2018 National EFNEP Coordinators' Conference

Among the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals is the eradication of poverty and hunger. Meeting the growing demand for food in a changing community context and in an environmentally and socially sustainable way demands innovative approaches. This presentation will review insights from the 2017 Growing Together project. Informed by Peter Drucker's work in organizational strategic assessment that aids leaders in maintaining a culture of organizational change and learning, this project connected new internal and external partners in collaborative partnerships to empower community volunteers (supported by community based professionals) in addressing food security issues. The project employed community donation gardens in four pilot communities across Indiana, as part of a multi-state effort supported by SNAP-Ed and EFENP staff. With the ever-increasing competition for resources and the importance of reporting and accountability, leading sustainable organizations and interventions require organizations to be nimble and responsive. This session will share strategies used by Purdue Extension leaders to stop doing what wasn't working, while implementing mechanisms for meeting emerging stakeholder demands and community needs, and then aligning those with a refreshed organizational mission. These insights will be shared within the context of creating customer value, building effective plans and strategies, and balancing continuity and change in the work place.