Tuskegee Public Dialogue team earns two awards at eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Summit
For Immediate Release
November 16th, 2018
Contact: Aaron Weibe, aaronweibe@extension.org
Indianapolis, IN. A team from Tuskegee University participated in eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Summit from October 16th – 18th in Indianapolis, IN. The Summit united design thinkers from the Cooperative Extension System and partners from organizations confronting the most pressing challenges of our time to shape positive futures for communities. Three days of co-creating, hands-on learning, and collaborative conversations sparked innovation and creative implementation planning in over 30 projects designed for local community impacts. Summit teams, which included Extension professionals and partners, along with diverse partners from regional and national organizations and businesses explored the processes and practices that enable co-creative approaches to the challenges and opportunities in our communities.
The Tuskegee Public Dialogue team included Marquess James, Lindsey Lunsford, Sheila De-heer, and Danielle Smith. Their project focuses on racial equity in the food system through amplifying the voices of those most affected.
At the end of the three-day Summit, teams participated in a “PitchFest” where they each presented the advancements on their projects and the important next steps and investments needed to move forward. The PitchFest was judged by external partners/investors, Extension leaders, and peer co-creators.
As a result of the PitchFest, the Tuskegee Public Dialogue team earned two awards: Top Score and Most Fundable. These awards have earned the team a trip to the 2019 Impact Collaborative Summit, recognition within the Cooperative Extension System nationally, and strategic support from the eXtension Partner Development team to advance their project and design funding over the next three months.
To learn more about eXtension’s Impact Collaborative and how it is helping Cooperative Extension professionals make a more visible, measurable, local impact – visit us online at eXtension.org.