By Andi Anderson
Illinois Extension's 2024-2025 Collaboration Grant Program has unveiled seven dynamic projects aimed at tackling pressing issues across Illinois. These two-year endeavors unite campus faculty and Extension field staff, pooling efforts to address crucial aspects of community, economy, environment, food, and health.
Shelly Nickols-Richardson, the associate dean and director of University of Illinois Extension, emphasizes these grants' significance in propelling change-oriented solutions. Each team, granted $50,000, is tasked with converting university research into impactful educational programs disseminated across the state by Extension's expansive network.
The selected projects promise innovative solutions:
- Farmer Collaboration Networks for Crop Resilience: Developing strategies for flood-prone fields using precision agriculture.
- Agricultural Supply Chain Mapping: Understanding trade flows for better decision-making in agri-food supply chains.
- Building Microclimate Networks: Empowering communities with climate data to combat climate change.
- Camine Con Su Communidad: Enhancing Latina women's health through community walking programs.
- Youth Participatory Action Research Playbook: Empowering youth to lead in research and decision-making processes.
- Rainbow Extension 4.0: Promoting LGBTQ+ inclusivity through specialized Extension training.
- Smartphones, Smart Families: Examining technology's impact on family well-being and policy-making.
These initiatives align closely with Extension's core challenges and address diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging issues. The expected outcomes aim to revolutionize program areas and, most significantly, positively impact Illinois residents' lives.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-anna-tarazevich
Categories: Illinois, Education