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Marion County Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences received a 2020 Community Engagement Program Award from the Office of Outreach and Engagement. “Heal, Repair, Restore” is a case study and story of land reuse and community empowerment. Here is an excerpt: "Some of our most cherished sustainable farming practices have roots in African wisdom. Yet, discrimination against African-American farmers has led to their decline from 14 percent of all growers in 1920 to less than two percent today, with a corresponding loss of over 14 million acres of land. Further, black communities suffer disproportionately from illnesses related to lack of access to healthy food. Marion County possesses no special immunity in this regard." Follow this link to learn more. Sourced from: The Ohio State University
When the 2020 census results are released next year, they will show that America’s population is more racially diverse than ever before, with four out of every 10 residents projected to identify as a non-white racial group. Yet, in the average neighborhood where white residents live, racial diversity will be far less common. Moreover, most black and Latino or Hispanic residents will continue to live in neighborhoods where whites represent a much more modest presence than in their larger community. These likely outcomes of the national headcount are based on an analysis of the 2014 to 2018 American Community Survey (ACS) data released at the end of last year. They show continued broad variation in black and Latino or Hispanic segregation across the country. Yet even in the most racially diverse metropolitan areas, white, black, and Latino or Hispanic residents still live in areas that are not reflective of their entire region’s racial and ethnic diversity. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Brookings
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will offer a new opportunity to those interested in growing urban and rural produce in the Greater Cincinnati area to apply for financial and technical assistance for high tunnel systems, commonly referred to as hoop houses. Imagine the delicious taste of baby spinach freshly harvested from your own garden, in Cincinnati, all winter long. Impossible, right? Not anymore. High tunnels make growing vegetables possible long after the first frost. A high tunnel sits over top of the garden. Arch shaped aluminum poles support removable heavy plastic sheets that trap heat from the sun, warming the air. Most have a peak height that allows an adult to stand easily with room to spare. They look similar to greenhouses except plants grow in the ground instead of in pots. Follow this link to learn more. Sourced from: Morning Ag Clips
At first blush, it seems like the coronavirus pandemic is shutting down the economy everywhere, equally, with frightening force and totality. In many respects, that’s true: Across the country, consumer spending, which supports 70% of the economy—is crashing in community after community, as people avoid stores, restaurants, movie theaters, offices, and other public places. Already, the layoffs have begun, with reports coming in from both big cities including Seattle and Atlanta as well as small heartland towns. But as recession forecasts proliferate, it’s not necessarily true that all areas will be hit equally hard. In a huge nation made up of diverse places and varied local economies, a look at the geography of highly exposed industries makes clear that the economic toll of any coming recession will hit different regions in disparate, uneven ways. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Brookings
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, so does misinformation — thwarting efforts to control the disease and risking lives. In this webinar, Dr. Claire Wardle, a leading expert on content verification, will outline the global trends around information flows and the coronavirus. What misinformation is spreading? How is accurate information being shared? How are newsrooms, health authorities, platforms and businesses responding? During this unprecedented emergency, are we prepared for the impact of rumors and falsehoods that could have serious consequences? Together, we'll discuss whether we are prepared during this unprecedented emergency for the impact of rumors and falsehoods that could have serious consequences. The Webinar is being held Thursday, March 19, 2020 from 2-3 p.m. ET. Follow this link to RSVP. Follow this link to join the webinar. Sourced from: The Aspen Institute
Join Forward Cities for a chat on the art of facilitating conversations that lead with an inclusive lens and help move communities to action through a more well-informed dialogue. With social distancing in full effect as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more critical than ever to ensure all perspectives are honored, voices are heard, and buy-in is had. The webinar will be hosted by Forward Cities' Senior Director of Learning Networks, Brett Brenton. Featured panelists include Forward Cities' Director of Talent Development, Shayla Herndon-Edmunds, Jamey Stowell of Delta Leadership, Inc. and Forward Cities' Local Directors Kim Louis (New Kensington, PA) and Gabriel Muñoz (Kansas City). The webinar is being held on March 31, 2020 at 1 p.m. ET Follow this link to learn more. Sourced from: Forward Cities
Anchor institutions are entities that are important, long-term fixtures in a community and take some responsibility for that community's successful development. They are usually non-profit organizations - such as universities, hospitals, and school systems - but may consist of large corporations, government centers, military bases, or sports teams. We should care about anchor institutions and their role in health because of the power and responsibility they carry. Anchors control large amounts of community capital and can influence the kind of employment options available, the quality of foods that are offered to students and employees, what medical care benefits are provided, or the reach of public transportation. Follow this link to learn more. Sourced from: Community Commons
OSU Extension is offering a paid internship this summer in some of our urban counties. Through this internship, interns work closely with local OSU Extension educators as they teach classes, work with volunteers and make a difference in the community. Interns will learn how to use their education to make a difference in people’s lives and realize what they are learning in college can have an impact on some of the most pressing issues facing Ohioans. This year the internship is being offered in the following counties: Cuyahoga, Lucas, Mahoning, Stark, Putnam, Wayne, Columbiana, Portage, Greene, Ross, Fairfield, Washington, and Pike. If you know of an interested student, please encourage them to complete an application. Follow this link to learn more. Sourced from: Learning and Organizational Development
The Subcommittee on Agriculture – Committee on Appropriations is circulating a letter to food and agriculture organizations to thank them for their work to support a vibrant and sustainable food and farm system and to request sign-on signatures. The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 authorized the creation of an Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (Sec. 12302) and an urban agriculture data collection initiative (Sec. 7212(b)); a critical first step in serving this growing sector of the U.S. agricultural economy. For Fiscal Year 2020 the Office was funded at $5 million. For the Fiscal Year 2021 agriculture appropriations bill, it is recommended to include $25 million to continue the work of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production and related activities and $10 million for the urban agriculture data collection initiative. Follow this link for more information on the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. Sourced from: USDA
Monday morning, assistant director Derickson kicked off Ohio Agriculture Week during a visit to 80 Acres Farms, a state-of-the-art, tech-centric indoor farm that’s housed entirely inside a Cincinnati-area warehouse. 80 Acres Farms is a 100 percent pesticide free, eco-friendly farm that delivers fresh produce to grocery stores across Ohio. “As a dairy farmer in Butler County for many years, I have a sincere appreciation for Ohio agriculture,” said Derickson. “This week recognizes and celebrate the many contributions that Ohio’s agriculture communities make to enhance the quality of life not only in our state, but throughout the country.” Assistant Director Derickson will continue to celebrate Ohio Agriculture Week with more than a dozen events across Ohio in the coming days, including a stop at Jones Fish Hatchery, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jones Fish is a family owned, industry leader in aquatic resource management, pond aeration, and Midwestern gamefish stocking. Jones has six locations across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and northern Tennessee. Follow this link to learn more. Sourced from: Morning Ag Clips.

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