The CREATE BRIDGES national team was recently recognized as a regional and national award runner-up by the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) at their 2021 Annual Conference, held virtually on May 15-19. Team members include Rachel Welborn, Grace Langford, and Russ Garner (Southern Rural Development Center [SRDC]); Alison Davis, Daniel Kahl, and Mercedes Maness (Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky at University of Kentucky); Stacey McCullough, Julianne Dunn, Brandon Mathews, Hazelle Whited, and Murriel Wiley (University of Arkansas); Sara Siems and Mike Woods (Oklahoma State University); Becky Bowen, Susan Jakes, and Chanel Nestor (North Carolina State University); Susan Odum and Zachary Kennedy (University of Illinois); Michael Patrick, Patrick Vanderpool, and Tim Hagaman (New Mexico State University, Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corporation, and New Mexico Economic Development Department [respectively]). Funding for CREATE BRIDGES is provided by Walmart.
Rachel Welborn, Associate Director at the SRDC and principle investigator on the project, noted this, “The CREATE BRIDGES team has demonstrated incredible innovation and creativity in addressing rural retail concerns in the trenches of the COVID-19 pandemic which threatened these businesses on an unprecedented scale. I am so pleased to be a part of such a dedicated team of Community Development Specialists.”
NACDEP has over 350 individual memberships, representing more than 40 states and territories. Active members are currently employed as Extension professionals with at least a 25% extension appointment with responsibilities or strong interests in community and economic development.
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