URBANA, Ill. — Establishing connections is essential for the expansion of Illinois Extension. Interdisciplinary work shows how collaboration across programs brings valuable knowledge to new audiences and builds lasting relationships. From teams that improve food access and eliminate food deserts to navigating economic changes and educating families with an impact extending to the children as educators apply real-world experiences in the classroom, interdisciplinary work breaks barriers for everyone. Extension recognizes the strides in interdisciplinary teamwork across the state at the November 2024 Annual Conference.
Joint initiatives eliminate food desert in southern Illinois
In a 16-county region of Southern Illinois stifled by a food desert, access to nutritious options was no longer an option but a pressing necessity. The collaboration of the University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed and Community Economic Development teams led to the formation of the Southern Illinois Food Access Project to address food insecurity in the state's southernmost region and the opening of a grocery store in Cairo.
At the core of the collaborating teams was the Southern Illinois Food Access Regional Advisory Board, made up of 12 professionals guiding the journey to food access. Their efforts earned them the Interdisciplinary State Team Excellence award. Awardees include Jody Johnson, county Extension director; Angie Messmer, county Extension director and director of Dixon Springs Agricultural Center; Lizz Cooley-Questelle, SNAP-Ed educator; John Shadowens, visiting community economic development educator; Destenie Sullivan, community and economic development research assistant; Monica Meyer, fiscal office support specialist; Toni Kay Wright, SNAP-Ed educator; Lacey Barnhill, SNAP-Ed program coordinator.
One of the key milestones for this team was a comprehensive survey in Cairo and Gallatin County, providing invaluable insight into community needs. This survey lit the path to establishing community grocery stores and a new Cairo grocery store, the first of its kind in over seven years. To continue eliminating barriers to food access, the team partnered with Tri-State Food Bank in Evansville, Ind., to launch the "Food on the Move" Mobile Food Pantry. The mobile pantry travels to three southern Illinois counties that lack access to food pantries or grocery stores, serving over 70 families.
The project, initially funded by a $250,000 award from the Health Equity Achieved Together project, was leveraged to secure $2 million in additional funding, ensuring the growth and sustainability of the project. This interdisciplinary approach to food access not only tackles the issue of food insecurity but also invigorates future initiatives and promotes community health. Learn more about how community connections ended a food desert in southern Illinois in this article.
Photo Caption: Southern Illinois Food Access Project State Interdisciplinary State Team Excellence awardees include Jody Johnson, county Extension director; Angie Messmer, county Extension director and director of Dixon Springs Agricultural Center; Lizz Cooley-Questelle, SNAP-Ed educator; John Shadowens, visiting community economic development educator; Destenie Sullivan, community and economic development research assistant; Monica Meyer, fiscal office support specialist; Toni Kay Wright, SNAP-Ed educator; Lacey Barnhill, SNAP-Ed program coordinator.
Achieving a balanced diet while maintaining household finances should not have to be a trade-off. However, recent economic changes have revealed emerging food insecurity issues for U.S. households. According to the Federal Reserve's report Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2023, 21% of individuals with a household income less than $25,000 sometimes or often did not have enough to eat in the past month. It is the same for 10% of families with a household income of $25,000 to $50,000.
University of Illinois Extension Financial Educator Jamie Mahlandt and Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Chris Lueking teamed up to launch the Gardening and Grocery Planning program, connecting financial well-being with gardening knowledge. This pair’s work earned the Interdisciplinary Unit Team Excellence Award.
The Gardening and Grocery Planning program provides participants with tools and resources to improve their financial literacy and introduce them to succession gardening. The program, delivered through a presentation, includes food price trends and how impactful financial planning can be when building a grocery list, coupled with a discussion on gardening that aligns the growing season with grocery planning, featuring hands-on activities for participants to implement in a home garden. During the presentation, participants receive a Grocery Planner to plan and budget meals for grocery shopping as well as seedlings to kickstart a home garden.
The program caught the attention of diverse audiences by simplifying topics and unifying people with different interests. Echoes of the initiative's impact spread through communities as participants share their takeaways and donate their surplus produce to local food pantries. A participant survey showed an 84% increase in knowledge and positive feedback for more sessions, emphasizing the value of interdisciplinary teamwork. Learn more about each topic and apply the skills gained from this program at home by visiting go.illinois.edu/Youtubebcjmw.
Photo Caption: Gardening and Grocery program Unit Interdisciplinary State Team Excellence awardees include Financial Educator Jamie Mahlandt and Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Chris Lueking
The 4-H youth development Team collaborated with educators, integrating 4-H into school programming and introducing it to 84 classrooms in Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski, and Union counties in the spring of 2024. The team adapted dynamic hands-on learning, aligning with educational standards and encouraging experiential learning. Some of the most notable projects include life cycle studies through embryology lessons and butterfly studies, financial literacy, and career exposure through the “Welcome to the Real World” project, along with different cultures and becoming more aware of countries and customs through the “Passport to the World” project.
Since its launch, the number of students increased from 400 to 1,200, showcasing the program's innovation and relevancy for today’s youth. The successful integration of the program inspires new interests, develops critical skills, and celebrates student achievements. This program has benefitted local students and garnered national recognition, encouraging other programs to implement strategies from the school-based 4-H projects, paving the way for other impactful 4-H youth programming.
4-H Team: Jody Johnson, county Extension director; Monica Meyer, unit fiscal office support specialist; Amy Shuck, office support assistant; Kristi Stout, 4-H youth development educator; Dena Wood, 4-H youth development Extension program coordinator; Vickie Taylor, 4-H youth development Extension program coordinator
Illinois 4-H prepares youth to solve Illinois' problems by producing the leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, stewards, and builders we need. Learn how to get involved with 4-H in your community at 4h.extension.illinois.edu.
Photo Caption: 4-H youth development Team Unit Interdisciplinary State Team Excellence Honorable Mentions including Jody Johnson, county Extension director; Monica Meyer, unit fiscal office support specialist; Amy Shuck, office support assistant; Kristi Stout, 4-H youth development educator; Dena Wood, 4-H youth development Extension program coordinator; Vickie Taylor, 4-H youth development Extension program coordinator
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.