Sustainable Communities
As communities struggle with increasingly complex social, economic and environmental issues related to sustainability they need the expertise of Cooperative Extension now more than ever before. Whether your expertise is in agriculture, natural resources, youth, family, economic or community development you will be asked to help guide a stakeholder group through a difficult decision making process. The newest Foundations of Practice, Level 3 course, Sustainable Communities, offers you the tools, skills and knowledge to be the trusted resource community groups need in the emerging dialogs around local foods, energy and natural resources.
Successful community sustainability initiatives rely on understanding systems thinking, sustainability models, and the needs and conditions in your town, county, state or region. Tapping into a long legacy of one of the country's most respected organizations, this training, brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and the Regional Rural Development Centers, provides the background, resources and strategies to support your work in communities.
Best of all, this program comes directly to you! Each week via Adobe Connect and Moodle online, an Extension Specialist will deliver world-class training to you in your office, conference room or even home. Discussions and supplemental resources will be supported using a course website.
The eight-week series begins January 19, 2010. Each of the weeks features a 90-minute webinar focusing on topics including Energy, Local Foods, Built Environments, Mobility, and Natural Resources. Supplemental resources and online discussion opportunities will be available on the course website. Participants can log in at their convenience during the week to explore these topics further, pose questions, investigate additional resources and visit with colleagues in similar situations.
Sustainable Communities is a Level 3 offering of the Foundations of Practice Program. It is appropriate for individuals who regularly work with community groups in any subject area and have a basic understanding of community development principles. This pilot course is being offered exclusively to Extension Educators, Specialists and any faculty or staff working within the land grant system. If you find yourself called upon to facilitate community-based initiatives, or you just want to better understand how communities function, this course is for you!
Registration is $150 per person. Discounts are available for those sharing connections and for individuals located in the North Central Region. Registration forms and payment information is available at Foundations Registration. To learn more about Foundations of Practice please visit our website at Foundations of Practice.
