***This post is written by Mira Karthik who joined me in Louisiana for this series. Having just finished work on a political campaign and gearing up for a Fulbright engagement in Peru, she was interested to learn more about the work we do with A Peace of My Mind. I met Mira in Northern Ireland last summer while I traveled with students from Willamette University … Continue reading LSU
I spent time with North Dakota Extension agents a couple weeks ago. It’s part of the mission of Land Grant Universities to connect the research of the institution to the day to day needs of a community. So they run 4-H programs for youth development, lead community nutrition programs, work with agricultural producers on best practices, and more. I’ve done a lot of work with … Continue reading NDSU
We spent a few days this fall with K-State Research and Extension professionals in Manhattan Kansas and asked, “When have you been inspired to engage with your community?” And this is what people said. What inspires you to engage with your community? Continue reading Engage
We landed in Georgia on the night of the big game. We were there to work with University Extension Agents to help them articulate and tell the story of how they had made an impact in their communities. Needless to say, the mood the next morning was pretty enthusiastic, as UGA brought home the national championship. Go Dawgs! They had been waiting 41 years, after … Continue reading Georgia
The day before the tragic storm in Kentucky, we were working with Extension agents at a statewide conference in Lexington. Extension programs are a division of land grant universities and their goal is to educate entire communities. These folks are charged with integrating the research of an institution into the day to day lives of the state’s residents. Extension agents offer nutrition programs in rural … Continue reading Kentucky
I live in the city, but my wife and I have a Christmas tree farm. So I’ve seen the divide. I’ve been on both sides of it. I know how my farm neighbors feel when yet another city person buys the field down the road. I know how my city friends joke about life in the country. I’ve seen kindness and patience on both sides, … Continue reading City boy in the country
In Washington DC last week, A Peace of My Mind set up a studio at the Joint Counsel of Extension Professionals’ Public Issues Leadership Development Conference. The theme of the gathering was Cultivating Civil Discourse, and we asked participants, “How have you cultivated civil discourse in the past year?” Given the tone of our national debate, and tuning into media outlets, my mood can be … Continue reading Civil Discourse
