Climate, Water, And Equity Workshop Promises to bring together Extension professionals from across the region

The North Central Region Water Network team is excited to announce the upcoming Climate, Water, and Equity Workshop, set to take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota from October 9-11, 2024. This in-person workshop will be held directly ahead of the First American Land-Grant Consortium Annual Conference, hosted from October 10-13, 2024, at the same venue. 

The event is a collaboration between the Network, The First American Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON), Extension Foundation and partners at Central State University, Lincoln University, University of Minnesota, MU Extension, Nebraska Indian Community College, OSU Extension, and UW-Madison Extension. It will build upon the work of the 2023 Climate, Water Equity, and Opportunity Workshop by focusing on relationship development, program, and perspective sharing, and drafting a culturally grounded action plan for increasing coordinated climate and water-related extension, outreach, and research to positively impact BIPOC and underserved communities. Participants will also work on drafting a proposal for additional funding to support the implementation of the action plan.

The workshop will bring together a broad range of land-grant professionals from across the North Central Region, including extension professionals working with local communities in areas related to climate, water, agriculture, and food systems. Research- and teaching-focused land-grant professionals working on water quality, nutrient management, soil health, food systems, and creating resilient agricultural systems will also be key participants and presenters. This diverse group will provide a holistic view of the strengths and limitations of land-grant work and explore ways to enhance collaboration and increase the impact of our collective work.

The event will start with a half-day on Wednesday, October 9th where the group will review the recommendations that were generated at the 2023 workshop and hear about current extension multi-state work that is climate-related and how these efforts are being sustained. The second day of the workshop, Thursday October 10th, is a full-day and will largely be dedicated to creating a culturally grounded action plan. Annie Jones, UW-Madison Professor, Tribal Nations specialist, and extension leader, will be leading the facilitation process and will use the medicine wheel as the framework for the action-planning process. Friday October 11th will be a half-day and will have time for the group to refine the action plan(s) created, clarify roles, and begin working on funding proposals that focus on implementation. All meals are provided, and an evening reception will be held on the evening of Wednesday the 9th.

Thanks to funder support, the team can keep the cost of the workshop low – only $50 – and is offering a limited number of travel scholarships to enable attendance from a diverse group of individuals. Land-grant colleagues from across the North Central Region and beyond are invited to attend and lend their voices to this important conversation. Please note – you do not have to have attended the 2023 workshop to participate!

The workshop will provide an invaluable opportunity to connect with peers, share insights, and develop actionable strategies to address climate change and promote equity in our communities. We hope you will us!