November is the month that our neighbors and friends engaged in row crop agriculture are usually finishing their harvest. In a similar fashion, our communities are collectively reaping the benefits of the impactful work that Purdue Extension’s Community Development Program has sown throughout the year. As Community Development Extension Professionals, this is the time of …

Dear Purdue Extension Community Development Colleagues and Partners – We have all heard the old saying, “Change is the only constant in life.” Spoken 2,500 years ago in Greek as “Panta Rhei (πάντα ῥεῖ) or “Everything flows,” I am reminded of it every year when the new semester begins and our campus is flooded with …

Dear Purdue Extension Community Development Colleagues and Partners – This is my first full week serving as the Assistant Director and Program Leader for Community Development with Purdue Extension. I am excited about this opportunity to lead our Extension Program Area to new heights, while positively impacting Indiana residents and setting a national standard for …

DEI Indy earned the second highest team, out of a total of 28 teams, for the North Central region at the Impact Collaborative summit in Atlanta. As a result of our work, DEI Indy has been invited to apply for a $5,000 grant to help bring new capacity to our project. Our project is Learn …

George Okantey, Purdue Extension Community Development educator in Marion County, was recently named a recipient of the Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award by Prosperity Indiana. The award, which was presented last week at the 2019 Prosperity Indiana Summit, is for his contributions to the organization and to the community economic development …

Community projects are a component of many of the Purdue Extension Community Leadership Programs across the state. The Leadership Daviess County Class of 2018 addressed active living through their project to install 25 bike racks throughout the city of Washington, Indiana. The bike racks were designed to meet one of the goals of the Active …

The Community Development Achievement Award is presented to a Community Development Society (CDS) member in recognition of his or her outstanding contribution to community development.  The person may be recognized for teaching, research, practice, programming, administration or any combination of these roles. “My sincere thanks to Michael Wilcox and other colleagues who supported my nomination.  …

Purdue Extension’s Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing was recently recognized as a national award winner by the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) at their 2018 Annual Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The award, the national NACDEP Excellence in Teamwork Award, creates a platform for community development work to be showcased in a professional …

Huntington County Leadership Academy congratulates 17 graduates from the 2018 Purdue Extension Community Leadership class.  The group has been meeting since January to develop and strengthen leadership skills and learn more about Huntington County.  Participants were able to participate in tours of and learn more about the following local businesses and organizations: Our Sunday Visitor, …

Leadership Jasper County graduated the 2017-18 class this week.  The Community Leadership Program works to create a network of willing, knowledgeable and committed leaders to step up and make a difference in their community. The Community Leadership Program was designed by several Purdue Extension faculty and staff to assist potential leaders in communities around the …