PUBLICATIONS
From Facebook to Snapchat, rural businesses are exploring how to use social media to improve their customer’s experience and expand their customer base. Over the last eight years, USDA and the Obama Administration have partnered with rural communities to build more opportunities that support rural small business owners, farmers and ranchers through applied research.
EVENTS/LEARNING
- October is National Cooperative Month!
As part of this month’s celebration, USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is holding a series of training and informational webinars to showcase the many important ways cooperatives empower our daily lives. For the full calendar of events for Co-op Month, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/cooperative-programs, or to request special accommodations, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
1-2:15 pm EST Speaker: Margaret Bau, RBS Cooperative Programs
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/x3d3w44ec7ex&eom
2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: Meegan Moriarty, RBS Cooperative Programs
Speakers: Todd R. Eskelsen, Schiff Hardin, LLP and Marlis Carson, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/fjn0raup3sgh&eom
2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: Margaret Bau, RBS Cooperative Programs
Speakers: Dr. David Proctor, Rural Grocery Initiative, Kansas State University and Marnie Thompson, Fund 4 Democratic Communities
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/v92f7ysqo9k0&eom
- Oct 19, 2016 Farm to School and the Role of Cooperatives – Producer and Buyer Perspectives
2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: James Barham, RBS Cooperative Programs
Speakers: Andrea Northup, USDA Food Nutrition Service, Jennie Rengert, Fifth Season Cooperative, Krista Garand, Durango School District, and Janet Fogel, Mancos School District
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/jlm99m0d6tul&eom
2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: Scott Cessarich, RBS Cooperative Programs
Speakers: Jesus Lucero, USA Cooperative Youth Council, Hnin Hnin, Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive, and Morgan Crawford, North American Students of Cooperation
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/57tvjzrooxe4&eom
10:30 am-12 pm EST Facilitator: Claudette Fernandez, RBS Cooperative Programs / Community Economic Development
(Whitten Bldg - 107A) Speakers: Cornelius Blanding, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Mai Nguyen, California Center for Cooperative Development, and Nikki Marin Baena, Southern Reparations Loan Fund
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/8gljluzevxt8&eom
On October 18 at 1pm EDT the Community Solutions - Community of Practice is hosting The Arts Block: A Case Study on Ethical Redevelopment, a webinar with guest presenters Theaster Gates and Calvin L. Holmes, President of Chicago Community Loan Fund. In this webinar, Gates will provide an overview of how he and his team (in partnership with a range of local partners, funders, and philanthropist) leverage arts and culture as an economic engine on Chicago’s disinvested South Side, and the people-first ethical principles that guide their work in community development. Holmes will discuss community building, housing, and workforce development. The Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) is one of largest 10 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) in Illinois. CCLF is a major partner of the Stony Island Arts Bank - a hybrid gallery, media archive, library and community center. The radically restored building serves as a space for neighborhood residents to preserve, access, reimagine and share their heritage. This is the 8th in a series of bi-weekly innovation calls for the Community of Practice to gather on a specific topic.
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program helps fund organizations implementing programs throughout the United States that train beginning farmers and ranchers, through workshops, educational teams, training and technical assistance. Eligible applicants include collaborative state, tribal, local or regionally-based networks or partnerships of public or private entities such as state cooperative extension services, community-based organizations, colleges or universities; and other organizations providing services to beginning farmers and ranchers. NIFA will host a free informational webinar for interested applicants on Oct. 26 from 1-3 p.m. EST.
Although much has been written on the value of immigrant entrepreneurship, relatively little research to date focuses on strategies for supporting these individuals. Welcoming America, a national nonprofit and non-partisan organization focused on immigrant inclusion, has addressed this gap by releasing a how-to-guide for those interested in supporting immigrant entrepreneurship in their cities. Produced with Global Detroit, an initiative focused on southeast Michigan’s international community, Seeds of Growth describes practical ways for regions across the nation to leverage opportunities associated with including immigrant entrepreneurs in local economic development strategies and programs. Read more...
- Webinar Series Will Get You Ready and Set to “GO” on a Community Food Sovereignty Assessment
First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) has scheduled a new series of four free First Nations Knowledge webinars that will help Native organizations and tribal communities get ready and set to “GO” on conducting a Community Food Sovereignty Assessment, with the last in the series focusing on moving forward with action planning after the assessment. Please register for each webinar individually:
- October 18, 2016 @ 1:00 p.m. MDT
“Ready! Starting the Community Food Sovereignty Assessment Process”
Understanding food sovereignty and what it means to each community or tribe; a few examples of food sovereignty work in Indian Country; defining and engaging the community to be assessed; identifying the “core group” who will work on the Community Food Sovereignty Assessment (CFSA); developing a timeline for the assessment work. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7092073577509146114
- November 15, 2016 @ 1:00 p.m. MST
"Set! Designing your Community Food Sovereignty Assessment"
Identifying priority issues for focus in the CFSA; designing the assessment tools, methods and questions; publicizing the work and setting up logistics for success. An organization or tribe will share experiences and best practices. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7049058483607326210
- December 13, 2016 @ 1:00 p.m. MST
"Go! Conducting Your Community Food Sovereignty Assessment"
Conducting the assessment; analyzing the data; dissemination and confidentiality of data; how to use data for strategic/project planning and grant proposals; how to use data for policy development. An organization or tribe will share experiences and best practices. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3422440325667269378
- January 17, 2017 @ 1:00 p.m. MST
"Moving Forward! Community-Based Policy and Action Plans"
Developing action plans from the CFSA data; experience gained through community engagement during the CFSA. This webinar will highlight success stories from two organizations or tribes. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2798412501323018754
