Progress 01/01/23 to 12/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The NAEPSDP conference grant addressed the goals of the USDA AFRI Rural Economic Development Program Area (A1661) focusing on improving Extension programming by providing resources and learning opportunities about intercultural competence, grassroots engagement, and social justice. The 264 members of the National Association of Extension Program and Staff Development Professionals (NAEPSDP) association represent the primary target audience of this conference grant project.NAEPSDP members are generally Extension faculty/staff who are in administrative roles and provide support and training to Extension specialists and educators at their Land Grant Universities (LGU) via staff/professional development (program planning and development, instructional design, program evaluation, needs assessment, reporting, leadership, onboarding/orientation, marketing/communication, and technology). NAEPSDP members who attended the 2022 annual conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, took part in grant activities. Ongoing activities after the conference included two webinars open to NAEPSDP members and other interested Extension personnel.As a result of these experiences, conference and webinar attendees applied their new knowledge and skills at their LGUs in 2023, extendingthe reach to secondary audiences of the Extension personnel who delivered programs to the public and the Extension program participants who benefited. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The overarching purpose of the project was professional development. The activities helped the project leads (who are both NAEPSDP members) and all the NAEPSDP members grow personally and professionally in multicultural awareness, understanding, and application for Extension, their LGU, and the Extension program participants who are the ultimate beneficiaries of all of these efforts. The project leads participatedright alongside the Association membership at the conference, webinars, readthe Grassroots Engagement textbook and completedthe IDI® survey. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The Multicultural Task Force presented a report to the NAEPSDP Board for future actions and activities. Results of the research project were presented at the 2023 Conference held in Salt Lake City. A journal article is planned for future submission to the Journal of Extension. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The conference provided a vibrant platform with 11 posters and 34 concurrent presentations participants shared cutting-edge research and practical applications. Diversity of topics - from sustainable agriculture to youth development - reflected the breadth of Extension. Colleagues came together to connect, learn, and collaborate. Networking opportunities encouraged attendees to share experiences, challenges, and success stories.Attendees explored collaborations. A total of 11 roundtable discussions connected colleagues with similar interests. Whether discussing joint programming, research initiatives, or grant opportunities, participants recognized that impactful work often emerges from collective efforts.Workshops delved into strategies for creating inclusive environments, understanding diverse perspectives, and addressing systemic inequities. Attendees honed skills and committed to fostering and integrating cultural relevance into their Extension work. Attendees responded to post (n=38), 3-month (n=19), and 9-month (n=25) surveys for these results. Gain knowledge/develop skills Attendees increased awareness of multicultural information via workshops (IDI® 82%, Grassroots Engagement 80%), increased knowledge of intercultural competence from before to after (IDI® 79% to 93%, Grassroots Engagement 73% to 83%), and learned new multicultural skills (IDI® 57%, Grassroots Engagement 52%). Aspirations for culturally relevant activities Attendees were inspired and expressed a desire to create and deliver culturally relevant activities. Inspired by success stories shared by peers, they envisioned workshops, community dialogues, and outreach events that celebrated diversity and promoted social justice. On post-surveys, they planned to adopt something learned (IDI® 75%, Grassroots Engagement 52%). They had intentions to apply learning/skills to their role: For the IDI®: a commitment to applying this to their work/team, promotion of intercultural competence as staff coordinator, using information/resources for training, and encouraging IDI® use at the LGU. Via Grassroots Engagement: engaging with and learning more about intercultural competence, collaborating and networking to encourage colleagues to engage and share resources within the LGU, sharing information and facilitating learning, and starting book club initiatives. Tangible changes were evident at 3 months, they: Reviewed IDI® results (84%) and applied new information in their role (68%) including openness to asking questions, focusing on historical barriers, engaging in discussion groups, and inclusive communication in social media. Half (44%) adopted a new practice (e.g., awareness and reflection, and commitment to learning and growth). Read Grassroots Engagement (19%), applied its principles to their work (38%), and adopted new practices (25%) including training for staff to tailor culturally relevant programs to audiences, having an open mind about other people, reviewing onboarding/welcome to Extension presentations, and initiating conversations on new approaches to bringing DEI to our work. At 9-months, impacts endured, as they: Read Grassroots Engagement (57%) and deepened their understanding of multicultural concepts (50%): it opened my eyes to the complicated and disappointing history, and Extension's institutional history and context can challenge doing sound multicultural work, but it can be done. Successes were hosting inclusive community events, collaborating with local cultural organizations, and adapting programs to better serve diverse audiences. Reviewed IDI® Individual Profile Report (83%) and Intercultural Development Plan (65%) expressing their: commitment to personal growth, cultural competency, and inclusivity, active listening for diverse perspectives, broadening understanding of different cultures, and participating in activities promoting racial understanding. They connected with IDI® accountability partners (26%) via in-depth discussions about IDI® results with colleagues, meetings to check progress, and discussions about Intercultural Development Plans. Adopted IDI® practices (72%) adapting cultural training for faculty/staff, committing to learning experiences of those with disabilities addressing language sensitivity and promoting accessibility, asking questions to explore diverse perspectives in working with teams, taking a strategic approach to meet people at different points on the IDI® continuum, and modeling alternative behaviors in response to polarization. Shared benefits realized from actions: better understanding of themselves and the world, a sense of calm in strategically engaging with others on the cultural continuum, appreciation for continuous learning and growth, increased awareness, encouraging open-minded thinking and fostering respectful conversations with colleagues, and emphasizing the importance to consider multiple perspectives/needs when designing programs. Collaborative/multistate activities Attendees explored multistate programs, brainstormed joint initiatives, and exchanged contact information. Collaboration was evident for future collaboration/multistate projects (post-survey 68%, 3 months 50%). At 9 months, they had started collaborative projects or would like to (52%). Multistate projects were: working with two other states on supporting Navigating Difference, coordinating a state team of three landgrants for Coming Together for Racial Understanding, and cooperating with other civil rights compliance officers to develop training to support best practices which are foundations for diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice efforts. Impacts Attendees shared actions taken for themselves: I thought about how I can include what I learned in my Extension work (86%), I thought about how I can include what I learned in my interactions with others (86%), I sought out additional multicultural resources or learning opportunities (71%), I set a goal to more effectively navigate cultural differences and commonalities (62%). Actions for their Extension colleagues were: shared multicultural information learned (85%), shared multicultural skills learned (61%), shared Grassroots Engagement (50%), encouraged/taught them to incorporate multicultural information in programs they provide for the public (44%). They reported improvements from adopted multicultural information/strategies: communication (62%), relationships (62%), and connections (57%) including having positive impacts on personal and professional lives as they deepen their understanding of others' cultural identities, increasing consideration for diverse perspectives leading to new connections and discussions with colleagues about DEI topics, fostering trust and positioning them as a listening ear, ally, and advocate, creating more inclusive public spaces and resources, acknowledging and respecting cultural differences, and collaboration with other LGUs on programs for broader commitment to DEI initiatives. For impacts realized at their LGU, they indicated none/did not know (53%), revised/updated Extension curriculum and resources (37%), changed Extension program delivery (11%), added new programming, or increased participation of under-served/underrepresented groups (5%). NAEPSDP's conference was not just an event; it was a catalyst for lasting change. Attendees transformed mindsets, challenged biases, and championed cultural relevance. Extension curricula evolved, reflecting newfound insights. Programs became more inclusive, reaching underserved populations. Goals were achieved by fostering connections, imparting knowledge, and inspiring action. They left the conference with a commitment to cultural relevance, ready to create positive change in their communities, acknowledging Extension plays a vital role in building a more equitable and interconnected world. The conference will be shaping Extension work for years to come.

Publications