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Southern CRD Webinar Series Continues:
The Opioid Epidemic: Considering Extension's Role and Virginia's Multi-Faceted Approach
March 20, 2018 @ 10:00am CT/11:00am ET
This session will provide an overview of the opioid epidemic, inform participants of current strategies being implemented to address it, and explore additional opportunities to effect change from an Extension perspective.
Learn moreNational CRD Indicators Webinar:
Evaluating Community Development Impacts Using Qualitative Indicators
Measuring the impact of work community development professionals engage in is critical to ensure its continuation. While many focus on quantitative measures, this webinar will provide successful examples of using qualitative methods to evaluate this work. A pilot evaluation study that used newly developed qualitative indicators will be shared. Additionally, two specific case examples will be provided; one of a community foundation education program evaluation and one of a community health assessment on the Crow Indian Reservation. Discussion will focus on challenges and opportunities in working with organizations outside of Extension, as well as the context for applying qualitative approaches and communicating outcomes across settings. Presenters: Rebecca Sero and Paul Lachapelle.
Learn moreRacial Equity in Food Systems Work: Beginning the Journey
April 24, 2018 @ 2:00pm CT/3:00pm ET
Shorlette Ammons of North Carolina’s Center for Environmental Farming Systems will introduce webinar participants to tools and language used in racial equity training. This webinar will be a helpful start and is not meant in any way to be comprehensive! In this webinar, we will begin to discuss what racial equity training is and how it benefits Extension work. We will also suggest additional resources and tools useful to those who want to bring racial equity training to their organizations. Hosted by: the eXtension working group on Undoing Inequality in the Food System which, Local and Regional Community of Practice and the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.
Learn moreUnderstanding Population Shifts Across Tennessee: A 100-year Analysis, University of Tennessee
People are the most important element of a community and are often mobile. In the past century, population shifts have changed the landscape considerably in communities across Tennessee. Researchers at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture examined the underlying reasons for these spatial and temporal shifts in population across Tennessee in the past century.
In a span of 100 years, Tennessee’s population more than tripled, transforming it to one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. At the beginning of the 20th century, a majority (84 percent) of the population in Tennessee lived in rural areas; around mid-century, the population was about evenly split between rural and urban areas. However, by the end of 20th century, the sprawl continued, resulting in 64 percent of the population living in urban areas of Tennessee, and this trend has continued into the 21st century.
Between 1900 and 2010, while the population in 86 counties across Tennessee grew, nine counties experienced population declines. Around 1960, more people lived in urban areas than rural areas across the state. While the population in Tennessee grew the fastest between 1970 and 1980 (17 percent), the growth was slowest between 1980 and 1990 (6.2 percent). Population grew in Rutherford; Williamson (Nashville metro region); Cumberland (Cumberland plateau); Blount (Knoxville region); and Bradley (Chattanooga metro region) counties, which are predominantly urban, along major interstate highways, and are rich in natural resources. At the same time, rural counties such as Hancock, Haywood, Jackson, Stewart and Giles experienced the greatest population declines. Incidentally, the Highland Rim region (around the Nashville basin), which is predominantly based on agriculture and contains no urban centers, experienced the highest declines over the years. The population decline in these communities may have led to a decline in taxes for school, roads and other publicly supported projects.
In 1900, Tennessee’s population was predominantly younger with children and young adults (under 24) representing 60 percent of the population, followed by a working-age group (25-64) totaling 36 percent, and seniors (65 and over) comprising up to 4 percent of the population. By mid-century, the working-age group caught up with the younger population, surpassing them by 1970 to become the majority. As of 2010, the working-age group accounted for 53 percent of the population and, with a low unemployment rate, contributed to a more robust workforce in Tennessee. The dependence of children and seniors on the working-age population has declined consistently over the years. Among the three cohorts, the proportion of seniors, although small, grew at a steady pace to 13.4 percent of the population by 2010.
By the turn of the century, a majority of Tennessee’s population lived in urban areas, with slightly more women than men and a thriving working-age population supporting children and seniors. The findings from this study serve as a basis for future analysis on workforce, education, healthcare, housing, and tourism across communities in Tennessee.
A tool to visualize county population changes over the past century was developed as part of the study. The poster and data visualization tool can be accessed
here.
Employee Feature – Kimberly L. Jensen
Kimberly L. Jensen, a professor at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), has received the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA).
The award is given in recognition of her considerable contributions to the agricultural economics profession and to Southern agriculture. Jensen accepted the award at the 2018 SAEA annual meeting, which was held February 5-6 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jensen conducts research and teaches economic analysis of agricultural markets and marketing functions in the Department of Agricultural and Research Economics (ARE). Her research interests include bioenergy economics; agribusiness; analysis of value-added agricultural markets; consumer preference and demand for food and fiber products; and environmental labeling.
She is also a founding member of both the Agri-Industry Modeling and Analysis Group (AIM-AG), and the Biobased Energy Analysis Group (BEAG). AIM-AG’s mission is to assess and project the impacts of agri-industry development on the Tennessee economy, while the mission of BEAG is to provide decision makers in government and industry with up-to-date economic and environmental analyses of the biobased industry at the firm, state, regional and national levels. She has also worked extensively in community economic development.
Her research has received more than $4 million in grant and contract funding. Jensen’s research client base includes producer organizations; USDA; U.S. Department of Energy; EPA; Tennessee Department of Agriculture; Tennessee Valley Authority; Tennessee Department of Tourist Development; Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development; U.S. Forest Service; and local economic development agencies. She has developed more than 300 publications and presentations, including 65 peer-reviewed journal articles, and continues serving as a mentor to future agricultural economists.
Jensen earned her PhD in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University; a master’s in agribusiness from Arizona State University; and a bachelor’s in bioagricultural science from Arizona State University. She joined the ARE faculty in 1986 and currently teaches Microeconomic Applications to Agricultural and Resource Markets and The Food and Agricultural Marketing System.
Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program (RHSE)
Deadline: May 24, 2018
The RHSE program proposals are expected to be community-based, outreach education programs, such as those conducted through Human Science extension outreach, that provides individuals and families with: Information as to the value of good health at any age; Information to increase individual or family’s motivation to take more responsibility for their own health; Information regarding rural environmental health issues that directly impact on human health; Information about and access to health promotion and educational activities; and Training for volunteers and health services providers concerning health promotion and health care services for individuals and families in cooperation with state, local and community partners.
Learn MoreUSDA Agricultural Marketing Service Support for Specialty Crops, and Local Food Sector, and Agricultural Marketing
Deadline to apply: May 24, 2018
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced nearly $89 million in available funding to support specialty crop growers, strengthen local and regional food systems, and explore new market opportunities for farmers and ranchers. USDA helps fund projects that bolster rural economies across the country.
Learn More
FY 2018 EDA Disaster Supplemental Grant
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) released its Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) targeting economic recovery for areas impacted by natural disasters in 2017. EDA is soliciting applications under its Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program and funding is available to assist in economic recovery. The agency emphasizes long-term regional development strategies in proposals which align with goals of the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Grant funding is also available to fund “strategy grants” to develop or update a CEDS for a region experiencing sudden and critical economic dislocation. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Learn MoreUSDA Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants
Deadline to apply: June 4, 2018
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. For example, this program can link teachers and medical service providers in one area to students and patients in another.
Learn MoreCommunity and Economic Development Extension Agent, Prairie View A&M University
This position is responsible for continuing efforts in accomplishing the Community and Economic Development Department objectives outlines in our Cooperative Extension Program Plan of Work. Primary duties include, but are not limited to, deliver and assist in the delivery of workshops and programs on small business lending, government contracting opportunities, business and personal credit, debt management, youth entrepreneurship, asset building, etc. Regularly teach and deliver Community and Economic Development (CED) community-based educational programs through a wide variety of teaching methods at sites throughout the geographic area served. Positions are open in Jefferson, Dallas, and Willacy Counties.
Learn MoreAgriculture Extension Director Assistant, University of Kentucky
Deadline to Apply: May 13, 2018
This position will be the leader of all human resources functions within the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. The successful candidate will manage the selection and employment process for all county extension agent positions. Additionally, this position is responsible for creating and providing training to agents and other Extension Service staff. Other roles will include policy development and salary administration.
Learn MoreAssociate Dean for Research, University of Hawaii Mãnoa
Deadline to Apply: May 15, 2018
The Associate Dean in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and the Hawai’i Agricultural Experiment Station must be a visionary leader for Hawaii’s agricultural, natural resources, and human resource research enterprises. The incumbent serves as a catalyst and facilitator to enhance multi- and interdisciplinary research funded by the State/Federal, private, foundations and non-government sectors. This individual must embrace the shared vision and mission for CTAHR and espouse the values of collegiality, ethical behavior, excellence and relevance. The Associate Dean and Associate Director for Research is a member of the CTAHR administrative team constituted of the Dean and Associate Deans, and is accountable to the Dean.
Learn More2018 National Health Outreach Conference: Bloomington, MN
May 2-4, 2018
The Conference will be held on February 15th & 16th, 2018 in Hebron, Kentucky with the theme “Intentional Connections: Education and Application in a World of Differences”. This conference is hosted by five land grant universities from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. It is designed for administrators, faculty, and staff from Cooperative Extension, research, and academic programs; private and public university representatives; K-12 educators; community outreach leaders, etc. Proposals for presentations are being invited for the 2018 conference on best practices, curriculum models, research, professional development training, and success stories for implementing diversity initiatives in a variety of settings as it relates to this year’s conference theme areas: Immigration, Social Justice, Inclusion, and Engagement.
2018 Northeast Agricultural and Resource Economics Association: Philadelphia, PA
June 9-12, 2018
The 2018 Northeast Agricultural and Resource Economics Association (NAREA) Pre-Conference Workshop, co-sponsored by the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, will be held on June 9-10, 2018, prior to the main conference on June 10-12. This pre-conference workshop seeks to highlight recent advances in the economic analysis of food systems in the U.S. as well as globally. They seek papers that address individual impacts and causes as well as papers that examine system-wide interactions within the food system, including production, distribution and consumption linkages.
National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals Conference: Cleveland, OH
July 10-13, 2018
Communities that Rock! Our speakers are confirmed. Session proposals are being reviewed. Finishing touches have been made to the pre- and post-conference workshops, as well as Tuesday afternoon’s mobile learning workshops. We are now working to finalize the schedule and create the program.
Community Development Society’s Annual International Conference: Detroit, MI
July 22-25, 2018
Conference Theme: Engaging in a Culture of Health: Making Waves in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Goals of the 2018 National Health Outreach Conference: fostering a culture of health through community-based strategies; encouraging health equity; creating improvement in health through disruptive change and innovation; promoting co-creation with communities to ensure relevance and reduce barriers to positive change.
2018 National Direct Agricultural Marketing Summit: Arlington, VA
September 15-18, 2018
USDA’s 2018 National Direct Agricultural Marketing Summit (“Summit”), conducted in partnership with the Food Distribution Research Society, National Value-Added Agriculture Conference, Farmers Market Coalition, and Farm Credit Council. This Summit, the first of its kind in the United States, will feature topics on new resources intended to assist farmers market managers and direct marketing farmers; recent research and data on direct-to-consumer (DTC) markets; and technical assistance workshops led by USDA staff and FMPP grantees.
National CRD Indicators Webinar:
Evaluating Community Development Impacts Using Qualitative Indicators
April 23rd, 2018 @ 1:00pm CT/2:00pm ET
Southern CRD Webinar Series:
Leadership Development: A Process of Un-Doing Understanding
April 26th, 2018 @ 10:00am CT/11:00am ET
Southern CRD Webinar Series:
March: The Opioid Epidemic: Considering Extension's Role and Virginia's Multi-Faceted Approach
February: Creating a Sense of Community through the 5 C's of Social Capital and Cultural Competency
January: How Can I Be of Service? Determining the Best Role for Community Engagement
National CRD Indicators Team Webinar Series:
Understanding and Evaluating Collective Impact Initiatives
Estimating the Economic Impact of Programs: Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Other Great Webinars:
Reaching Urban Veterans through Urban Horticulture
The Impact of Latino-Owned Business on Local Economic Performance
Improving the Health and Safety of NC Farmworker: Connecting Community
Florida’s Urban Extension Strategic Plan
Job announcements and other items of interest may be sent to Katherine Spiering for possible inclusion in future issues.
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