In an effort to reinvigorate a national discussion and move toward a more sustainable and integrated approach to urban Extension, National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) identified the following action teams to advance a national urban Extension network.
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Advocacy and Engagement Action Team: Focuses on recruitment and engagement of Extension personnel working in urban areas throughout NUEL: supports engagement through Regional Caucuses; helps to populate the Action Teams and supports connectivity to professional associations. The team maintains a database of membership; provides for the Orientation for new Steering Committee members as well as those attending semi-annual NUEL meetings. This team also provides leadership to the National Urban Extension Award process, selection and presentation of honoree.
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Communications Action Team: Develops marketing materials for internal and external communications. This action team creates tools to regularly communicate with NUEL membership and particularly those involved in the regional caucuses, actively maintains the NUEL Website and supports the needs of NUEL Action Teams related to priority tasks. The Communications Action Team also takes the leadership for the recruitment of urban success stories for the Land Grant Database.
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National Urban Extension Conference Action Team: Ensure a robust and successful national conference by acting as the liaison between NUEL, Regional Caucuses and the National Conference Planning Committee established by the host. This team represents NUEL interests and priorities in the national conference planning process; taking leadership for organization of NUEL activities/events at NUEC including: opening reception, admin track, keynote speakers, regional caucus meetings, presentation of NUEL award and invite to subsequent NUEC.
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Partnerships Action Team: Explore and build new internal and external connections that help strategically advance the urban extension agenda and/or help facilitate annual priorities for the organization. The action team believes relationship building yields common understanding and provides a basis for collective exploration, potential funding, resources, and is fundamental to all partnerships.
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Professional Development Action Team: Purpose is to enhance professional growth of urban Extension employees. The team works to develop successful systems for recruiting, hiring, and onboarding urban Extension personnel; and, to develop successful systems for formal and informal training and updating urban Extension personnel. The team aligns with the National Framework as it explores how Extension attracts, develops, retains, and structures competent talent.
For a complete picture of our call to action, please review our report, A National Framework for Urban Extension, which has been accepted and approved by the CES Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) in 2015.