- Author: Ricardo Vela
As in previous years, UC ANR organized Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month events to celebrate and recognize the contributions of Latinos to the United States. This year, three Zoom forums were held to raise awareness of the struggles of the Latino community in the U.S., their contributions and their future. In addition, three other forums offered the Latino community research-based information in Spanish on youth development, gardening and nutrition. The results were nothing short of amazing.
First, we conducted a survey among News and Information Outreach in Spanish followers on social media. We learned that besides COVID-19, other topics of interest were nutrition, gardening (food sustainability), children's education, finances and employment. After that, we contacted advisors and volunteers of the UC Master Gardener, Nutrition and 4-H Youth Development statewide programs to work together and be our guest speakers at the forums celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.
These sessions were held on Oct. 6, 13 and 15 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Right after the forums ended, we emailed an exit survey. The results revealed that 99% of the attendees responded positively to the session, speaker and topic, and 98% said they were interested in participating in other forums on the same topic or other topics. Only 1% of participants indicated that the topic could be treated differently, and 1% reported no interest in attending another forum.
When asked how they learned about the forums, 90% of attendees said they heard about them through our social networks, while 7% said they found out through a friend, and the remaining 3% did not remember how they heard about the sessions.
Among the attendees, 70% did not know about the relationship between UC ANR, the University of California, and UC Cooperative Extension. About 20% said they had vague knowledge about ANR, but did not know about Cooperative Extension. The other 10% said they knew about ANR and had previously participated in classes offered by UCCE, 4-H and CalFresh Healthy Living, UC.
Based on these results, we believe it is crucial to continue approaching the Spanish-speaking community in this way. Therefore, we will start a monthly online workshop introducing the different programs of UC ANR and UCCE.
We also emailed an exit survey to members of ANR and UC who participated in forums on stereotypes, discrimination against Latinos, and migrant Mexican indigenous communities. Only 0.1% of the attendees were not satisfied with the topics or with the invited speakers. While 1.9% indicated that the speaker was fine, but the issue may have been handled differently, 98% of attendees said they were satisfied with the topics and speakers and would return for similar events.
On average, 75 people attended out of the 155 who registered for each session. Signing up for Zoom may have created a barrier to participation. In the future, we will broadcast on Facebook Live, using the platform that many of the people who registered already use.
To see the recordings of the Zoom forums, click on the title below:
Sept. 15 - One size doesn't fit all
Sept. 22 - Indigenous migrant communities – “The forgotten ones in the age of COVID-19”
Sept. 29 - Meet the Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 Honorees
Oct. 6 - Ser mejores padres, cómo hacer de su hijo un líder
Oct. 13 - Cómo tener un huerto casero exitoso
Oct. 15 - El poder de una comida nutritiva
This story was first published in Notas de Nuestra Comunidad. To receive the newsletter, subscribe at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/kBFzwZz/Comunidad.
Open enrollment started Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, at 8 a.m. and ends Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, at 5 p.m. Please note the deadline is earlier than in past years.
UCPath will host several open enrollment webinars between Oct. 26 and Nov. 16. The UCPath team is introducing a few exciting changes based on your feedback from last year:
- Information about plan changes has been moved to a new online Benefits Open Enrollment 2022 course that includes a demonstration of the enrollment process on UCPath. Complete this online course prior to attending a webinar.
- The new and improved webinar will include a demonstration of Alex, the new personal benefits coaching tool.
- There will be more time to answer questions about information covered in the Benefits Open Enrollment 2022 course.
Note: This webinar will not include:
- A live presentation of open enrollment plan changes (replaced by the self-paced Benefits Open Enrollment 2022 course).
- Information for retirees. For more information, visit UCNet
- Questions about individual cases. For personal benefits questions, please contact the UC Davis Benefits office at benefits@ucdavis.edu or visit UCPath and select Ask UCPath to submit an inquiry.
For a list of webinar sessions and registration links, visit https://www.ucop.edu/ucpath-center/_files/mypath/oe/webinars.pdf
- Author: Tunyalee Martin
People often use websites as their first step when researching something new and learning ways to improve their lives. By making websites and extension materials accessible, we help make this information available to more people – including people with visual, hearing, physical and cognitive impairments.
Consciously designing for accessibility has benefits beyond the people who use assistive technology. It makes websites simpler to navigate and information easier to understand for everyone.
As you know, ANR is transitioning its website to become an even better resource for our participants, partners and the general public. Making the new website and its information accessible will require everyone to pitch in, but it'll be worth it because we'll be demonstrating our commitment to making a positive difference for all Californians.
The DEI Alliance Learning Committee suggests watching this video to learn more about making websites accessible: https://youtu.be/o2vDmDGlRz8.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
It's been 30 years since John Pehrson retired as a University of California Cooperative Extension citrus specialist, but he left such a lasting impression on the citrus industry that his work is still revered today. Regarded as a model Cooperative Extension advisor, Pehrson was gifted at translating UC research and offering practical solutions to help growers better manage their resources and improve citrus yields during his 38-year UC career.
Pehrson is an “encyclopedia of practical and scientific knowledge about citrus,” said Beth Grafton-Cardwell, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension citrus specialist and a former colleague of Pehrson. “He developed expertise not only in soils, but also rootstocks, citrus fertility, irrigation and entomology.”
To honor Pehrson's contributions to the citrus industry, growers and associated industry members gathered at the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center on Oct. 16 to dedicate the center's administration building as “John E.Pehrson Hall.”
Always eager to work
The 94-year-old Pehrson, who attended the event with his proud family, said he was always eager to go to work as a UCCE citrus advisor and specialist, “and I want you all to know that I appreciated the help I had in both the University community and with the industry, and with you growers that are here tonight to recognize me.”
Pehrson joined UC Cooperative Extension as a farmadvisor in 1953 for Orange County, moved toUCCE inTulare County as a citrusadvisor in 1966, then became aUCCE subtropical horticultural specialist at Kearney Research and Extension Center in 1980, and transferred in 1982 toLindcoveREC, where he worked until his retirement in 1991.
“I think of Lindcove and ag extension, and all of us who are lucky enough to be in this industry for all these years, you have to think of John Pehrson, because he was such a big part of our success as growers,” said citrus grower Tom Dungan. “When you walked the orchard with John, and I did often, I had all kinds of problems…by the time you were finished walking the orchard, you not only had the original problem that you were trying to solve, but you had about seven others and he wasn't afraid to tell you how to solve them. And sometimes you didn't want to hear that.”
“He loved to come out and help you with your problems, talk about a dedicated guy, I've never known anyone in the industry that was as dedicated as John Pehrson,” Dungan said.
In 1994, the California Citrus Quality Council presented Pehrson with the industry's most prestigious prize, the Albert G. Salter Memorial Award.
“John was an excellent farm advisor and horticultural specialist because he would study the groves, study the literature, run experiments in the San Joaquin Valley and collaborate with other researchers,” said Grafton-Cardwell. “But he also highly respected the practical knowledge of the growers and worked with early adapters of new technologies, helping to advance them.”
Mentoring colleagues
In addition to growers, Pehrson's UC ANR colleagues also benefited from his knowledge and concern for the industry, Grafton-Cardwell said. “I was one of them, as I came on board in 1990 a year before John retired. John saw that I was new to citrus and took me under his wing and said, ‘Let's conduct a field experiment.'”
“It was a simple experiment looking at the impact of several weights of oil on pest and beneficial mite densities,” she said. “But I appreciate that he took the time to give me guidance on the best way to conduct a citrus trial and gave me confidence in field work that I then carried on with for the next 30 years.”
When Lindcove Research and Extension Center started a fundraising campaign, several donors identified the building dedication as an opportunity to support research while also paying tribute to Pehrson, said Grafton-Cardwell, a past director of the center.
“I am honored to have my work recognized in this fashion,” said Pehrson, who currently resides in Claremont in Southern California. “I wish to say that I enjoyed my life as a farm advisor, I really did. I would call it a life of purpose.”
Vice President Glenda Humiston thanked guests for raising over $100,000 to name the building “John E. Pehrson Hall,” saying, “By honoring John and recognizing his accomplishments, you have also invested in supporting the next generation of researchers, allowing us to continue to explore, experiment and develop practical solutions through applied research.”
All of the gifts benefit Lindcove's fundraising campaign, Sweetening the Future of Citrus at Lindcove.
- Author: Emily Delk
The countdown has begun...GivingTuesday is just four weeks away. Mark your calendars for November 30. We know how important this giving day is to raising support for your work. To get started, register your participation in ANR's GivingTuesday campaign before Nov. 1 at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=35934.
GivingTuesday is a global movement inspiring millions of donors to give to thousands of non-profits worldwide in just 24 hours.
In 2020, UC ANR raised nearly $200,000 in online donations benefiting participating programs, research and endowments across the state.
If you missed the webinar, “GivingTuesday: Strategies for Success” on Oct. 27, you can view the recording at https://ucanr.zoom.us/rec/share/vCJOXd_hfIrQDZLKAPwdkpShtnOymfS1Sr2MxF0IZl1_ttCU0LppTsw5tVMiQz7F.mfASDaqmmJGbdTgm (Passcode: !Lb&i!4N). Emily Delk, director of annual giving and donor stewardship, shares campaign resources and announces exciting new incentives.
For more information or to subscribe to Delk's newsletter about preparations for GivingTuesday, please contact her at eddelk@ucanr.edu or (916) 564-4862.
