A Total Eclipse of the Hoosier Heartland

April 8th was a planning challenge for many rural communities in the path of totality from Texas to New York. Here in Indiana, Purdue Extension...

Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC)

Purdue Extension Community Development is the Indiana lead for the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance...

Helping Those Most in Need

As we enter the 'holiday season,' I encourage you to reflect on how you can make a positive difference in the lives of those who need...

How Are YOU Doing?

How Are YOU Doing? Last week, I had the opportunity to present in Perry County, Indiana – a place I like to think of as a home away from...

Looking to the Sky

In 2012, I served as president-elect of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP).

Thinking Broadly About Broadband

Nearly eighty-seven years ago, on May 20, 1936, the Rural Electrification Act was passed. At the time, an estimated ninety percent of farms in...

Finding Hope. How I Discovered Compassion and Perseverance, Tucked Away in Rolling Hills

In 2018, Bo Beaulieu and Alison Davis decided to write a grant to USDA-Rural Development for the new Rural Economic Development Innovation...

From Networking to Collaboration, From Buy-in to Active Engagement

Back in March 2020, we were entering into the unknown. The pandemic was taking hold, and everyone across the globe was trying to determine the...

Love Will Keep Us Together

Many years ago, I found myself in the crosshairs of my supervisor. It is a long, funny, and touching story about falling in love, learning to adapt...

NACDEP – Creating Connections at Every Crossroad

Creating Connections at Every Crossroad: Purdue Extension Community Development Program Supports the National Association of Community Development...

We All Come From Somewhere – Part 2

Last month, I offered a glimpse into our Purdue Study Abroad trip to Ireland focused on rural development. Our planned activities exceeded our...

We All Come From Somewhere – Part 1

Last month I had the privilege of co-leading a Study Abroad to the Republic of Ireland with twelve exceptional Purdue undergraduate students. Along...

An Ode to Humility

There was a time when communities, and the people living in them, solved pressing issues using dialogue. Yes, there were moments when dialogue did...

Comes A Time

The answer to this question depends on your circumstances and your point of view. Those who are content with how things are may find little...

Purdue Extension Community Development 2022

The New Year represents the opportunity for people to make resolutions and envision what the year might bring. We have dispensed with the...

Belonging and Making a Difference in a New Year

Last month I discussed a personal journey involving lifelong learning and giving thanks. This month, I am looking forward to the New Year by...

Lifelong Learning and Giving Thanks

Cooperative Extension was founded as a resource for lifelong learning for people throughout the United States. To be successful, lifelong learners...

What (and Who) to Believe?

As Community Development Extension professionals, we are constantly asked by communities to provide technical assistance and guidance on how to...

This Must Be the Place

On the other end of the line is Erin Emerson, Executive Director of the Perry County Development Corporation. Then, the Talking Heads song flows...

All it Takes Is One “Dotty” Idea

A few months ago, I was contemplating revolution. Today, I am in a more reflective state of mind. Perhaps it was our family vacation, offering a...

You Say You Want a Revolution?

I must be getting old. My mind seems to receive input and then I immediately associate that input with a song which – more often than not...

Running on Empty

The Future is Female

I was looking back at my blog post from August 2020 where I was reflecting on my first year as Assistant Director and Program Leader. In...

Get A C.L.U.E.!

You may have noticed a trend if you have been reading my blog in the Purdue Extension Community Development Newsletter, I spend a lot of time...

Time for Some Accounting

The end of one year and the beginning of a new one inevitably results in two things: top ten lists that retrospectively examine the “best...

Congratulations, Michael!

For the December 2020 edition, we have hijacked Michael’s column to bring you some great news! Dr. Wilcox, Purdue Extension’s Assistant...

Everything Counts…

Diversity = Prosperity

Fall is my favorite season. Crisp air, falling leaves, harvest, and holidays. Time for family and friends. Here on campus, fall is a time for...

Drum Roll Please…

During the last six months, many individuals, organizations, and institutions have been stretched to their limits in terms of leadership,...

A Year Ago…

A year ago, when I started my new role as assistant director and program leader with Purdue Extension, I was focused on helping our team continue...

Promoting Resilience by Diminishing Isolation

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global public health and economic crisis. Whether it is on the news, through your social media networks or...

Are We In This Together?

As our store shelves are being rapidly emptied of food, hand sanitizer, medicines, masks and other ‘essentials,’ I have been thinking...

To Do or Not To Do, That is the Question…

It is a commonly held notion that many smaller communities have ten people that do everything. They serve on committees and boards, and they plan...

Is It Better to Give Than Receive?

For me, the recent holiday season put an old adage to the test, is it better to give than to receive? Like most parents of pre-teen and teenage...

Reaping the Benefits of Impactful Work

November is the month that our neighbors and friends engaged in row crop agriculture are usually finishing their harvest. In a similar fashion, our...

Catalyzing Community Capacity

This is the season when many of us commune together as colleagues at work and family members at home. In the best of circumstances, we trade...

Change is the Only Constant in Life

We have all heard the old saying, “Change is the only constant in life.” Spoken 2,500 years ago in Greek as “Panta Rhei...

A Note From the Program Leader

This is my first full week serving as the Assistant Director and Program Leader for Community Development with Purdue Extension. I am excited about...