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In her third month, Kelly focused on completing FoodWIse training courses. Over most of December, she dove into food science, food cost and resource management, food safety and preparation, and teaching and working with the full spectrum of FoodWIse participants. The practice with lesson planning and tailoring content and delivery to specific learners and contexts will be important as she begins co-piloting nutrition lessons and planning programs with community partners in January. Kelly also learned how to record videos for virtual lesson delivery that can be linked with content created statewide, to increase lesson options for county partners in the coming months.
Besides nutrition courses and virtual delivery, she attended further Extension onboarding meetings, the Extension all-colleague conference, and connected with more county partners. It has been a wonderful first three months, and she is looking forward to starting FoodWIse projects and programs in the new year!
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Measuring Longer-Term Organizational Development Outcomes
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In 2020, Paul provided Organizational Development programming to seven organizations (nonprofits and local governments). End of year evaluations were conducted and six responses were received. As a result of working with Paul, 100% responded that their organization had been strengthened, 83% had been more strategic in fulfilling their mission, and 100% had an increased capacity to address community issues and opportunities. One participant commented that “Paul's expertise, professionalism, and amical personality makes the chore of Strategic Planning a pleasant one. He stimulates important conversations and helps us to obtain a clearer view of our organization.” Planning processes were also initiated with an additional three organizations, but were postponed due to the pandemic.
Paul also hosted six virtual networking events from April to July where twelve nonprofit leaders discussed their responses to COVID-19, shared funding strategies, and identified resource needs. One participant commented “I am just glad to be able to talk to local people and learn what everyone else is doing!”
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This year many 4-H meetings are being held virtually. To support our youth and adult leaders with this new format, 4-H educators from Fond du Lac, Ozaukee and Washington County created the training “4-H Meetings Reimagined: Using Zoom to Lead a Fun and Engaging 4-H Meeting.” This training was facilitated by Extension educators, youth leaders, and an adult volunteer.
The training introduced volunteers to the features of Zoom and other forms of technology that youth and adult leaders could incorporate into a Zoom. Some of these resources included Kahoot, Mentimeter, Google Slides/Docs, and Flippity. Most importantly, the training included examples of how to use technology to engage youth of all ages. At the end of the training we asked participants to share what they will use from the meeting. The word cloud below shows the answers that we received. The larger the word, the more popular the response.
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'Tis' the Season for Planning 2021
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Positive Youth Development
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Ron facilitated a session at the 4-H Educator’s training “4-H Meetings Reimagined” (conducting meetings using Zoom). He has promoted PYD workshops with school administration and social workers at Kennedy Middle School and Germantown High School for the upcoming 2021 semester.
December has been a ‘short’ month as schools and youth-serving agencies wrap up their year and prepare for holiday break. With partners focusing inward on their own programming and less on PYD opportunities, Ron also directed his time on end-of-the-year wrap up activities such as Extension’s 2rd quarter reporting, 3rd quarter planning, and professional development.
Ron sought evaluation from partners where he has done educational sessions (i.e. Boys/Girls Club) as well as planned activities for 3rd quarter meetings (i.e. Youth Future’s youth committee mtgs.). Ron participated in plenary and workshops sessions at the statewide 'All Extension Virtual Conference' with offerings over 3 days in December.
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Building Partner Organizations' Resiliency in the Time of COVID-19
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Human Development & Relationships
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Building Your Resiliency in the Time of COVID-19 is the third phase of a professional development offering for partners from community serving agencies to provide a space to reflect on changes during a pandemic, try out new resiliency strategies, and network with others. The program was organized around the Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook: A Tool to Help You Build Resilience During Difficult Times (supported by JAMMA International). This resource provides information to understand how unhelpful thinking patterns impact our anxiety related feelings and tools to then help manage that anxiety. Participants created their own resilience action plan during the final session as a culminating activity. Managing life’s challenges in healthy ways allows participants to take better care of themselves and therefore, others in their care.
Carol co-facilitated this eight-week virtual program series from September 29 - November 17. Over 20 partner organization participants were engaged from Washington, Fond du Lac, Dodge and Winnebago counties, with over 100 direct contacts throughout the series. As a result of participating in the program series, one attendee stated: "I started a gratitude journal, I use the breathing techniques and I am using the and-instead-of-but idea. Very helpful." Another attendee stated how this professional development series has been helpful: "I have had a clearer mind. I find myself more fully present. This has been a gift in my life, thank you."
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Addressing Difficult Topics for Farms
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The final Eastern WI Farm Management Update was held on December 10 on 2020 Tough Talk: Difficult Conversations, COVID-19, and Taxes. Stephanie developed and presented “Making the Connection: Reframing Conversations for Success” with a colleague. One hundred and twenty-three  people logged on to the webinar. As a result of attending this meeting, participants (n=58) felt they are more comfortable responding to a difficult conversation (+4.0 based on a 5 pt Likert scale where 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree), they have a better understanding of how the basic recommendations for COVID-19 may be difficult in a farm setting and how to address these challenges (+4.2), and they are better prepared to make final year-end financial decisions that may impact my/my clients’ tax burden (+4.2). One hundred percent of participants agreed this was a good use of their time. After the meeting, a participant messages me and commented “going through those scenarios was very helpful in understanding the concepts”.
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