October 7, 2024
Transforming communities through partnerships
Submitted by Office of Engagement
Kansas State University has both the opportunity and the responsibility to harness its vast resources and expertise in ways that honor the university's unique structure while also challenging historical norms.
Historically, K-State Research and Extension, which serves as the hub for a statewide network present in all 105 Kansas counties, has focused on educational outreach to positively shape communities. Today, extension is evolving to drive transformative partnerships that engage and uplift local communities.
One powerful example of a transformative partnership emerged during the Jackson County regional community visit. Jackson County's child care task force, KSRE agent Teresa Hatfield and local partners have been working together to address the community's child care needs.
The event also spotlighted the findings of a recent child care needs assessment conducted in partnership with the Jackson County child care task force and the Applied Research in Child Health and Enhancing Resilience, or ARCHER, laboratory in K-State's College of Health and Human Sciences and KSRE. Bradford Wiles, assistant professor and extension specialist in early childhood development, leads the ARCHER lab's research and programming efforts.
Tonya Barta, president and CEO of The Farmers State Bank in Holton and current K-State Alumni Association board member, emphasized the importance of collaboration with community members and industry partners in addressing the child care crisis.
"Bringing the right people to the table on this issue is key," Barta said. "That's what gets an issue resolved in a small town."
By enhancing extension and engagement efforts across the institution, K-State is poised to combine the strengths and resources of multiple entities to drive even greater impact. This focus will be central to K-State Extension and Engagement Week on Oct. 20-26, where campus partners will be invited to engage with extension professionals. K-State faculty and staff will have the opportunity to learn alongside extension agents and specialists, exploring new avenues for collaboration.
Other opportunities during the week include joining the K-State 105 team for a demo of All Things Kansas — a free, interactive tool that features data-driven mapping, reports and insights for all 105 counties of Kansas or participating in a skill-building workshop titled New Strategies for Community Conversations hosted by the Kansas Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, or KACDEP. Additional opportunities, details and registration information for events can be found on the K-State website.
For questions about Extension and Engagement Week, please contact the Office of Engagement at ooengage@k-state.edu.