Coming Together for Racial Understanding
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How Facilitating Dialogues on Race is Fostering Systemic Change in Cooperative Extension
Eric Walcott, Michigan State University
Marcia Ostrom, Washington State University Extension
Dawn Burton, Prairie View A&M Extension
David Kay, Cornell Cooperative ExtensionOne of the unexpected outcomes of the Coming Together initiative has been the many ways in which it has contributed to institutional change within Cooperative Extension. While Coming Together was designed to help Extension be more responsive to community needs for dialogue around race and racism, early outcomes have shown that as Extension prepares to do this work in communities, these efforts are forcing self-examination leading to shifts towards becoming more supportive and inclusive institutions. As a result of Coming Together, Extension systems are increasing partnerships between 1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions; changing hiring practices; making diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work more visible across Extension programming; and building capacity to engage more deeply in this work.
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Leading the Way: The Importance of Leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work
Mary Emery, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Marcia Ostrom, Washington State University
Mike Stout, Oklahoma State University
Raquel Taylor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Eric Walcott, Michigan State University
Rachel Welborn, Southern Rural Development CenterThis issue brief addresses the role leaders play in supporting efforts to increase dialogues around racial understanding. Based on a survey of State Training Teams who participated in the inaugural Coming Together for Racial Understanding train-the-trainer event (2018), six variables related to leadership support were identified that team members felt were critical to success including actively communicating support, verbally encouraging me in the work, actively participating in dialog, demonstrating support in the face of dissension and risk, and trusting the team to lead the initiative. For this work to truly make a difference, this brief points to the importance of matching administrative leadership efforts with expectations for support, particularly regarding aligning resources and time-on-task to the vision for change.
Download Leading the Way: The Importance of Leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work