Newsletter

OSU Extension has received one of nine Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The grants are meant to address the needs of rural Americans through individual and family health education programs delivered through Cooperative Extension. For FY18, the awards are focusing on the prevention and reduction of opioid misuse and abuse in rural areas. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
The National Urban Extension Leaders are proud to present the 2019 National Urban Extension conference, hosted by Washington State University Extension - located in the heart of Downtown Seattle, Washington. Prior to registering, you can review your conference options on the website - here you can find up to date information on all 10 different Wednesday afternoon mobile learning workshops, and two featured Friday Field Experiences. Sourced from: NUEC
There's no doubt urban green spaces are more pleasing to the eye than trash-strewn vacant lots that have been sitting in various stages of neglect for who knows how long. But can transforming scattered patches of urban blight into green spaces also help to alleviate the blues? A new study conducted in Philadelphia — a city with no shortage of abandoned buildings and vacant lots, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods — finds that green space is just what the doctor ordered. Follow this link to learn more. Sourced from: Mother Nature Network
In large cities, the urban heat island effect results in annual average temperatures that can range from 1.8 to 5.4 degrees higher than the surrounding areas; at night, cities can be up to 22 degrees hotter. This happens because cities are landscapes of asphalt and have buildings of concrete and steel that stretch into the skies. These materials absorb heat, hold it during the day and release it when the sun goes down. Urban traffic congestion aggravates this problem as carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles trap heat. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Governing
Mary Burke Rivers is the executive director of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing (OTRCH), a nonprofit organization that develops and manages resident-centered affordable housing and aims to build inclusive community and benefit low-income residents. For three decades, Rivers has been at the center of the discussions about housing in Cincinnati, constantly advocating for making clean, safe housing available to everyone. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Community Commons
The newly formed Association of Public Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) provides opportunities for collaboration between Cooperative Extension and CECE member institutions, both land-grant and public. On December 7, 2018, Sheila Martin, Vice President for Economic Development and Community Engagement, met online with over 20 Extension Directors and Administrators. ECOP Executive Committee member Scott Reed of Oregon State University moderated a discussion of Extension leaders discussing their engagement experiences, unique to each institution. Follow this link to view the PowerPoint presentation. Follow this link to view the YouTube version of the recording. Sourced from: ECOP
MetroLab Network and Smart Cities Lab are designing a research and action competition in the smart and connected communities domain with support from the National Science Foundation. The first phase of the Civic Innovation Challenge is the Ideas Competition, which asks you — researchers, government employees, nonprofits, residents — to identify challenges and priorities in your cities and communities that can benefit from technical exploration, scientific discovery, and new approaches. Informational webinars will be held on December 7, December 20, January 8, and January 15. Submissions for Idea Competition are due January 31, 2019 Follow this link to learn more, sign up for a webinar, and to see submission guidelines.  
Ohio State and multiple community partners have come together to build a garden and community space on previously vacant land in Lima, Ohio. The South Jackson Community Garden Project grew out of an OSU Connect and Collaborate Grant to reuse vacant land within the city to design and build a model urban garden and community space for food and health-related entrepreneurial activities. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from The Ohio State University Lima and OnCampus.
The 2018 midterm elections affirmed that the deep geographic divides within the United States are here to stay. There are real economic challenges confronting small towns, many of which struggle to add jobs and retain population in today’s knowledge-driven economy. But it would be a mistake to enact policy solutions to save rural America at the expense of cities. Follow this link to read more about why cities matter to rural communities. Sourced from Brookings
Young people are key players leading community change to achieve greater results. Directors and administrators are invited to join co-hosts from the Well Connected Communities initiative on December 11, 2018 at 3 p.m. EST, to learn how communities across the country are forming youth-adult partnerships to facilitate innovative ideas to improve health and advance equity. During this webinar youth and field experts will share ways in which young people are informing decisions and taking action. Follow this link to register.  Sourced from: The Extension Committee on Organization and Policy 

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