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2012 Annual Report highlights citizen engagement programs
The 2012 SRDC Annual Report, Investing in Citizen Participation: Building Solutions Together, captures the variety of Extension and Research activities spearheaded by the Center over the past year in partnership with its land-grant university colleagues and key external collaborators. The report devotes special attention to SRDC projects that broaden the voices of the people who are working together to make life better for their communities and regions. Our Turning the Tide on Poverty initiative, Stronger Economies Together (SET) program, and ReadyCommunity training all promote citizen engagement and community vitality. We encourage you to take a few minutes to explore the highlights of the 2012 SRDC Annual Report.
Read more.
SET program now accepting Phase IV applications
The Stronger Economies Together (SET) initiative, launched over 3 years ago by USDA Rural Development in collaboration with the nation’s four Regional Rural Development Centers and their land-grant university partners, is now accepting applications from states wishing to take part in the next phase of the SET program. SET provides training and technical assistance to multi-county regional teams in the selected states, helping them assess their regional economic advantages and build a thoughtful regional plan for strategically building on their regional clusters. Applications are open to any state, including those that have taken part in past phases of the SET program.
Get the details.
RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies now accepting research grant proposals
The RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies @ the SRDC, in partnership with USDA Economic Research Service, has released its 2013 request for proposals for both its Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Program and its regular Food Assistance and Nutrition Challenges in Rural America Research Grant Program.
Download the RFPs here.
Beaulieu to be honored with upcoming reception
Dr. Bo Beaulieu, who has served as SRDC director for more than 15 years, will be honored with a farewell reception before he begins his tenure as Director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development/Assistant Vice President for Engagement at Purdue University. The reception will be held Friday, March 15 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on the 4th floor in Bost Extension Center. We hope you can join us as the SRDC thanks Beaulieu for his many years of exemplary service.
A rural school district rattles the Ivy Cage
High-achieving students from rural schools rarely apply to prestigious colleges. Ivy League recruiters aren't looking for them. But a community in South Texas opened doors, sending its teenagers to top universities and bringing their talents back home.
Check out its story.
Rural poor are concentrated
Poverty in rural America is more concentrated than in urban counties, according to this Daily Yonder article. Poor people are more likely to live in counties where a high percentage of people live in poverty.
Read more.
USDA Proposes Standards to Provide Healthy Food Options in Schools
The new "Smart Snacks in School" proposed standards will help ensure vending machines and snack bars include healthy choices, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Good nutrition lays the groundwork for good health and academic success. Providing healthy options throughout school cafeterias, vending machines, and snack bars will complement the gains made with the new, healthy standards for school breakfast and lunch so the healthy choice is the easy choice for our kids,” Vilsack said.
Get the details.
Webinar: Top 10 Trends and Cool Tools in Social Media
February 14, 2013 at 2 p.m. (ET)
Presenter - Julie Fox, Ohio State Extension
Julie Fox joins the eXtension Entrepreneurship webinar series again this year for a popular session on what's new in social media. This fast moving session goes beyond the latest statistics to demonstrate what's working and show you how to benefit from the latest social media trends and tools.
No pre-registration is required and there is no fee to participate. About 10 minutes prior to the start time simply go the Adobe Connect Pro meeting room at https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/etc-cop. You will be presented with a login screen that has an "Enter as Guest" option. Enter your full name then click "Enter Room" to join the conference. You will be able to hear the audio directly from your computer’s speakers.
9th Annual Tri-State Diversity Conference
Bridges to Cultural Inclusion
February 21-22, 2013
Hebron, Kentucky
http://ces.ca.uky.edu/tristatediversityconference/index.html
WEBINAR: NATURAL GAS EXTRACTION: ISSUES AND POLICY OPTIONS
Wednesday, Feb. 27 at noon (ET)
Presenter: Shannon Ferrell and Larry Sanders, Oklahoma State University
http://connect.msu.edu/nardep
The National Agricultural & Rural Development Policy (NARDeP) Center hosts a free webinar that will explore:
- Basics of modern natural gas extraction, and the challenges & opportunities of today’s natural gas industry
- Potential environmental and community impacts of natural gas development
- Policy alternatives available to local, state, and federal governments for responding to these impacts, and what current research and theory suggest as potential consequences for these alternatives.
Federal Reserve System Community Development Research Conference
Resilience and Rebuilding for Low Income Communities: Research to Inform Policy and Practice
April 11-12, 2013
Washington, D.C.
http://www.frbatlanta.org/news/conferences/13resilience_rebuilding.cfm
(Register by Feb. 18 for early bird discount)
Community Development Society Annual Conference
Beyond the Boundaries: Creating Innovation through Regional Collaboration
July 21-24, 2013
Charleston, South Carolina
http://www.comm-dev.org/
Call for Submissions (Deadline: Feb. 15, 2013)
Assistant Director for Family and Consumer Sciences Programs and Assistant Dean for Extension, Alabama Cooperative Extension System
https://ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/posannc/files/FCS-Asst-Director-Asst-Dean-announcement-final.pdf
Associate or Full Professor in Agricultural Sustainability, Division of Agriculture Research and Extension, University of Arkansas
http://www.srdc.msstate.edu/newsletters/ats/files/announcement_sustainability_position.doc
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School/Professor, Mississippi State University
Search for posting #7076
https://www.jobs.msstate.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1360604793429
Job announcements and other items of interest may be sent to Meaghan Gordon for possible inclusion in future issues.
Subscribe to Around the South by visiting http://srdc.msstate.edu/newsletters/ats_subscribe.htm.