Quarterly Report NTAE Year 3 Qtr 1

NTAE 2021-22 Quarterly Reports - Quarter 1

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-OP-006747 Award Number: 2019-41595-30123 Awarded to Oklahoma State University Total Award: $1,488,000.00

Reporting Period: September 1, 2021 to November 30, 2021 (Year 3, Quarter 1) Date Submitted: December 21, 2021

Prepared by: Extension Foundation (Dr. Beverly Coberly, Extension Foundation PI and Tira Adelman, Extension Foundation Grants and Program Manager) ℅ Bryan Cave LLP One Kansas City Place 1200 Main Street, Suite 3800

Submitted to:

Dr. Thomas Coon Dr. Damona Doye Oklahoma State University OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

139 Agricultural Hall Stillwater, OK 74708

Project Narrative Summary

The NTAE project, under the leadership of Oklahoma State University, will continue to build upon the strengths and capacities of the Extension Foundation, including its experience providing technology tools for Cooperative Extension professionals and catalyzing professional development innovation in Year 3. The NTAE project is designed to achieve the objectives of the New Technologies for Ag Extension initiative and to align with USDA Strategic Goals which are: Goal 1: Ensure USDA Programs are delivered efficiently, effectively, with integrity and a focus on customer service. Goal 2: Maximize the ability of American agricultural producers to prosper by feeding and clothing the world.

Goal 3: Promote American agricultural products and exports. Goal 4: Facilitate rural prosperity and economic development.

Goal 5: Strengthen the stewardship of private lands through technology and research. Goal 6: Foster productive and sustainable use of our National Forest System Lands. Goal 7: Provide all Americans access to a safe, nutritious, and secure food supply.

Key Strategies: Technology Learning and Networking Platform

USDA Related NIFA Projects Sharing Learnings with CES Communications and Marketing Partnerships for Expansion and Sustainability

The key strategies for achieving project objectives and strategic goals include the following:

❖ Technology for CES : Partnering with Eduworks and North Carolina State University (NCSU) to enhance existing functionalities to increase the amount of content available and improve access to content. The most significant enhancement involves building Artificial Intelligence into Extension’s Ask Extension tool. The current version, Ask an Expert, is a searchable repository of 50,000 questions posed by the public and answers supplied by 2,600 Extension educators is now replaced by Ask Extension.

❖ National Program and Asset Registry: Another significant accomplishment is the new National Registry of Cooperative Extension Programs and Assets launched to house searchable program information and resources such as presentations, information sheets and evaluation tools for CES. This new tool is intended for broader implementation this summer. We are piloting this tool with a CDC/NIFA program called Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE). This tool will enable Cooperative Extension to create a dynamic geographic map about the incredible work happening system-wide on immunization education and show the strength and value that Cooperative Extension brings to our communities. ❖ Learning and Networking Platform for CES: Connect Extension is a co-learning environment that adapts existing Extension technology to expand professional development opportunities to all land grant universities, NTAE partners, and their constituents. The Hubspot platform was added in Year 3 Quarter 1 to further enhance communication and connectedness with CES. ❖ USDA Related NTAE Projects: Research and Extension Catalysts mobilize talent among networks within Extension and from private- and public sector partners. The Catalysts consult with their networks to identify eight topics related to the Strategic Goals, and locate resources that address each topic. Project teams submit a nomination form and the catalysts/review teams select these eight topics and Extension Fellows to curate the resources from the nominations submitted. Catalysts provide a lead mentor role with projects. Catalysts serve as program advisory support past senior program or administrative CES personnel. Catalysts have many years of experience with programming and networks across the country. Catalysts are: Dr. Scott Reed, Dr. Fred Schlutt, Dr. Rick Klemme, Dr. Chuck Hibberd, Dr. Jimmy Henning, Dr. Dawn Mellion, Dr. Chuck Ross, and Dr. Dyremple Marsh. ➢ Communication and Marketing: Targeted communication and marketing strategies to ensure resources are available to CES professionals to create a national network of CES involved in a focused effort and provide greater visibility for CES. The Extension Foundation now uses HubSpot as the platform for communications and email. We can filter this by region or institution as well. A complete list is available here: https://app.hubspot.com/contacts/8907224/lists/55. This represents 220 organizations including Land Grant Institutions, and other organizations engaged with our non-member/public offerings. A complete listing of all organizations that have engaged with the Extension Foundation so far here: https://app.hubspot.com/contacts/8907224/objectLists/152 ➢ Partnerships for Expansion and Sustainability: Leadership by individual stakeholders is necessary but not sufficient to drive transformational and systemic change. Collective action and collaboration is essential. It is needed among

projects themselves, in specific sectors, around specific issues and locations. It is also needed on a cross-sector or multi-stakeholder basis between companies, governments and organizations like the Cooperative Extension System. Projects expand current partnerships and organizational networks for the CES system by connecting the fellows to various public, private and corporate partners. Extension Key Informant Services Extension provides a menu of “key informant services” designed to accelerate innovative projects. The services and Extension lead staff are: ● Program Design and Educational Technology encourages all projects to share their processes and products via Connect.Extension.org. Professional development is about a learning process for the projects and CES. Fellows share their learning through social media and virtual Professional Development. This is led by Molly Immendorf, WI. ● Digital Publishing and Engagement support for digital learning and instruction used by the project is needed and also for Extension professionals to share the process and learnings which are expected to be shared digitally from each project. Each project is expected to use Connect Extension. This is led by Ashley Griffin , KY and Rose Hayden-Smith, CA. ● Leadership and Leadership Development support and training for adaptation to a digital environment is provided (helping Fellows be leaders in a digital environment) as well as team building for each project is a part of this support system. Leadership learning is embedded in each project. This is led by Karl Bradley, CO. ● Flipping Book/s or epub publishing of resources and processes used by the project are important for sharing content and processes. This publishing process allows the content and process of the project to be documented and researchable by others to support project expansion and project adoption. This is led by Ashley Griffin, KY. ● Market research, and/or strategic messaging strategies are provided as needed for projects to better understand their audiences and increase participation in their program. Market research, media audits and strategic communications are a part of this accelerating strategy. This is led by Aaron Weibe, NC and Melanie Pugsley, TX. ● Partnership and Development works with fellows and projects by assisting with early partner development for co-creation of ideas and implementation where possible. This effort seeks to develop partners for early stage co-creation and long term support of the project. This is led by Megan Hirschman, MI and Hellina Tadesse, NY. ● Evaluation is embedded in each project to help ensure impact data is gathered about the outcomes of the project itself. Evaluation for understanding growth and development of

a project is expected learning of each project. This is led by Ashley Griffin, KY, Marie Ruemenapp, MI and Paulina Velez, OK. ● Grant Reporting and Administrative Support is provided by Tira Adelman, NC and Brenna Kotar, TX. Reporting View: This report will share the activities and outcomes for year three quarter one (September 1, 2021 to November 30, 2021) by the specific NTAE projects and key strategies above to provide better context and meaning for the report.

Advancing Technology for CES A dvancing technology for CES databases and for CES program delivery is critical for CES professionals to advance on critical issues and educational endeavors. ● Ask Extension is redesigned to replace Ask An Expert. This redesign is built to use artificial intelligence to provide additional power for database searches and the ability to answer and respond to customer questions across the US. Ask Extension is a national initiative that leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to pull together data sources from the Extension ecosystem to answer questions directly and accurately and connect to local citizens with their local Extension professionals, products and services. ○ For the first quarter, Implemented a new reassignment User Interface (UI) in Ask Extension in Oct 2021. Preparing to transition the Ask Extension system to a containerized platform on Google Cloud. The QA server has been moved and we hope to move the Production server in the next few weeks. Chatbot has been built and continues to be tested. We are recruiting an Image labeling intern to help with identifying images in the database to help "train" the chatbot so it can better identify images. ○ Implementation of new reassignment UI in Ask Extension ○ Development of containers in Google Cloud to improve security and reliability of infrastructure for Ask Extension ○ Ongoing bug xes and feature development for Ask Extension ○ Continue development of Extension Chatbot ● Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ○ Complete transition of Ask Extension to new platform. ○ Complete hiring of image labeling intern and begin the labeling work. ● Helpdesk ○ Total support inquiries addressed: 283 ○ Breakdown by team: ■ General ExF Support (contact-us): 45 ■ Campus: 75 ■ Ask Extension: 80 ■ Catalog: 81 ● Significant Results:

○ Significant Results: ■ N/A ○ Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ■ Continue helpdesk support ● Search.extension.org - The search team has met with several vendors over the past few months to compare cognitive search products and pricing. MindBreeze was selected on December 3 and the contract should be finalized soon. ○ Significant Results: ■ N/A ○ Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ■ Get access to the MindBreeze platform and start building out the search engine. ● The Artificial Intelligence work continues with the California Integrated Pest Management. Eduworks is working with California Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to triangulate questions/answers and images used to answer IPM questions, making sure the correct data tags are in place for machine learning. ● Web Hosting continues to be an important aspect of NTAE/Extension for managing access to content through technology. ○ During the 1st quarter we are hosting 105 websites. Capturing year-over-year quarterly metrics. In aggregate, Y3Q1 is a 15% decrease in Unique Pageviews and a 15% decrease in Users over Y2Q1. At this time this project is ahead of schedule in the number of hosted sites. ○ Please see Appendix A for Web-site hosting technical report. ○ Significant Results: ■ Compared to Y2Q1, the number of Unique Pageviews decreased from 2,591,141 to 2,196,247 (-15%). The number of Users decreased from 1,945,353 to 1,647,525 (-15%) ○ Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021- February 28, 2022): ■ Additional year over year reporting to better reflect seasonal traffic. Implement policy to allow the removal of sites which are abandoned or underperforming.

Learning and Networking Platform for CES

● Connect Extension is a co-learning environment that adapts existing Extension technology to expand professional development opportunities to all land grant universities, NTAE partners, and their constituents. Connect Extension was implemented in Year One. It is powered by a commercial tool called Crowdstack. The main features include the Learn Calendar for Cooperative Extension to advertise online events to the public, a blog for amplifying the reach of Cooperative Extension professionals, and subgroups (NTAE project groups) for Cooperative Extension to collaborate internally. In the 1st quarter of year 3 new subgroups were created for Broadband Access and Digital Literacy, Tourism/Recreation/Hospitality. Additionally, the creation of a new Publication database for NTAE Projects within Connect Extension. ○ Significant Results: ■ 272,763 Pageviews ■ 219,305 Unique pageviews

■ Publications database: 977 page views/710 unique pageviews, automated 240 emails to database visitors for reengagement and content distribution. ■ 99 events advertised by Cooperative Extension professionals ■ Campaigns: ● Connect Extension Weekly Digest: ○ 67,478 email delivered ○ 24,338 opened ○ 2,144 clicks to resources

○ 3,371 sessions ○ 68 new contacts ○ 548 influenced contacts ○ Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021- February 28, 2022): ■ Working with national project teams to enhance and scale the use of subgroups across the platform focused on specific program areas. ● National Registry: ○ In quarter 1 the National Registry made advancements. NEAFCS became a partner in Family and Consumer Science questions, SRDC and the ECOP Broadband Program Action Team became a partner in Broadband and Digital Literacy questions, and we began work on questions for the National Extension Tourism network. The registry will also be updated by the end of December to create a cleaner design at the request of many. A presentation was given to

NEAFCS on 12/9/2021 on how they can use the register. ○ Significant Results: ■ 172 programs registered ■ 907 pageviews ● 843 unique pageviews of the registry table ○ Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021- February 28, 2022): ■ Continue working with JCEP organizations such as ANREP to include questions in the Registry Work with Roger Rennekamp and the ECOP Health Program Action Team for the development of

questions to be included in the National Registry ■ Continue design and stability improvements.

USDA Related NTAE Projects

Research and Extension Catalysts mobilize talent among networks within Extension and from private and public sector partners. The Catalysts consulted with their networks to identify eight topics related to the Strategic Goals, and located resources that address each topic. Project teams submitted a nomination form and the catalysts teams selected these eight topics and Extension Fellows. Catalysts are: Dr. Scott Reed, Dr. Fred Schlutt, Dr. Rick Klemme, Dr. Chuck Hibberd, Dr. Jimmy Henning, Dr. Dawn Mellion, Dr. Dyremple Marsh, and Dr. Chuck Ross. In the first two quarters, catalysts assisted with the following:

1) Identifying topics for publishing. 2) Refining why statements and roadmaps for project implementation 3) Providing support for expanding project networks 5) Identifying key partners and building relationships with them 6) Conducting surveys and working with the evaluation of projects and 7) Advising the Audience Engagement Initiative and project timing.

Selected projects work with the Extension Foundation “Key Informant Services” to enhance, expand, and accelerate the projects. Extension Foundation Key Informant Services include the following: ❏ Program Design and Educational Technology ❏ Molly Immendorf, WI serves as lead. ❏ The program design KI services will help teams who are still building their program/project and/or teams whose projects could use a little innovation infusion. Using the learnings from the Impact Collaborative Innovation Skill-Building experience (ISBE) and a NTAE Project Journey checklist, this service will use tools and techniques to help teams who need a little boost early on in their NTAE year. If a team’s project calls for producing events such as a conference, we can also help with objective and agenda creation. If a team’s project is developing a curriculum (especially an online curriculum), we can also consult on adult learning theory and instructional design. ❏ The Educational Technology KI service helps teams use technology tools and strategies to engage, inform, deepen learning, and increase connections. Specific advice around successful ways to engage peers virtually may include developing engagement objectives and outcomes and then matching educational technology tools and techniques to achieve those outcomes. Example tools include Connect

Extension Virtual Chats, using Zoom tools effectively, and using third-party engagement tools (Mentimeter, Quizzizz, Google suite, Mural, etc.) ❏ Digital Publishing and Engagement ❏ Ashley Griffin, KY; Rose Hayden-Smith, CA; and Heather Martin serve as leads. ❏ In year 3, publishing Key Informants, alongside team Catalysts, will identify NTAE Team projects/programs that are demonstrating Evidence-based Programming (EBP) to be shared with CES through an ePub publication. Publishing will also consider how integration of digital engagement strategies can enhance these publications, and to incorporate any digital content/assets created through work with the Marketing and Communications and Program Design and Educational Technology Key Informants into publications as appropriate. We will model some engagement strategies on the Connect Extension Publishing subgroup being developed to support teams in this work as well as offer regularly scheduled working webinars to guide identified teams in development of content for publishing. ❏ Examples of year 2 publications can be found on the Extension Foundation Bookshelf. This bookshelf is evolving so updates will be expected. All publications that make the bookshelf have been peer reviewed. Details in regard to contributor rights for author contributions are summarized from the foundation Terms of Use. A summary for Catalyst convenience and talking points has been compiled in the Extension Foundation Publication Contributor Terms of Use document as of May 20, 2021.

❏ Leadership and Leadership Development ❏ Karl Bradley, CO serves as lead.

❏ Support further development of skills and mindset of individuals. Help combine the ability of self-awareness with social awareness to think and act strategically. ❏ Support a healthy environment as it relates to interactions between individuals and teams inside the system in which they operate. ❏ Assist individuals & teams with challenging environments defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity & ambiguity. Develop agility for continuous observation, learning and adjusting. ❏ Balanced experiential learning includes but is not limited to: ❏ Connection to purpose ❏ Relating experiences in dialogue and reflection to elevate levels of thinking ❏ Work on values/beliefs to support authentic behavior change ❏ Leadership as a relationship ❏ Positive transformation with sustainable changes in attitudes, behaviors & performance should be the minimum expectation

❏ Marketing and Communications

❏ Aaron Weibe, NC and Melanie Pugsley, TX serve as leads. ❏ The marketing and communication Key Informant service can work with your project to identify strategies for better connecting with your target audiences, assess your digital presence, assist with creative projects, and help equip your team with skills and tools needed for successful audience engagement and marketing and communication campaigns. ❏ Partnership and Development ❏ Megan Hirschman, MI and Hellina Tadesse, NY serve as leads. ❏ Help strengthen teams effectiveness for fostering new partnerships and innovations ❏ Prepare teams to engage with key organizations, and successfully cultivate new funding opportunities. ❏ Empower NTAE Teams to develop new program possibilities, new funding and new partnerships ❏ Identify and share funding opportunities through grant resources ❏ Elevate projects at the national level through internal (to CES) and external organizational collaborations. ❏ Evaluation ❏ Ashley Griffin, KY and Paulina Velez, OK, serve as lead. ❏ A systematic approach will guide the evaluation support for year 3 that begins with each team’s Impacts Worksheet submitted during application. From a team’s initial worksheet, in combination with catalysts input and project evolution with Key Informants, the Impacts Worksheet will be updated to guide project evaluation. ❏ Support will be provided to each team in developing their evaluation methods and instruments with input from evaluation specialists used as reviewers (ie: peer reviewers) to hone these methods and instruments for implementation. Ashley will take the lead with each team in evaluation and bring in assistance and reviewers as needed, based on speciality, to fine tune instruments and methods for collection. The process of pairing teams with evaluation specialists with appropriate expertise may be expanded whereby assignments to specific teams may occur based on evaluation needs. ❏ Please see Appendix B for documentation on Clarifying Evaluation Goals

4-H Pathways Leadership Institute

Fellow: Andrew Turner, Cornell University Roadmap

Fellow Report: The leadership team for the ECOP 4-H Pathways Institute project began meeting in September to plan a third Level One Pathways Leadership Institute in October, and to begin planning for three Institutes between January and August, 2022. The October Institute session was supported by funding from the National 4-H Council. An in person planning retreat was held on Monday, November 8 in Washington D.C. to create an outline and initial scope for the rst Level Two Institute, a core deliverable of our NTAE funded project. The Level Two Institute will be available only to the 13 Land Grant Universities who have already participated in a Level One session. The Level II sessions will identify opportunities for momentum for each triad (4-H, Extension and University leadership) as they progress along the Pathways Process. It will consist of two half day sessions, separated by a week in which one-on-one coaching will be available. As part of the pre-work, teams will take a self-assessment to identify where they are on the Pathway. The sessions will then consist of speakers from organizations that have successfully pivoted direction, mini cases, and small group discussions on organizations that have overcome barriers to success. Each triad team will also develop an "elevator pitch" designed to create a foundation for communicating the emerging vision and goals to broader stakeholder groups.

Please see Appendix C for the 4-H Pathways Leadership Institute Guidebook Please see Pathways Level Two Application here.

Experience(s) working with your Catalysts and Key Informants: ● Our Catalyst/Team Informants have been extremely helpful. Chuck Hibberd has been participating in our planning sessions, including our full day retreat, asking challenging and helpful questions, and pointing us towards additional support. Significant Results: ● We have completed a third Level One Institute, held on October 27 and 28 via Zoom. This session was supported by funding from the National 4-H Council. The session reached 4-H, Extension, and University leaders from the University of Connecticut, University of Idaho, University of New Hampshire, and University of the Virgin Islands. See attached program outline and schedule. ● We have created an outline and application process for the rst Level Two Pathways Institute and released the applications to the 13 eligible institutions on December 6, 2021. The Level II Institute is scheduled to take place as two half day sessions on February 3rd and 10th 2022.

● We are in the process of identifying and developing 2-3 new in-depth case studies to guide the Level Two sessions. The case studies will be based on real time barriers to change that we have gleaned from focus group conversations with LGU's who have participated in a Level One Institute. ● We have written an article to be reviewed for publication, as part of the national Cooperative Extension effort around engagement and transdisciplinary Extension programming. The article highlights the challenges facing 4-H and positions the Pathways Project as a mechanism for creating sustainable change. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022) ● Goal One - Successfully recruit at least 4 University Level One teams to apply for our rst Level Two experience. Finalize the planning for this session, including developing the nal agenda, speakers and case studies, and conduct the rst Level Two zoom sessions in February, 2022. ● Goal Two - Finalize the dates for two additional Level One sessions between April and August 2022 and recruit an additional 8 LGU Pathways teams to participate. Key Informant Services Reports: Program Design and Educational Technology The Program Design and Educational Technology team did not engage with this project team during the first quarter. Leadership and Leadership Development Two informational sessions on our “Team Effectiveness” services including Google’s Project Aristotle & Team Health survey dashboard. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● If utilized, the initial Team Health Survey dashboard will be sent on December 16, 2021. Digital Publishing and Engagement The Publishing/DE team created and provided to catalysts a publishing/DE readiness rubric, which collected information and assessed the project’s need and readiness for publishing and DE services. Catalyst indicated potential for DE KI services. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022) ● The Fellow(s) may meet with the publishing/DE team and catalysts to share information about the project, what the Fellow hopes to accomplish with publishing/DE, and explore publishing/DE possibilities. If support is required, we will initiate writing and/or DE planning processes.

Marketing and Communications The marketing and communications team did not engage with this project team in the first quarter. Partnership and Development The partnership and development team did not engage with this project team during the first quarter. Evaluation Evaluation KIs have reviewed team documents for an initial assessment of evaluation needs based on submissions. No evaluation support has been requested. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022) ● The Fellow(s) will meet with the Evaluation KIs and catalysts to share info about the project, what the Fellow hopes to accomplish with evaluation, and explore evaluation possibilities. If evaluation support is required we will initiate that process.

An Extension Implementation Toolkit for the Diabetes Prevention Program

Fellow: Vanessa Da Silva, University of Arizona Roadmap

Fellow Report: Team participated in Impact Collaborative in October 2021. Meetings with catalysts Rick and Chuck on Sept 20, Sept 28, Nov 9th Meeting with key informants Ashley and Rose Nov 4th Team meetings Sept 22, Oct 22, Nov 15th

Listening session on Nov 29th with all members of the national Extension DPP working group to learn about what would be helpful to have in a toolkit. Recurring meetings scheduled with catalysts and also with the team only. Joined subgroup on Connect Extension Submitted proposal for a session at NHOC to disseminate our toolkit (and/or help inform it’s development). Created a first draft of an outline for our toolkit and started pulling out a roadmap, both on Google Docs. Experience(s) working with your Catalysts and Key Informants: Rick and Chuck have been great. They are responsive and readily available, and their perspective as former Extension administrators enriches our discussions. It is very helpful to have the perspective of Extension professionals who are not as familiar with the Diabetes Prevention Program, and whose objectivity helps clarify our goals. We've had time to have more in-depth meetings with a few of the key informants and they were supportive and encouraging -- and seemed invested in the success of our project. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● We anticipate fleshing out the outline and starting to create written content for the toolkit. We will ‘divide and conquer’ to accomplish this.

Key Informant Services Reports:

Program Design and Educational Technology The Program Design and Educational Technology team did not engage with this project team

during the first quarter.

Leadership and Leadership Development Two informational sessions on our "Team Effectiveness" services including Google's Project Aristotle & Team Health survey dashboard. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● If utilized, the initial Team Health survey dashboard will be sent on December 16. Digital Publishing and Engagement Members of the Publishing/DE team met with the Diabetes Prevention team during the October 2021 Impact Collaborative. Publishing/DE team created and provided to catalysts a publishing/DE readiness rubric, which collected information and assessed the project’s need and readiness for publishing and DE services. The Fellow - Vanessa da Silva - was sent publishing prompts and other materials about team services, including an invitation to join the Connect Extension group. The Publishing/DE team has reviewed project materials, brainstormed ideas, and has a good understanding of the project. ● Project review and brainstorm by publishing/DE team ● Publishing/DE team has outlined some digital strategy possibilities with Fellow The Fellow has received writing prompts ● Meeting arranged with Fellow/catalysts for Q2 to begin publishing/DE planning Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● The Publishing/DE team will begin interviewing the Fellow and begin the “ghostwriting” process if requested. Will support the Fellow in writing if otherwise. ● Writing begins ● Digital content strategy planning Marketing and Communications Connected with the team twice during this reporting period to begin visualizing their toolkit. Advised the team to begin creating the content that goes into the toolkit and then we will decide on the platform and the design of it at a later date. They have initiated their work on this and it is expected to be completed in January 2022. Additionally, will be supporting other Key Informants in their work such as advertising professional development events in the near future. Significant Results: ● I nitial meeting with the team at the October Impact Collaborative ● Publishing/DE readiness assessed

Also, made a recommendation to this team to think about connecting their project to the National Extension Health framework and consider a model like the EXCITE program or the PSEFMP program. This initiated a conversation with Megan and the discussions are beginning on how to scale the project this way. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● Finalize written copy of toolkit content ● Determine and establish a technology platform for supporting the toolkit ● Advertise professional development events such as Virtual Chats and Webinars Assist with the branding efforts. Partnership and Development The partnership and development team did not engage with this project team in the first quarter. Evaluation Key informants have reviewed team documents and met with this project to identify areas of support. Significant Results: ● Desire to collect data beyond required CDC metrics to build a stronger case for future funding. Interested in collecting data to measure participants’ self-efficacy to implement the program. Could be a potential project to document evidence-informed or evidence-based work. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● Expansion of data collection plan.

National Extension Climate Action Team

Fellow: Betsy Newman, Utah State University Roadmap

Fellow Report: During this reporting period, members of the National Extension Climate Action Team: ● Supported and contributed to the Extension Foundation Proposal to NOAA for "Climate Smart Communities" ● Serve on and contribute to ECOP Climate PAT/PITs ● Provided feedback to the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities (APLLU) on addressing climate change at its annual conference ● Served on the search committee for the newly hired Extension Foundation Climate and Partnership Coordinator and helped promote the position throughout each of their networks hosted three (Sept. Oct. Nov.) national professional development meetings virtually through the monthly National Extension Climate Initiative (NECI) meetings ● Continue to promote and encourage NECI members to register their Extension programs and assets in the National Registry of Cooperative Extension Programs and Assets ● Increased NECI membership from less than 150 in April 2021 to more than 600 people today -relationship development and cultivation with federal agencies, partners ● Improvements to NECI website and work ow ● Hosted a virtual climate session, "Climate Change in Extension: Priority Actions, Federal Steps Taken, and Prioritizing" with the expert assistance and leadership of Megan Hirschman, Jason Henderson, and Chuck Ross. This was to have taken place in person at the 2021 National Extension Energy and National Sustainability Summit but due to COVID was reworked for a virtual session -ongoing vetting, curation, and posting of climate resources ot the NECI website developed and conducted surveys and polls with NECI membership on their preferences for professional development and monthly "engagement" meeting (formerly referred to as "membership" meetings) ● Reported out the survey and poll results along with the memberships' preferences for: one professional development webinar each month (recorded and posted to the NECI website); one "engagement" meeting each month (not recorded-a safe, condential space for discussion) ● Began drafting NECI's operating policies (protocols) for terms of service, communications,and work.

National Extension Climate Initiative website:

● Monthly meetings web page updated to include “professional development,” “engagement,” and “steering committee,” meeting details click here.

● Vetted and curated list of resources on the new “Resources” page on the NECI website click here.

Experience(s) working with your Catalysts and Key Informants: It has been a pleasure to work with Chuck Ross and Fred Schlutt. Their steady guidance, wisdom, and breadth of knowledge have been and will continue to be invaluable as we continue to build upon this work together. Significant Results: ● The combined work of this team, ECOP's Climate PAT, Extension Foundation, and NECI have led to elevate Extension's work in climate change and generated agencies reaching out to Extension for assistance drafting ways in which to move climate action, adaptation, education, and mitigation forward in the U.S. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● Hire a 0.50 FTE post-doc to serve as a climate coordinator to help develop and implement work ow protocols and provide overall coordination of our many moving parts ● Plan and launch communications plans to increase NECI membership, inform and educate members on work occurring nationally, increase National Extension Registry entries ● Support planning efforts for the 2022 National Extension Energy and National Sustainability Summits (NEES+NSS) being held in Pennsylvania in May 2022. ● Schedule presenters for the 2022 NECI Professional Development Webinars and host the webinars -monthly engagement meetings to be held on the third Wednesday of each month

Key Informant Services Reports:

Program Design and Educational Technology Helped plan and implement 2 stakeholder engagements, one of which was during this reporting period on November 2, 2021. Significant Results: ● Nov 2, 2021: 24 participants, created three Priority Action Team focussed on Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems, Climate-Resilient Communities, and Ecosystem services to attend the January 2022 Impact Collaborative Summit. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● PIT teams to attend January 2022 Impact Collaborative Summit.

Leadership and Leadership Development Two informational sessions on our “Team Effectiveness” services including Google’s Project Aristotle & Team Health survey dashboard.

Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● If utilized, the initial Team Health Survey dashboard will be sent on December 16, 2021.

Digital Publishing and Engagement The Publishing/DE team did not engage with this project team during the first quarter.

Marketing and Communications Met with this team briey for some training on better using Connect Extension

Significant Results: ● Subgroup increased to over 300 participants through partnering with the Foundation to deliver their content via the Connect Extension Weekly Digest. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● Public Relations Training for this team. Partnership and Development The ECOP Program Committee's Program Action Team on Climate led by Jason Henderson, Purdue University, has developed three Priority Areas to implement in the next 6-12 months. Each team will initially meet monthly to: 1. Identify Extension programs that are ready to be scaled up nationally 2. Serve as Extension’s partnering group regarding national climate initiatives according to priority . 3. Develop letters of intent for national program grants. 4. Provide content for the PAT on Climate to further develop the advocacy toolkit for climate, mitigation, resiliency, and adaptation. Extension Directors and Administrators are asked to consider volunteering a faculty member or educator to participate on one of the following Priority Area Implementation Teams: ● Climate-Smart Agriculture – Cooperative Extension can support the adaptation, mitigation, and resilience of U.S. agriculture to climate change. Helping farmers, ranchers and landowners develop and adopt climate-sensitive practices on working lands will improve the profitability and sustainability of plant and animal systems in rural and urban environments. These practices will maintain adequate and safe food systems as supply chains strain under shifting climate conditions.

● Climate-Resilient Communities – Cooperative Extension can work with rural and urban communities to develop climate sensitive community plans to support the adaptation, mitigation, and resilience of communities to climate change. In addition, these plans would also focus on supporting communities as they develop risk management plans surrounding natural disasters – fires, floods, rising temperatures, and increased incidence of extreme weather events. ● Ecosystem Services – Cooperative Extension supports the protection and preservation of natural areas and resources amid changing climates. Translational research and Extension programs focused on adaptation, mitigation and resilience can help reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and forest production. In addition, climate sensitive management practices for our forests, waterways, and other natural habitats can reduce the negative impacts of climate change.

Please see Appendix D for NEES NSS Agenda

Significant Results: ● In addition to working with the Climate PAT. We have been engaged with the National Extension Climate Initiative. NECI was instrumental in planning the National Sustainability Summit planned for this Fall. Due to COVID-19 risks, the Summit has been rescheduled for May 15-18, 2022. ● The 2022 National Extension Energy Summit & National Sustainability Summit is a joint effort of the National Extension Energy Initiative (NEEI), ● National Network for Sustainable Living Education (NNSLE), and ● National Extension Climate Initiative (NECI). Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● Hiring Climate Partnership and Development Assistant. Further rening the specific outputs for the Climate PAT. Support at least one NECI team to attend the January Impact Collaborative Summit. Evaluation Evaluation KIs have reviewed team documents for an initial assessment of evaluation needs based on submissions. No evaluation support has been requested. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● The Fellow(s) will meet with the Evaluation KIs and catalysts to share info about the project, what the Fellow hopes to accomplish with evaluation, and explore evaluation possibilities. If evaluation support is required we will initiate that process.

New American Farmer

Fellow: Jeff Young, University of Kentucky Roadmap

Fellow Report: In addition to regular meetings with our project catalysts Chuck Hibberd and Dyremple Marsh, the project focus continues to intersect with urban agriculture work going in other parts of Extension. Drew Carson from UDC shared his project proposal with the Southern Region NUEL Urban Agriculture Quarterly Zoom on November 19th and Molly Immendorf worked with us to host a "virtual chat" on November 30. Link to the virtual chat can be accessed here. Experience(s) working with your Catalysts and Key Informants: Our catalysts are great. They are always positive and supportive while also challenging us with new ideas and ways of thinking about issues. Significant results: ● The Southern Region NUEL Zoom had an audience of 28 agents and educators. ● The Virtual Chat had 19 participants. Link to feedback here. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● The most important task for next quarter will be to recruit and hire a student to begin the research and writing process. ● Outcomes include a Literature Review, journal articles, eFieldbook.

Key Informant Services Reports:

Program Design and Educational Technology Supported the design and implementation of a Connect Extension Virtual Chat with this team with the objective of learning about similar programs across CES. Chat called "Teaching Urbanites Farming" was held on November 30th. Significant results: ● 19 participants from 9 institutions representing 4 ECOP regions. End of chat survey results (n=5): 100% agreed or strongly agreed that the chat was relevant and/or provided

valuable information for my work in Extension education. biggest takeaways included: ideas and resources shared, more work to do. Leadership and Leadership Development Two informational sessions on our “Team Effectiveness” services including Google’s Project Aristotle & Team Health survey dashboard. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● If utilized, the initial Team Health Survey dashboard will be sent on December 16, 2021. Digital Publishing and Engagement The Publishing/DE team created and provided to catalysts a publishing/DE readiness rubric, which collected information and assessed the project’s need and readiness for publishing and DE services Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● The Fellow may meet with the publishing/DE team and catalysts to share info about the project, what the Fellow hopes to accomplish with publishing/DE, and explore publishing/DE possibilities. If publishing/DE support is needed, we would share writing prompts with Fellow and determine support level required. Marketing and Communications It is the marketing and communications teams’ understanding that this project will discontinue being an NTAE project for 2022. I connected with Jeffrey about his virtual chat and recruiting participants for it. We leveraged the Extension Foundation CRM database to segment a list of potential interested CES professionals to participate in the virtual chat and ran an advertising campaign targeted at those individuals. Significant results: ● Given the target audience was fairly small, the attendance at the Virtual Chat was approximately 19 people and higher than what the Fellow expected. A transcript of the chat is available at https://connect.extension.org/chat-event/virtual-chat-teaching-urbanites-how-to-gro w-food Partnership and Development The partnership and development team did not engage with this project team during the first quarter.

Evaluation Evaluation KIs have reviewed team documents for an initial assessment of evaluation needs based on submissions. No evaluation support has been requested. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● The Fellow(s) will meet with the Evaluation KIs and catalysts to share info about the project, what the Fellow hopes to accomplish with evaluation, and explore evaluation possibilities. If evaluation support is required we will initiate that process

NUEL Capacity Building Team

Fellow: Marie Ruemenapp, Michigan State University Roadmap

Fellow Report: Created a job description for the Fellow. Posted, interviewed and hired Fellow. Contract with Iowa State is done or about to be done. Fellow starting December 1. Completed contract with MSU for graduate students to support fellow, NUEL and urban ag and food systems PAT. Several students with different skills have been hired at MSU National Charrette Institute, where Marie is housed, to work with the Fellow, NUEL and PAT but no hours have been worked since the Fellow hasn't started and major work has not begun.

The new Fellow is Cayla Taylor, Program Development Manager, Iowa 4-H Youth Development at Iowa State University.

Experience(s) working with your Catalysts and Key Informants: Catalyst has been very helpful. Support from Extension Foundation staff has been excellent. Haven't really begun work with Key Informants because just getting fellow on board. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● Completion and beginning steps toward implementation of communication plan for NUEL. ● Connections to Extension Foundation Key Informants to support work

Key Informant Services Reports

Program Design and Educational Technology I helped plan and host two stakeholder meetings to set priorities and determine PIT focus team areas.

Significant Results: ● Oct 15, 2021 Stakeholder meeting 19 participants. ● Nov 5, 2021 Stakeholder meeting 24 participants.

Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022):

● Continue to plan for PIT teams

Leadership and Leadership Development Two informational sessions on our “Team Effectiveness” services including Google’s Project Aristotle & Team Health survey dashboard.

Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022): ● If utilized, the initial Team Health Survey dashboard will be sent on December 16, 2021.

Digital Publishing and Engagement The Publishing/DE team did not engage with this project team during the first quarter.

Marketing and Communications The marketing and communications team did not engage with this project team during the first quarter. Partnership and Development ECOP Program Committee Urban Program Action Team Update - The ECOP Urban Program Action Team, led by Dr. Brent Hales, Penn State, is in the process of inviting Directors, Specialists and Partners to be part of the Urban Extension Program Action Team. In the next two months the PAT will host a series of priority-setting meetings. Once priorities have been identified Implementation Teams will coalesce around the top few, and develop next steps. The Urban PAT will also be closely linked with other PATs including Climate; Workforce and Economic Development; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; 4-H Positive Youth Development and Health. The Urban PAT, in partnership with NUEL, is also in the process of hiring a National Urban Extension Leaders Communications & Capacity Building Fellow. This Fellowship will help support work moving forward, and engage new partners for the system. Call for nominations: Implementation Teams, sub-committees of the Action Team are Extension faculty and specialists from across the nation with the task of identifying Extension programs that are ready to be scaled up and funded at the national level. The Implementation Teams would serve as Extension’s partnering group regarding national urban initiatives for their theme. The implementation team would also be responsible for developing letters of intent or submitting large grants on behalf of ECOP. A second task of the Priority Implementation Team would be to provide content to further develop the advocacy toolkit for urban programs. Initially, these teams would meet monthly. If a faculty and/or staff member is interested in being involved in an Implementation Team, please send contact information to Caroline Henney.

Evaluation Evaluation KIs have reviewed team documents for an initial assessment of evaluation needs based on submissions. No evaluation support has been requested. Anticipated work for the next reporting period (December 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022) ● The Fellow(s) will meet with the Evaluation KIs and catalysts to share info about the project, what the Fellow hopes to accomplish with evaluation, and explore evaluation possibilities. If evaluation support is required we will initiate that process.

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72-73 Page 74-75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78-79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Page 143 Page 144 Page 145 Page 146 Page 147 Page 148-149 Page 150-151 Page 152-153 Page 154-155 Page 156-157 Page 158-159 Page 160-161 Page 162-163 Page 164-165 Page 166-167 Page 168-169 Page 170-171 Page 172 Page 173 Page 174-175 Page 176 Page 177 Page 178 Page 179 Page 180 Page 181 Page 182 Page 183 Page 184 Page 185 Page 186 Page 187 Page 188 Page 189 Page 190 Page 191 Page 192 Page 193 Page 194 Page 195 Page 196 Page 197 Page 198 Page 199 Page 200 Page 201 Page 202 Page 203 Page 204 Page 205

impact.extension.org