Strategic Initiative Brief: Spotlight webinar series, invasive pests, virtual reach

Unify-Communicate-Advocate

SI Spotlight webinar series continuing strong: Building resilient food systems and managing invasive pests

The food systems series being coordinated by the Healthy Families and Communities and Sustainable Food Systems Strategic Initiatives teams continues to explore how to reimagine our food systems. Sign up below and join us for the remaining webinars - on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month through at least November - to continue the discussion. Please let us know if you're interested in providing leadership or participating in a webinar for this series.

Contacts: Deanne Meyer and Lynn Schmitt McQuitty 

Webinar #1 - Food Safety and COVID-19 (video) Slides (PDF) 

Webinar #2 - California Food Systems: Partnerships and Resources (video) Slides (PDF) Resource Kit (PDF)

Webinar #3 - The Ins and Outs of Niche Marketing Meat (video) Slides (PDF) Resource Kit (PDF)

Webinar #4 - Beef Supply Chain and Market Disruptions (uploaded soon)

Sept. 8, 2020 | Webinar #5 - Farm Boxes and Food Hubs: Building Local Food System Resilience During COVID-19 register here

Sept. 22, 2020 | Webinar #6 - Victory Gardens Then and Now register here

Oct. 13, 2020 | Webinar #7 - Increasing Resiliency of Farmers' Market & Equitable Access to Fresh, Local Produce register here

Oct. 27, 2020 | Webinar #8 - Re-imagining Food Systems: Emerging Strategies for Regional Food Systems Resulting from COVID-19 register here

Nov. 10, 2020 | Webinar #9 - date available

Nov. 24, 2020 | Webinar #10 - date available

Visit the Spotlight webinars page for recordings. 

 

Invasive pests can affect almost all aspects of our lives - our gardens, our communities, our food systems, our natural ecosystems. The Endemic and Invasive Pest & Diseases (EIPD) SI is in the process of designing a multipart webinar series on managing invasive pests to help us understand what's the problem along with what we can and should do. Stay tuned to hear more. 

Contact: Jim Farrar 

 

Virtual reach continues to grow

Across the organization, people continue to explore and improve their skills to develop and deliver our educational content. An example of success is the 40% increase (around 300,000 views) in video viewing across UC IPM and UC Master Gardener channels. For the first time, the number of views topped 1 million. In another development, CalFresh Healthy Living, UC compiled some 20+ lessons online for virtual access and use through school curricula. 

See how you can improve your skills - visit the UC ANR Learning & Development Site (UCANR.edu/L&D) to learn more about: 

Apps. Information on some of the emerging tools, including how to access GSuite.

Online courses. Check out the recently developed Checklist: online course minimum standards.

Video. Develop your "How-to" video making skills. 

Virtual Consultations. Get some Virtual consultation tips.  

Webinars. Pick up some pointers from the engaging webinars checklist or explore deeper to develop your webinar skills. 

All these materials have been developed with input from many, many colleagues. 

 

What's in the pipeline

The SIs offer a home for strategic thought, drawing on members of the wider UC ANR community and beyond as we seek to address issues of current and emerging importance. In the discussion pipeline, we have: 

Disaster response - How to contribute and position ourselves for broader impact, recognizing the tremendous progress made by the Fire group. 

Funding models

Engaging AES and Program Teams

Being relevant 

• What might/should the Extension of the future look like? How do we stay relevant - e.g., addressing urban extension needs. What could we look like? What partnerships to pursue? 
• What could post-COVID-19 tertiary education look like? What could be the role of UC ANR (re: community colleges, CSUs, UCs, internships…)?
• Virtual tours

Let us know what skills or tips you found useful and what more you'd like to learn.

For more on the SIs and their activities, contact:

Jim Farrar (EIPD)

David Lewis (Water)

David Lile (SNE)

Deanne Meyer (SFS)

Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty (HFC)

Mark Bell (Strategic Initiatives and Statewide Programs)

 

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