As interest in local food development and urban agriculture increases, the Cooperative Extension Service is challenged to serve local and urban food communities in Arkansas. Urban farmers in Arkansas have differing motivations for operation than those in production agriculture, so understanding agricultural county agents' perceptions of urban…

The 4-H Professional Research, Knowledge and Competencies (PRKC) is a professional development framework that can be used to identify competency gaps and training needs of 4-H professionals. The PRKC consists of 6 competency domains, 1 being access, equity, and opportunity (AEO). A tailored design method was used to gather data and sort the…

In urban areas, the communities are as diverse as the issues, and different educational and engagement strategies must be deployed to support urban Extension clientele. Urban communities must connect with and feel a sense of "belonging" with Extension--this connection can strengthen Extension's presence and value proposition to urban…

Extension is well-positioned to engage strategically with urban communities now and in the future. A century of collaboration and proven impact provides Extension with a valuable foundation focused on relevant service accessible to all people; applied science and co-discovery; respectful and inclusive engagement; and commitment to community…

Defining the success of Urban Extension units is sometimes challenging. For those Extension agents, specialists, administrators, and others who have worked to bring solid, research-based programming to urban communities, it is no surprise that working in these communities brings its own unique and sometimes difficult challenges. Kentucky's Urban…

Urban agriculture initiatives are on the rise, providing healthy food while teaching a land ethic to youth. In parallel, increasing numbers of university graduates are obtaining Extension work requiring the effective communication of science in a diverse, urban, low-income setting. This study evaluates a pilot service-learning program, the…

The author describes the problems facing an extension agent in selecting and utilizing indigenous paraprofessionals to teach extension programs in their neighborhoods. She suggests that extension professionals look on the requirement for them to supervise paraprofessionals as a challenge to extend and improve extension programs. (MF)

At the Mid-Continent Conference on "The Role of the University in Community Development," 3 major papers were presented. In the first, Glen C. Pulver dealt with urban problems and used Milwaukee, Wisconsin as an example to illustrate the complexities of modern metropolitan life. Because communication among various groups in the city is necessary…

The paradox of the Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service lies in the fact that it has made rural America economically and technologically wealthy while at the same time its human services have declined relative to the rest of the nation. The growth of an urban industrial society has resulted in a new view of agriculture as a business rather…

An evaluation of the Douglas County (Kansas) Extension Program to determine clientele's level of awareness and acceptance of the program and program strengths and weaknesses, to establish new program directions and a base line for future evaluation efforts, and to develop methodology and materials to be used in evaluation. Procedures, findings,…

This report covers a six-month sabbatical travel study of urban 4-H programs in 30 United States cities. The purpose of the study was to search for 4-H programs and methods which were being used successfully with urban boys and which might be adapted for use in other urban situations. Interviews with professional 4-H personnel, aides, and leaders…

A study was conducted of the perceived training needs and the importance of these needs for job effectiveness of urban extension agents working with disadvantaged audiences. The questionnaire was based largely on nine general areas of competency. Most of the respondents were younger than 35 and had less than 5 years' experience. Among the training…

Recognizing the persistence of the cultural underlay permeating West Virginians' life styles today, this study determined: (1) which cultural values identified with Appalachian culture are endorsed by West Virginia Extension Agents and reflected in their work; (2) which of these cultural values reflect a distinctive Appalachian subculture; and (3)…

This is an account of the first three years of the MIDNY Project, a pilot community resource development project in the five-county Central New York Region surrounding the city of Syracuse. The project was set up in 1966 by New York State Cooperative Extension with special funds provided by the Federal Extension Service. It was one of the first…

This study investigates an experiment undertaken by the Cooperative Extension Service of The Pennsylvania State University and the Christian Street Urban 4H Center in Philadelphia to transform the "provider" orientation of a youth service. The "provider' orientation addresses needs as they are perceived and defined by the providers…