position that provides leadership for 4-H statewide. To review the position description and qualifications, see attachment. To apply for Req16498 use link: https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/4/home/requisition/16498?c=arizona
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Unique Strengths of the EXCITE Project: Partnerships

MelaniePugsley ·
The Extension Collaboration for Immunization, Teaching, and Engagement ( EXCITE ) project was created to reduce vaccine hes it ancy in rural and medically unders erved communities . Fund ed by the CDC through an Inter agency Agreement with USDA N IFA and a cooperative agreement with the Extension Foundation , the team has four goals : reduce hes it ancy, increase communication between populations and health systems , increase accessibility to clinics and help implement public health programs...
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Engage your Extension Audience in New Ways

MelaniePugsley ·
It's important for Extension Programs to stay current on the latest strategies for engaging with their audiences and be able to adapt and create new strategies in order to reach their communities more widely or effectively. The Extension Foundation offers a variety of resources to help you discover new ways to reach, understand and engage with your audience. Through Connect Extension, you can find videos and publications that can teach you new strategies to improve engagement and promotion...
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USDA Announces Funding for 33 Institutions for $262.5M Investment through NEXTGEN Opportunity

Aaron Weibe ·
The Extension Foundation (EXF) was awarded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in the Fall of 2022 to serve as the Technical Service Provider for the NEXTGEN Funding Opportunity. According to USDA-NIFA, “...the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) ‘ From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals Program ’ (NextGen) will enable eligible institutions, from New York to the Northern Mariana Islands, to...
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FALCON 2023 Annual Conference registration is now Open. Please Register Now!

John L. Phillips (Guest) ·
Register Now! Dear 1994 Land-grant Colleagues and FALCON members, The First Americans Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its 19 th Annual Conference, scheduled for October 13-15, 2023, at the Hilton Denver City Center, Denver, Colorado. Please register for the conference now. As always, the conference will include sessions in 1994 land-grant teaching, extension programs and research that benefit Native American students, communities,...
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Coaching or Mentoring?

Karl Bradley ·
Not that many years ago it wasn't very cool to have a coach for personal development. It was seen as somewhat of a weakness if you sought out a coach for help. Today, it's different. You want to learn and grow because you're after increased effectiveness. It's cool to have a coach. On the other hand, mentors have been a big part of personal and professional networks throughout our lives. These relationships continue to be a vital part of our development and the quality of our lives. Mentors...
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University of New Hampshire Extension seeks State Specialist, Economic Development

Victoria Rappeport ·
The Extension Economic Development State Specialist is an academic (non-tenure track) professional with primary responsibility to develop educational resources and programs for communities and the state that serve the economic development mission of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and Cooperative Extension. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated knowledge of, and experience with, local and regional economic development, including economic analysis for supporting community...
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Happy 4th of July!

Karl Bradley ·
Independence Day. Fourth of July . The founding of our nation. Family, fun & fireworks! On this day in 1776, our thirteen original colonies declared independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence document outlines our national foundation of freedom, democracy, and equality. The very first celebration was a year later in Philadelphia. Today, we mark the day with parades, picnics, and fireworks. Historically, July is a big month for the Cooperative Extension Service as...
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How Practicing Connection Can Cultivate Food Security Collaborations

Bob Bertsch ·
Like many of the issues that impact our families and communities, food security is complex. There are multiple factors that affect the issue, including economic, social, environmental and political factors. Interrelated issues like poverty, healthcare, and climate change make food security even more complex. Complex issues can only be addressed from multiple perspectives and by a wide range of people and organizations. Obach and their collaborators write, “Building networks allows for...
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Smart Uses for 2022 Tax Year Refunds

Kristen Jowers ·
Below are five smart uses for tax refunds for Extension professionals: Debt Repayment- There is probably no better “investment” than repaying consumer debt (e.g., outstanding credit card bills). Paying off an 18% credit card is equivalent to earning a 20.5% return for taxpayers in the 12% tax bracket
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Finding Hope and Confidence by Practicing Connection

Bob Bertsch ·
Professionals, like you, can make a difference through connection and collaboration. The Practicing Connection initiative is a place for ideas, inspiration, and information on building skills and creating connections that will help support the well-being of military and civilian families. It’s an exploration of the practices that empower us to work together to help each other, our families, and our communities improve our resilience and readiness. So, why should you join Practicing...
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What keeps senior leaders up at night?

Karl Bradley ·
Our family had the pleasure of being stationed in Tokyo, Japan while my wife and I were in the U.S. Air Force. While Japan and the other countries we visited were amazing, it was a particularly complicated time in the Pacific region. Most notably, North Korea's leader was threatening war. Additionally, many career fields in the Air Force lacked the people to sustain the operational pace required to maintain peace and stability in the region. Because of these situations, several military...
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Extension Foundation Receives USDA-NIFA Award to Maximize Biosecurity Threat Resilience

Aaron Weibe ·
The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is a collaborative network of Cooperative Extension educators across the United States and territories who work to improve the delivery of education and information, and the availability of resources related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Historically, this grassroots network has been aligned with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and supported by USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)...
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Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence in Your Community: Using the Heart & Hope Program to Build Resilient Families

MelaniePugsley ·
Domestic violence is a widespread issue that affects families in all communities. Addressing this problem requires a collaborative effort from both communities and institutions. In a recent Program Centerstage webinar , the spotlight was on the University of Nevada's Heart & Hope program, which aims to create resilient families and break the cycle of domestic violence in local communities. Hosted by program leaders, Julie Woodbury and Jill Baker-Tingey Jill and Julie from the University...
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We are hiring: University of Minnesota Extension Specialist Faculty Position

Mary Jo Katras ·
The Department of Family Social Science in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and University of Minnesota Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing seeks a tenure track Assistant Professor whose work centers community-based applied research approaches to studying family health, resilience and thriving in the context of social and economic inequalities. The person in this role will contribute through 1) establishing a national and international reputation in...
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About the Extension Foundation

The Extension Foundation was formed in 2006 by Extension Directors and Administrators. Today, the Foundation partners with Cooperative Extension through liaison roles and a formal plan of work with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) to increase system capacity while providing programmatic services, and helping Extension programs scale and investigate new methods and models for implementing programs. The Foundation provides professional development to Cooperative Extension professionals and offers exclusive services to its members. In 2020 and 2021, the Extension Foundation has awarded 85% of its direct funding back to the Cooperative Extension System, 100% of funds are used to support Cooperative Extension initiatives. 

This technology is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation. For more information, please visit extension.org. You can view the terms of useat extension.org/terms.

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