Category Archives: Weekly Update

August 20, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Quarterly Conversation

The August Quarterly Conversation is now available for viewing. If you would like to take a closer look, the slides are available for download. Topics of the conversation include the following (numbers denote where you will find the segment on the video):

  • Bright Spots (Anita Azarenko and Lindsey Shirley) – Highlights and celebration of the work our people are doing across the state (1:16)
  • Leadership Update (Anita Azarenko and Amanda Bielenberg) – Anita shared information about her background and provided an update on status of Extension Director position and reflections on her five weeks in the Division. Amanda shared exciting news about new features at Extension Annual Conference. (9:50)
  • Language Access (Ana Lu Fonseca and Jennifer Alexander) – Language access is the strategic and systematic management of multilingual communication. Transport, an easy online translation portal, was introduced. (32:30)
  • Navigator (Jennifer Alexander) – A status update on the Navigator initiative and highlights since the May Quarterly Conversation. Learn more and sign up for updates at beav.es/navigator. (55:05)
  • The Water Initiative (Dave Hansen) – The Water Initiative Team is making recommendations on how best to coordinate water initiatives across Extension. Click here to see the report. (1:12:20)

Extension Borrowables

EESC is raising awareness of Extension at various events. In the process, the department is accumulating various items that might be useful for county offices and others as they promote the services of Extension. The newest items for the borrowable inventory are six 3-ft x 4-ft vinyl banners featuring the four thematic areas of Extension. Three of the banners fit in a 10-ft wide booth space and can be hung with hooks or rope. Mix and match or use all six. To request the use of the banners or other borrowables, contact Sandy Reichhuber.

Extension Web Update

This week’s blog  goes over next steps and time commitments to get to our next goal, CRM practice. How and when will we get there.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

Special Education: What You Need to Know
This FREE info session includes an introduction to key special education definitions and developing a successful individualized education program. Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at 2019 A. Main Street, Baker City, Oregon.

Race and White Women (non-men) at Work
Transformational Conversations about Racism, Oppression, & Getting Free Together. Saturday, August 24 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Oregon State University Native American Longhouse Ena Haws. $149 workshop fee, includes materials.

Volunteer opportunity for Fall 2019 – New International Students Orientation Week: Engage with new international students and help welcome the new Beavers from around the world during Fall 2019 Orientation Week. For more information and to sign up go here. Volunteer training day (required for all volunteers): September 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at ILLC 155. Volunteering dates: New students move-in day: Sept. 16-17. Orientation week: Sept. 18-24. Different volunteer shifts available to fit your schedule. For more information or questions, contact Carla Portugal at  intl.orientation@oregonstate.edu or go to the INTO OSU website.

In the News

Students With Disabilities Deserve Inclusion. It’s Also the Best Way to Teach (Education Week)
“Students with disabilities face substantially increased rates of abuse and restraint in schools. As an education and disability advocate seeking to change that, I frequently encounter well-meaning arguments for separating higher-needs students from the general population.”

Study finds health research disparities for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians (KLCC)
Oregon State University PhD candidate Lan Doan found that over the past 26 years the NIH has allocated 0.17 percent of its budget toward 529 studies.

Child care crisis: Famillies struggle with rising child care costs, finding safe providers (Statesman Journal)
According to the report “Oregon’s Child Care Deserts” by Oregon State University, these costs equated to more than $14,000 a year for toddler care at a center. “The big thing we’ve seen change is the affordability of care,” said Megan Pratt, assistant professor of practice at OSU’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences and one of the report’s authors.

Extension in the news

Dormant-season grazing eyed as tool in reducing fire risk
Capital Press
In a 25,000-acre study area east of Owyhee Reservoir, cattle numbers traditionally are reduced before Nov. 1 — right around the time perennial grasses go dormant and temperatures become nearly perfect for germination of invasive cheatgrass and medusahead, Oregon State University Extension rangeland and livestock specialist Sergio Arispe said.

Nuts for hazelnuts: growers can’t keep up with demand
Capital Press
“The demand for hazelnut trees is huge,” said Jay Pscheidt, an Extension plant pathologist at Oregon State University.

February snowstorms pummeled Oregon research forest, opened door to Douglas-fir beetles
KVAL
“This year was pretty epic,” said David Shaw, a silviculture Extension agent in the Oregon State University College of Forestry, “because it was heavy, wet snow.”

August 13, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Sustainable swag

According to a recent survey conducted by Nielsen, 73% of respondents said they would either definitely or probably change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment. With this in mind, we are adding items to the mix of Extension swag that are reusable and have longer life spans. One such item is the Extension mesh bag. Priced at $4/bag, it encourages users to reduce reliance on plastic produce bags (and they see the Extension name each time they shop). Another example is the $1 Extension healthy living tote. It is reusable, washable and made from 100% recycled materials (except the web handles). You can order these and other Extension promotional items by using the “Marketing/Promo Item” link on the OSU Extension Employee Intranet.

What do you think about adding a reusable straw kit and/or a reusable utensil kit to the Extension swag mix? Share your feedback and ideas for other eco-friendly items with Ann Marie Murphy.

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

  • Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
  • OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
  • Read ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

Agri-tourism Coordinator (Internal Employment Opportunity)

The Extension Service Marion County office is seeking an Agritourism Coordinator. This is a full-time, 12-month, fixed term professional faculty position. This position will be assigned to Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties in the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Western Region. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Regional Director. Posting# P03249UF. Closes August 22. Contact Mark Chien, search chair, with any questions.

Extension Web Update

Now that focus areas have been live for a few months, we took a look at analytics in this week’s blog to see how effective they have been in meeting the goals we had for them.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

2019 POC Bridge-Building Mixer
The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ BIPOC on staff at Oregon Community Foundation, in collaboration with the Latino Partnership Program, want to get to know you better! BIPOC/LGBT+ BIPOC who wish to network, connect, share stories and create links to foundation resources are highly encouraged to attend this event. Wednesday, August 14 at 525 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR 97214.

Venezuelan Arts & Culture Festival, PDX
Venezuelan artists, performers, and crafters (displays and vendors). Authentic Venezuelan cuisine from La Arepa. Sunday, August 18 at the Oaks Park Dance Pavilion in Portland. Sponsored by the Multnomah County Cultural Coalition.

All of Us Exhibit
The All of Us exhibit will be on OSU’ Corvallis campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 19-23 on the brick mall off the northeast corner of the MU. The goal of the research, education and enrollment center is to advance health care that is based on you as an individual. Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, All of Us aims to sign up 1 million or more people who will share information about their health over time. Researchers will study this data to improve health for generations to come. It’s hosted by the College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Benton County, and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.

The 1619 Project: An Evening of Conversation on August 13
Four hundred years ago, on August 20, 1619, a ship carrying about 20 enslaved Africans arrived in Point Comfort, a coastal port in the British colony of Virginia. Though America did not even exist yet, their arrival marked its foundation, the beginning of the system of slavery on which the country was built. In August, The New York Times Magazine will observe this anniversary with a special project that examines the many ways the legacy of slavery continues to shape and define life in the United States. Register to watch the livestream here.

In the News

Requesting accommodations: Another challenge for older workers (Forbes)
Other research has shown that people with disabilities refrain from requesting accommodations if they think coworkers would find the request “normatively inappropriate” — meaning not in keeping with the office culture. Research by David C. Baldridge and Michele L. Swift of OSU’s College of Business, published in Human Resources Management, studied the effect of age on such requests. Workers’ fear of seeming old, they found, may trump their fear of seeming to have a disability.

OSU-Cascades presents Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Employee Award (Bend Bulletin)
Oregon State University – Cascades  has given its 2019 Employee Awards to five faculty and staff members for outstanding contributions in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion; outreach; outstanding staff engagement and support; scholarship and creative activity; and teaching excellence.

’Squad’ is creating a safe space for teenage girls online (Tech Crunch)
Led by Crawford, a graduate of Oregon State University, Squad’s compelling founding story and organic growth helped them close a $5 million seed round led by First Round Capital general partner Hayley Barna, the only female partner at the historically all-male early-stage investment fund known for being the first institutional check in Uber.

Extension in the news

Bend 4-H pig’s hefty fair price goes to worthy cause
KTVZ
Cooper, a 10-year-old 4-H student from Bend, sold Guss at $100 a pound ,which totaled $26,400 at the Deschutes County Fair. He decided to donate all of the money to charity.

OSU brings back mechanical cultivation field day
Capital Press
This year, OSU Extension Service is partnering with Washington State University Extension to offer two events — the first on Aug. 27 at WSU’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center, and the second on Aug. 29 at OSU’s North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora, Ore.

Garden tour draws crowds
The Madras Pioneer
The event, presented by Oregon State University Extension and the Central Oregon chapter of OSU Master Gardeners, provided gardening enthusiasts with an opportunity to learn from other gardeners.

August 6, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Available now: Out There videos in Spanish

Our collection of Extension Out There videos is now available in Spanish (including captioning). Find the in the “Marketing Templates, Tools and Inspiration” folder in Box by going to the Employee Intranet website and clicking on the link under Popular Links. Look for the “Out There Videos” folder.

As a reminder, there is a silent version that is appropriate for using at events. You also will find the full video (one minute and twenty seconds long) and six thirty-second story clips – all available in English and Spanish with captions – featuring a variety of Extension activities. Please share them on your social media channels to help spread the word about the great things Extension is doing in and for Oregon.

More Extension stories will be captured on video in the coming months. We anticipate another Out There video and three more story clips will be available in the fall. For questions, please contact Ann Marie Murphy.

Extension Web Update

Imagine if you could ask your smart speaker to search the OSU Extension website for events located near you, or ask Siri to find all of the blueberry pruning publications in the OSU Extension Catalog? See our blog this week to see how we are preparing for the future.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

NEW SCHEDULE! Social Justice Education Initiative
The Social Justice Education Initiative schedule for fall is now up, and there are still seats for summer sessions. From Faculty Affairs, the SJEI is a foundational professional development program for faculty, staff and graduate students. SJEI offers a varied schedule of Tier One and Tier Two workshops, all open now for registration. Join your colleagues to begin, or expand, your equity and inclusion journey in this well-reviewed program. Interested in this work for your unit? Contact SJEI Director Jane Waite for further information: jane.waite@oregonstate.edu

EXTENSION OFFICES, TAKE NOTE: Jane will deliver her introductory 2-day SJEI course in your County Office if you can get a group of 12 people together. Contact Jane or Ana Lu with any questions.

Bend YP DevLabs, Session 3: Our Community – Where Will You Make Your Impact?
Have you ever wanted to make a difference in your community but have been unsure of how to get started? Thursday, August 15 from 5:00 – 7:30 pm at the Deschutes Brewery- Mountain Room (901 SW Simpson Ave, Bend, OR). Hosted by the Bend Chamber of Commerce.

Hiroshima – Nagasaki Commemoration event
Wednesday, August 7th, 2019 from 7:00–8:30 pm at the Corvallis Riverfront Park. Co-hosted by the OSU School of History, Philosophy and Religion.

Trystan Reese Recorded Presentation
Trystan Reese presented “The Seahorse Dad: My year as a pregnant man” at the Whiteside Theater in Corvallis, Oregon in April 2019. Sponsored by The Arts Center of Corvallis.

In the News

Discrimination Is Hard to Prove, Even Harder to Fix (NY Times)
“It’s a difficult process, more difficult than it needs to be,” said Jeff Vardaro, a civil rights attorney in Columbus, Ohio. These cases can become complex and expensive, and defendants and their attorneys have incentives to drag them out.

Phillips Collection modern-art museum opens new exhibit (Oregonian)
To transcribe the journey of 68 million refugees, the Phillips yielded its floors to 75 international artists.

Need a Mental Health Day? Some States Give Students the Option (NY Times)
An expert called the laws in both Utah and Oregon a “win” and said students who are “quietly suffering” from mental illness will benefit most.

Extension in the news

OSU ‘statewides’ plan return to full staffing
Capital Press
Oregon State University is preparing for a hiring spree in its Extension service, agricultural experiment stations and forest research lab due to a funding boost from lawmakers.

Large wasps descend on Central Oregon in search of cicadas
The Bulletin
In recent weeks, the extension center in Madras and the Oregon State University Extension Service in Redmond have received numerous calls from residents who are concerned about the wasps.

A little heat brings the wheat
Dalles Chronicle
While yields are yet to be determined, retired Oregon State University Extension Agent Sandy Macnab expected bushels-per-acre to be around average.

July 30, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

  • Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
  • OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
  • Read ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

New Extension Name Badge

Feedback tells us the metal name badges introduced last year are not holding up to the level of use by our Extension employees – they tend to bend and scratch easily. Thus, we’re bringing back the sturdy orange plastic badges with new designs, one of which offers the use of preferred pronouns. In the spirit of language inclusivity, the addition of swinger plates to identify language proficiency is also available. The intention of the language plates is to let our clientele know who they can speak to in their preferred language. If you are proficient in more than one language, multiple swinger plates can be stacked. Continued use of current metal name badges is fine. New employees and replacement badges will use the new style.

  • Extension Administration covers the cost of a name badge for new employees. Please contact Kaylyn Hymes in Extension Administration to obtain an index and activity code to charge.
  • Units cover the cost of replacement badges for current employees.

Supervisors or office managers should go to the R3 Customshop website to order new name badges. Create an account, choose OSU Extension as the department and badge options will appear. Excel spreadsheets can be uploaded, if needed.

If you have questions, please contact Ann Marie Murphy.

Summer Events

Besides fairs and workshops many counties have special events such as Shop at the Dock. Check the Extension Events Calendar often to see what may be of interest to our clients across the state.

Extension Web Update

What is the most critical factor in helping us create a shared use of CRM practices in Extension? Trust. Read about it in today’s Navigator post.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, or if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

Oregon Native American Chamber Networking Lunch
Join the Oregon Native American Chamber for a networking lunch on Wednesday, July 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Metro (600 NE Grand Ave, Portland, Oregon 97232).

Extension Professional Development Funds available (Aug. 1 deadline)
Faculty and staff with an Extension appointment of .25 FTE or greater are encouraged to apply. To view criteria and apply, visit the webpage.

Salem Pride in the Park 2019
Just when it looked like Pride was not happening in Salem in 2019, the community spoke out, showed up, and let us know how important this event is to our city. Saturday, Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Salem’s Riverfront Park.

Measuring Racial Equity in the Food System: Established and Suggested Metrics
This webinar provides an introduction to the newly published guide, Measuring Racial Equity in the Food System: Established and Suggested Metrics, including examples of metrics in four different themes and ways the guide can be used.

In the News

Beyond braille: Oregon-made ‘printers’ open opportunities for the blind in math and science (Oregonian)
At the age of 48, Gardner took time off from Oregon State University to learn how to live without sight. He adapted to walking with a cane and learned how to get from one place to another without driving.

Planting the seeds of peace (Gazette-Times)
Planting a tree is always a hopeful act, but the persimmon sapling planted in April behind the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center on the OSU campus expresses a very particular hope: the hope for an end to nuclear weapons.

Oregon Native designers celebrate heritage, counter mass fashion (Oregonian)
Across Oregon, a growing number of popular Native American artists and designers are confronting mass fashion trends and celebrating their heritage through their work. Luhui Whitebear, assistant director of Oregon State University’s Native American Longhouse, says indigenous artwork is connected to Native teachings and traditions.

Extension in the News

Benevolent or fearsome? Yellowjackets can be both
Associated Press
“Yellowjackets, hornets and paper wasps are all beneficial predators of soft-bodied insects such as caterpillars, grubs and flies,” said Heather Stoven, a horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service.

‘An incredible week’: STEM camp gets kids ‘Ready for Tomorrow’
Argus Observer
Youth came from Adrian, Nyssa, Vale, Ontario and Idaho for the camps geared toward science, technology, engineering and math, Oregon State University Extension Agent Barbara Brody said.

Drought-stricken trees die in and around Eugene
The Register-Guard
Each year of drought puts more strain on trees, said Lauren Grand, forester with the Oregon State University Extension Service in Lane County.

July 23, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

PACE offers Wine Tasting Experience

Learn more about about wine at this workshop in either Portland or Corvallis in September. Details are here.

Extension Web Update

Do you still have people calling to ask how to find things on the website? Have you not revisited the Extension website since after the launch? You may be surprised how things have changed over the past year. This “getting reacquainted” video tour shows how to orient yourself on this updated site. Share with your colleagues and clients, and also see new ways we are gathering feedback from audiences.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

Oregon GEAR UP Resources
The GEAR UP program’s goal is to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary programs. Take a look at their free toolkits and other resources for educators here.

Financial Strategies for Women
A workshop for women and those who care about women. A variety of topics are addressed which pertain to, and are relevant for, women interested in financial planning and investing. Presented by Barbara Koontz, Financial Advisor, CFS*, Thursday, July 25, noon to 1 p.m., OSU Corvallis Campus, MU212. RSVP to investmentseminars@mapscu.com.

CMLC Cooking Class: Mexican Salsas with Maria & Nena
Join the CMLC kitchen to learn how to make authentic Mexican salsas. $10. Space is limited. Thursday, July 25, 1:30-3 p.m., Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center, 2638 NW Jackson Ave. Reserve your spot by contacting info@cmlcenter.org

Sensory Sensitive Movies at the Northern Lights Theatre
Sensory Sensitive Showings are designed specifically for customers with autism and other special sensory needs. The volume is turned down and the lights are turned up. There will be no previews or ads before the movie. During the movie, you may get up and walk around, dance, sing, clap, and shout—without being a disruption. Next showing is Saturday, July 27, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. At the Northern Lights Theatre in Salem, OR.

2019 Obon Festival

Join the Japanese American Association of Lane County for the 2019 Obon Festival at Alton Baker Park in Eugene. Saturday, July 27, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

In the News

OSU College of Engineering receives diversity recognition award (LIFE@OSU)
The OSU College of Engineering has been selected to be an “exemplar” recipient of a Bronze Award in the first year of the American Society for Engineering Education Diversity Recognition Program.

Driving while undocumented in Oregon: A family’s hopes for HB 2015 (OPB)
Today, 23 years after that trek through the desert, he and his family still live in the Salem area. Navarro recently graduated with a master’s degree from Oregon State University. His mother manages a restaurant and his father works in a plant nursery. But they’re all still undocumented, which has a big impact on their otherwise ordinary daily routines.

Oregon tackles the veterinary suicide crisis, starting with the stigma (OregonLive)
For a profession filled with high-achievers and perfectionists, it’s easy to see how burnout, anxiety and depression can all play out, said Alex Rowell, a psychologist in the Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine.

Extension in the News

Oregon, Washington Firefighters Assist Alaska As Oregon’s Fire Budget Fizzles
The Corvallis Advocate
The Oregon State University Extension Service will receive $2 million for to map out “at-risk areas” as guidance for as-yet-unapproved forest thinning.
Oregon’s strategic plan for bees creates a buzz
The Register-Guard
″(Oregon) is one of the hot spots for bee biodiversity,” said Andony Melathopoulos, a bee expert with the Oregon State University Extension Service.
The Story Next Door: 4-H fair is a way of life for Fay and Sherm Sallee
Albany Democrat-Herald
Sherm and Fay Sallee are probably the only volunteers so committed to 4-H programs they actually designed their home to include large rooms that allow not one, but two 4-H meetings to be held simultaneously.

July 16, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Updates: OSU Extension Professional Development Fund

Next Application Deadline — August 1, 2019

The next quarterly deadline for Extension Professional Development Funds is August 1st. Applications that will be considered must be submitted BEFORE the deadline and BEFORE the professional development opportunity.

“Growing the Fund”

Extension faculty and staff may help“GROW the Fund”at any time during the year. Keep the following in mind:

  • The principal of the OSU Extension Professional Development Fund is an endowment.
  • The earnings from the endowment feeds into the current-use-fund.
  • Each quarter, the amount in the current-use-fund pays for the professional development requests selected for funding.
  • The fund supports on average, about 100-160 different professional development opportunities a year.

The two ways individuals may currently contribute throughout the year are:

  • Through payroll deduction (deductions could range from $5.00 a month to any larger amount)
  • Through individual contributions (payable by check or credit card)
  • Either of these types of contributions may be processed on-line through the OSU Foundation at: http://www.osufoundation.org/s/359/foundation/index.aspx?sid=359&gid=34&pgid=4353
  • Contributions may be made to the endowment as you complete the on-line process.Be sure to note the following information when completing the on-line process: 6220-820450 OSU Extension Professional Development Fund.

Professional Development Opportunity: REAL Oregon

The Resource Education and Agricultural Leadership Program for Oregon (REAL Oregon) is accepting applications for their 2019-20 program through July 25.

REAL Oregon is an annual leadership and professional development program that exposes a cross-section of individuals from Oregon’s natural resource communities to the diversity of Oregon’s geography, economy and cultures through a series of five statewide sessions. Program objectives are:

  1. Improve personal leadership skills, enhance self-confidence, and develop agriculture and natural resource awareness.
  2. Encourage a network of leaders to take an active leadership role in community, state, and national issues.
  3. Promote Oregon’s Natural Resources and the development of strong rural communities.
  4. Continue to build a network of informed, trained and motivated rural leaders across Oregon.

Speak with your supervisor if you are interested in applying. If selected, and additional funds are needed to participate, consider applying to the Extension professional development fund.

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

  • Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
  • OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
  • Read ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

Extension Web Update

Are you meeting lots of people while exhibiting at the county fairs or tabling at the farmer’s markets this summer? If you give them Extension’s website to learn more, then you’ll want to create a welcoming place for them to land.

This week’s blog post shows you some new designs that you can easily apply to your program pages. Check out some of the fabulous program page examples, and watch the short training videos to walk you through how to make changes.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

Free art exhibit: Traditional Chinese Painting and Calligraphy

Now through August 12, Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the OSU Corvallis Campus Asian & Pacific Cultural Center.

Buried Hxstories for BIPOC Youth
A new monthly series at the PDX People’s Food Co-op this Summer! Every third Wednesday of the month (6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.), Buried Hxstories for BIPOC youth brings kid-friendly lessons on ancestral wisdom of Black or African, Indigenous or Native, and Non-Black People of Color.

Speed Friending Event with INTO OSU Mexican Teaching Group is seeking OSU and Community members to participate in brief five-minute conversations with a group of 15 Mexican educators on Monday, July 22 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Corvallis Campus Valley Library, Willamette East/West Room (Valley 3622). Register here.

Huerto de la Familia & The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Saturday, July 20, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum in Eugene. Hosted by the Latino Professionals Connect network.

In the News

‘Here It Goes’: Coming Out to Your Doctor in Rural America (Valley Public Radio)
A poll conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that 18 percent of all LGBTQ Americans refrain from seeing a physician for fear of discrimination.

Dorm Design Affects Student Outcomes, Especially for African Americans (Insight Into Diversity)
A new study, published in the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, examines whether residence hall design affects new student academic outcomes.

Yale Was a Boys’ Club For Centuries. Then the First Women Came Along. (Chronicle of Higher Edu)
As Anne Gardiner Perkins explains in her forthcoming book, Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules of an Ivy League Giant, those women had to cope with a culture that tended to view them less as fellow leaders-to-be and more as campus curiosities. “Institutions do not slough off their history so easily,” she writes.

Extension in the News

Cash Crop
The Mail Tribune
“With cannabis, people were concerned about underutilization of land because of the limit on the number of plants,” noted Maud Powell, RVFSN board chair, Applegate farmer and Oregon State University Small Farms extension agent. Underutilization of land puts water rights, soil health and EFU designations at risk and takes land out of agricultural production.

Food preservation hotline open July 15
The Register-Guard
If you’re getting ready to preserve oodles of produce or a fresh catch of fish but want to be sure you’re doing it safely, the Oregon State University Extension Service food preservation hotline is here to help.

July 2, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Bright Spots

Quiet week this week for many, with lots of vacations. Enjoy your 4th of July holiday!

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

  • Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
  • OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
  • Read ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

Hey, did you see this?

A handful of EESC communicators attended the Association for Communication Excellence Annual Conference last week and heard teacher, author, coach, speaker Ali Goljahmofrad. Here’s his TEDx-Idaho Falls talk about happiness: https://youtu.be/DYAacAWS7Dg

Extension Web Update

This week’s Navigator blog post looks at “8 ways to freshen up your newsletters” with ideas from a sampling of the Extension newsletters produced across the state.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

REGISTER TODAY: Search Advocate Workshop: July 9 & 10

The OSU Search Advocate program prepares employees to serve as external process-focused representatives on OSU search committees. The advocate asks questions and suggests practices that interrupt implicit bias and advance equity, validity, and diversity/inclusive excellence in our OSU employee searches. Initial preparation consists of a two-day workshop series and there are still openings for next week’s workshop! Register athttp://oregonstate.edu/training/course_list.php?cat_id=45 ; registration for next week closes on Wednesday July 3.

Statewide Events & Resources

Native Seed Collection at Rogue River Preserve
Wednesday, July 3 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Join Rogue Native Plant Partnership and Southern Oregon Land Conservancy for a seed collection volunteer work party at Rogue River Preserve outside of Eagle Point, OR.

2019 Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow
Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 14 at the Uyxat Powwow Grounds. Hosted by the The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

OSU International Faculty and Scholar Coffee Social
Friday, July 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center. Sponsored by OSU Folk Club, Crossroads International, and OSU Office of International Services.

100 & Change funding opportunity from the MacArthur Foundation
100 & Change is a MacArthur Foundation competition for a $100 million grant to fund a single proposal that will make measurable progress toward solving a significant problem. Proposals focused on any critical issue are welcome. https://www.100andchange.org/. A 100&Change Organization Readiness Tool is available here: http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/researchdevelopment/files/2019/06/100Change-Organization-Readiness-Tool.pdf. Questions, email research.develoment@oregonstate.edu.

In the News

New learning center opens the door to industry child care in Boardman (East Oregonian)
According to a study out of Oregon State University earlier this year, just 16% of children between the ages of 3 and 5 have access to regulated care in Morrow County.

Deschutes County sees rise in minimum wage (Bend Bulletin)
In Deschutes County, the minimum wage will rise from $10.75 per hour to $11.25 per hour. In the Portland metro area, the minimum wage will be $12.50 per hour. In rural counties, including Crook and Jefferson, it will be $11 per hour.

Diversity Is Central to This Research Program. How Does Yours Compare? (Chronicle of Higher Edu)
Beyond ensuring fairness in scientific work force representation, recruiting and retaining a diverse set of minds and approaches is vital to harnessing the complete intellectual capital of the nation.

Extension in the News

4-H instructor gives out free chain covers for fire season
KTVL
Ruth Dixon, Curry County 4-H Educational Assistant under Oregon State University’s extension program, received covers for chains at a training she went to. The covers are used for chains you may use to attach to your vehicle to haul different things.

New PE program helps schools meet state standards
Clackamas Review
Kathy Gunter, associate professor with the Oregon State University Extension Service, stepped in to create a classroom-based physical activity program called, “Be Physically Active 2DAY!” or BEPA. BEPA aligns with Oregon health and physical education standards.

June 25, 2019

Posted on by

In this week’s issue:

Willie Riggs Retirement Celebration

Willie Riggs is retiring, come to his retirement celebration at the Klamath County Fairgrounds blue building, June 28 from 4:00-8:00 PM. There will be light refreshments and drinks, a no host bar is provided. Come and celebrate a great career.

Dana Martin Retirement Celebration

Please join us for a few minutes or the entire time, to just say hello to Dana, tell your favorite Dana story (oh I know there are many) or just remind her how much her efforts have been appreciated.


We’ll provide some hors d’oeuvres and punch, please feel free to bring something you and/or others will enjoy, or not – mostly it’s your presence that will be most valuable.  Please join us on:

Thursday, June 27, 2019
4 – 6 pm (or so)
North Sister Building, Deschutes County Fair & Expo
Redmond, OR
RSVP if you can attend, by calling/texting Candi Bothum.

Office:  541-548-6088 x 79540
Cell/Text:  541-419-6350

Communication and connection opportunites

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

  • Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
  • OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
  • Read ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

Video clips featuring Extension

In addition to the 80-second and longer silent Out There Extension videos, six short 30-second clips are now available. The clips feature various Extension programs around a variety of Extension themes: youth outreach, healthy living, food production and food resiliency, and thriving communities. The videos can be downloaded from the “Marketing Templates, Tools and Inspiration” folder in Box where Extension and AES logos are located. All videos are currently available in English with captioning and soon will be available in Spanish with captioning. The videos also are available on the Extension YouTube Channel. You are encouraged to use social media to share the videos.

Extension Web Update

Check out our blog this week. This is part one of preparing for the future. Find out why is adding content is so complicated.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

Pi-ume-sha Health Fair: Wednesday, June 26 at 9 AM – 1 PM. 2200 Hollywood Blvd, Warm Springs. Hosted by CTWS Community Health Services and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

CMLC Citizenship Workshop and Legal Consultation Clinic: Free Citizenship Clinic for those interested in getting U.S citizenship. Attendees will be provided with answers to questions about getting started on the process, and be provided an opportunity to meet briefly with an immigration attorney for free. Friday, June 28 , 4-8 p.m., Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center, 2638 N.W. Jackson Ave. Presentations will be held at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m, legal consultations held all evening. Free. Contact info@cmlcenter.org to reserve a free consultation with an immigration lawyer. This workshop is co-sponsored by SOAR (http://emoregon.org/soar/), a Portland-based nonprofit that specializes in citizenship and immigration processes.

22nd annual World Beat Festival: Friday, June 28 – Sunday June 30 at Riverfront Park in Salem. Hosted by the Salem Multicultural Institute.

PDX Pride Luau: Saturday, June 29 at the Lagunitas Community Room (237 NE Broadway St, Portland). Hosted by Utopia PDX – United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance Portland.

 In the News

Protesters rally at Oregon State Capitol as Senate unable to reach quorum (Statesman Journal)
The Oregon Senate was unable to reach a quorum during their brief floor session Sunday morning as Republican senators continued their unexcused absence from the Capitol.

“Women’s experiences at work are undeniably different.” (NY Times)
“There are certain things that women learn from a lifetime of operating in male-dominated spaces — things like patience, compassion and calm — that may be assets.”

What’s the matter with moving these federal workers to Kansas City?  (CNN Politics)

Who’s in and who’s out of the Beltway? Amazon is moving into the DC, region, frustrating locals; and parts of the federal government are moving out, frustrating displaced employees.

Half of all college students are food insecure. Are universities doing enough to help them? (Pacific Standard)

Program directors fighting food insecurity across the country applaud these gestures—and point to examples of real change that resulted from them. For example, Oregon State’s faculty senate passed a resolution this year to include a section on every class syllabus that refers students who are struggling to find food or housing to the Human Services Resource Center, according to Nicole Hindes, the center’s assistant director.

Extension in the news

Outdoor School, state parks team for ‘Get Out There Together’
KTVZ
“Oregon State Parks and the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program are committed to helping families continue to engage in the outdoors and extend the amazing opportunities that Outdoor School provides,” said Kristopher Elliott, an Oregon State University Extension Service assistant director who leads statewide Outdoor School.

June 18, 2019

Posted on by

In this week’s issue:

Bright Spots

The Dalles Game Dev. Students Win Player’s Choice Award at OGPC

Last month, two middle school 4-H Tech Club teams from Wasco County travelled to Monmouth to show off their video game projects at the annual Oregon Game Project Challenge (OGPC).

“Lightened Studios” from The Dalles, with developers: Colin Schecter, Ian Field, and Silas Parsons, took home the Player’s Choice award for their game Light which dealt with the season’s theme of scarcity by allowing players to explore a world without light. Their game also looked at mental health issues such as depression.

The Dufur team “DR Studios,” made up of developers: AJ Shaw, Caleb Brougher, and Kathryn Schreiber, also got plenty of attention and feedback for their first year at the competition. And the team has already started planning what to make for next year’s challenge.

Willie Riggs Retirement Celebration

Willie Riggs is retiring, come to his retirement celebration at the Klamath County Fairgrounds blue building, June 28 from 4:00-8:00 PM. There will be light refreshments and drinks, a no host bar is provided. Come and celebrate a great career.

Dana Martin Retirement Celebration

Please join us for a few minutes or the entire time, to just say hello to Dana, tell your favorite Dana story (oh I know there are many) or just remind her how much her efforts have been appreciated.


We’ll provide some hors d’oeuvres and punch, please feel free to bring something you and/or others will enjoy, or not – mostly it’s your presence that will be most valuable.  Please join us on:

Thursday, June 27, 2019
4 – 6 pm (or so)
North Sister Building, Deschutes County Fair & Expo
Redmond, OR
RSVP if you can attend, by calling/texting Candi Bothum.

Office:  541-548-6088 x 79540
Cell/Text:  541-419-6350

Nonprofit law changes go into effect in January 2020

At long last revisions have been made to the Oregon laws governing nonprofits! Please share this information with your professional associations, 4-H associations, and other nonprofit partners. Some of the major changes include a new provision to allow a board to vote by email, default rules for voting and governance if they are not specified in the corporation’s documents, requiring a treasurer (as well as a president and secretary), and permitting the election of officers who are not members of the board. There are also new definitions for “appointed,” “designated,” and “elected” board members.

from the Nonprofit Association of Oregon:
SB360 was passed by the Oregon Legislature and signed into law by Governor Kate Brown with an effective date of January 1, 2020. This law refines and rewrites portions of ORS Chapter 65 – the set of laws that govern nonprofits in Oregon.

Changes should clarify or improve the functioning of the statutory framework, but not make major policy changes to the legal structure for nonprofit corporations in Oregon. A nonprofit corporation should, with limited exceptions, be able to draft its own governance rules through its Articles and Bylaws. Certain rules will be mandatory and will be clearly identified as such in the statutes. Most rules will be default rules and will apply if the Articles and Bylaws of a nonprofit corporation are silent on the issue.

For a detailed explanation of the bill and discussion of the purposes behind some of the changes, see the Report on the NOLS website.

Full text of the bill: https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB360

Juntos statewide leadership

It is a great pleasure to announce Gina Galaviz-Yap has been appointed as the Statewide Leader of the OSU Juntos Program, beginning July 10, 2019. Juntos has been under the interim leadership of José Garcia since August of 2018.

Currently, the Director of Admissions at Eastern Oregon University, Gina brings a wide variety of experiences to Juntos, including serving at Oregon State University as the past Interim Program Coordinator of the Campus Visitor Center from 2011-2014. Gina has also been an Admissions Advisor at OSU, and is a self-described social justice champion. With this incredible background, Juntos will continue to be closely aligned to OSU Enrollment Management and the University Division of Outreach & Engagement.

Under the leadership of OSU’s Open Campus Program, Juntos serves Latinx families across the state to reduce barriers to higher education, empower families around educational systems, and develop culturally-relevant curriculum. Juntos partners with over 40 schools across the state to provide year-round impactful programming funded by OSU, Community Colleges, School Districts, The Ford Family Foundation, and multiple community partners.

Please help me welcome Gina back to Oregon State University, and thank José Garcia for his interim leadership.

Promotional items now easy to order

The promotional items are now in an online catalog similar to the publications catalog. You can get to it through the For Employees  link at the bottom of the main Extension page on the right. The link to Marketing/Promo items is the fourth option down on the “Popular Links” menu on the left. You’ll need to be logged in with your affiliate account (the same login used to purchase catalog publications) Let Pete know if you need your password reset.

Marketing as a tool for social justice

Recorded at the annual brand symposium, University Marketing shared how they embarked on the adoption of a cultural enhancement model in a presentation titled Elevating the Conversation: How to use marketing as a tool for social justice. It’s an approach of great interest to EESC as we make progress in making our marketing tools and messages more authentic and accessible. A second presentation by Dr. Susan Shaw, College of Liberal Arts, titled Spheres of Influence: Difference, power, and social justice in university marketing also was recorded. The recordings have a permanent home in the “Marketing Templates, Tools and Inspiration” subfolder of the Box folder where logos are found.

Extension “healthy living” tote bags

Now available! A colorful tote bag promoting “healthy living” is the newest addition to the Extension promotional item inventory. Made from sturdy 100% recycled materials, it is an affordable ($1 per tote) and lively way to increase awareness of OSU Extension. Order totes through the promotional items web page.

Snapchat geofilter at your county fair

Last year, Snapchat geofilters proved to be a cost effect way to engage 4-H audiences and expand awareness of Extension at county fairs. The SnapChat Geofilter Innovation Team encourages each county to flight geofilters again this year. With no prompting, Snapchat users seek out new geofilters when they are in a new location or attending an event so no Snapchat expertise is required. Instructions, templates and everything you need to successfully flight a geofilter can be found in the Snapchat Box folder.

Extension Web Update

Tips to make web content accessible to visitors with disabilities and others using assistive technology.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

Here Comes the FUN: Dam Right Drag Night’s 2nd Annual Pride: Join the Dam Right Drag Night crew for a night full of gag-worthy performances from some of the Willamette Valley’s fiercest performers in celebration of Pride Month. This show is open to all folks ages 16 and up. June 21-22 starting at 9:30am in Corvaliis. For more information, visit the event page.

Oregonians and the State’s Racist Past, Present, and Future: Join facilitator Tai Harden-Moore in a conversation that asks, What does Oregon’s racist past mean for Oregonians? How does the state’s history affect how bias shows up for individuals? This conversation will also look at how we can identify our own racial biases and work toward concrete ways to move forward as individuals and community. June 22 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm in Portland. For more information visit the event page.

Trauma-Informed Hate Response: How to Offer Help to Those Who Have Been a Target of Hate: In this training, they will address how to assess and respond to someone who has recently been the target of hate. June 29 from 9:00am to 1:00pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

OSU-Cascades notes record diversity in Class of 2019

Oregon State University–Cascades graduated its most diverse class ever during its 18th commencement ceremony Sunday, June 16, including a record number of graduates who are the first in their family to earn a college degree.

In Rural Oregon, Pride Organizers Are Fighting For Recognition—From Their Hometowns and the LGBTQ Community at Large

Trish Perry has a dream—she wants to see a Pride parade in her hometown of Bend. At a glance, that hardly seems like an impossible goal. After all, Bend is one of the fastest-growing cities not just in Oregon but the entire United States, and there’s already a Pride celebration that happens in downtown’s Drake Park.

Women in Oceanography Still Navigate Rough Seas

Female scientists have weathered bias, lack of support, and unsafe work environments since the dawn of oceanography. Could recent initiatives, technology, and awareness chart the way to safer waters?

The lavender scare: How the federal government purged gay employees

You may have heard of the “Red Scare” of the 1950s – the fear stoked by Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy that Communists had infested the federal government. Accused State Department employees would be interviewed for the purpose of acquiring information concerning others. “That was the technique that was used by the government: grab one person, and then get that person to inform on other people,” said filmmaker Josh Howard.

Portland Pride Parade 2019: Tens of thousands clad in rainbow colors flood downtown Portland (PHOTOS)

An estimated 45,000 people packed about a mile long route in downtown Portland Sunday, June 16, 2019, for the Portland Pride Parade. Approximately 8,000 people from nearly 200 group participated, including the motorcycle group Dykes on Bikes, Nike, Keen, Alaska Airlines, the Harry Potter Alliance, Powells Books, Mayor Ted Wheeler, Senator Ron Wyden and Portland’s new fire chief Sara Boone.

Extension in the news

Growers hope standards bring order to hemp industry ‘mess’
Associated Press
Lloyd Nackley, a plant ecologist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, holds freshly picked tops of hemp plants from one of Oregon State’s hemp research stations in Aurora, Ore.

Milwaukie Center class participants Walk With Ease
Clackamas Review
For the past six years, the Milwaukie Center has partnered with the Oregon State University Extension Service’s Family and Community Health program in Clackamas County.

Drone safety needs emphasized
Fox 12 news
Victor Villegas helps get the message out, be safe with your drones.

June 11, 2019

Posted on by

In this week’s issue:

Bright Spots

Oregon Extension colleagues receive national recognition

Congratulations to the OSU Extension Oregon Gamma Chapter colleagues being recognized at the national Epsilon Sigma Phi conference:

  • Patricia Dawson, National Distinguished Service Ruby Award (former 4-H Youth Development, Umatilla County)
  • Deb Warnock, Distinguished Service Award (4-H Youth Development, Wallowa County)
  • Joy Jones, Continued Excellence Award (retired 4-H Youth Development and Master Gardeners™, Tillamook County)
  • José Garcia, Early Career Service Award (Open Campus/Juntos, Yamhill County)
  • Kristopher Elliott, Visionary Leadership Award (Outdoor School)
  • Barbara Brody, Diversity Multicultural Team (4-H, Family & Community Health, and SNAP-Ed , Grant and Malheur Counties)

Awardees will be honored during the 2019 Epsilon Sigma Phi National Conference, October 14-17, 2019, in Colorado Springs. Click here for conference details and registration information.

4-H Float in Starlight Parade

For the third consecutive year, the Oregon 4-H Youth Development Program was represented with a Starlight paradefloat in the Rose Festival Starlight Parade on June 1. The float was designed and built by 4-H youth in Clackamas and Washington counties. See the amazing 4-H float here. The parade was broadcast live by Fox 12 and an estimated crowd of 300,000 attended the event in downtown Portland.

 

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

  • Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
  • OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
  • Read ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

Extension Web Update

Check out this weeks blog on keeping constituent experience a top priority. Our goal is to retain and enhance people’s awareness of the unique expertise and perspective brought to their questions and their challenges by OSU Extension Service.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

Oregon Inclusive Emergency Planning (ORIEP) Workshop: Help improve emergency planning across Oregon to include persons with disabilities. Together, we can work toward emergency planning done with and for all Oregonians. June 18 from 8:30am to 4:30pm in Salem. For more info, visit the event page.

Latino Health Equity Conference: Seeding Latino Food Equity: Science tells us that eating healthy foods can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and cancer, yet many Latinos struggle to access those foods. This conference will explore topics that address food equity for Latinos, with specific emphasis on how colonization has and continues to have impact on food choice, availability, and cultural identity. June 21 from 8:30am to 4:30pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

Here Comes the FUN: Dam Right Drag Night’s 2nd Annual Pride: Join the Dam Right Drag Night crew for a night full of gag-worthy performances from some of the Willamette Valley’s fiercest performers in celebration of Pride Month. This show is open to all folks ages 16 and up. June 21 from 9:30pm to 11:30pm in Corvallis. For more information, visit the event page.

Oregonians and the State’s Racist Past, Present, and Future: Join facilitator Tai Harden-Moore in a conversation that asks, What does Oregon’s racist past mean for Oregonians? How does the state’s history affect how bias shows up for individuals? This conversation will also looks at how you can identify our own racial biases and work toward concrete ways to move forward as individuals and community. June 22 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm in Portland. For more info visit the event page.

In the News

Madras High sees Native American graduation rate double

“Olney is one of 45 Native American students who graduated from Madras High on June 1 — that’s 19 more graduates than in the class of 2018. She had multiple theories as to why these students have become more successful at Madras, from the school’s welcoming vibe to a tribal dance program that began when she was in middle school.”

Top 10 milestones of Portland’s Pride celebration

This weekend, the 45th annual Portland Pride celebration, presented by the nonprofit Pride Northwest, will include a two-day Waterfront Festival, and a Sunday parade that will wind its way from Old Town to Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

OSU-Cascades students promote diversity in Bend

A group of OSU-Cascades students are looking to create opportunities for more diversity and inclusivity in Bend.

Entire school learns sign language to welcome deaf kindergartner

At Dayton Consolidated School in Maine, one student has inspired a big change to the curriculum. Morey Belanger, a 6-year-old kindergartener, is the school’s first deaf student. To make her feel welcome, the school embraced the opportunity to teach all the students some sign language.

Boot camp in Oregon aims to bring more women to wildland firefighting

A special boot camp in eastern Oregon aims to bring more women into wildland firefighting careers.

Nike introduces curvy mannequins

Nike’s flagship London store has introduced plus-size and para-sport mannequins to its redeveloped women’s floor, signaling a further step towards inclusivity for the sportswear brand.

Breaking the Silence on Violence Against Native American Men

Anyone can find themselves in an abusive relationship. Contrary to a common misperception, women are not the only ones who can experience domestic violence: American Indian and Alaska Native men report high rates of domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking, too.

Extension in the news

Crypto may be concern for calves
The Madras Pioneer
Scott Duggan suggests caution especially for children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems and the elderly.

OSU names interim vice president for outreach and engagement
The Register-Guard
Anita Azarenko, who has served more than 30 years in a variety of leadership roles at Oregon State University, has been named interim vice provost for the Division of University Outreach and Engagement and director of the OSU Extension Service.

OSU’s ‘dairy person’ answers popular questions
Capital Press
Among her many roles as an assistant professor at Oregon State University Extension, Jenifer Cruickshank serves as the “dairy person” on food-related tours organized by the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council.

Pasture management key to dairy profits
Capital Press
When feed costs rise, dairy producers take a renewed interest in growing high-quality feeds on their own land to keep overhead low. That was the case 10 years ago, “… when feed costs went crazy,” said Troy Downing, the Oregon State University Extension dairy specialist in Tillamook County. The county is one of the top three Oregon milk producers.