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Illinois Extension expands access to cultural competency training through train-the-trainer event

Navigating Difference Cultural Competency Trainers

URBANA, Ill. — Illinois Extension hosted a national training for the Navigating Difference Cultural Competency curriculum. Eighteen Extension professionals from five states, including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Missouri, participated in a train-the-trainer program at Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello.

Navigating Difference Cultural Competency training helps to equip Extension staff members with the knowledge and skills to engage with diverse audiences. The training incorporates techniques and tools to increase cultural awareness and build competencies and provides opportunities to examine how personal and organizational cultures influence our ability to work across differences. Washington State University Extension developed the cultural competency curriculum using key adult education theories and practices that create a safe and welcoming environment for all learners. 

Over the past year, WSUE has passed on leadership of the curriculum to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Purdue University Extension, and University of Illinois Extension. The recent training was a collaboration between these three state Extension programs to train a new cohort of facili-trainers for the program. This change in leadership is an important step for the future of the curriculum. The collaborative leadership team is working on plans to update the curriculum, provide support and additional guidance for the trainers, and develop new cohorts of leaders for Navigating Difference. 

Illinois Extension will continue to lead opportunities for our staff and community members. We will work internally to provide more workshops for our staff to build competencies in all aspects of our work. Extension six new trainers will be recognized along with existing trainers on Nov. 20 at Illinois Extension’s Annual Conference in Champaign.

About Extension

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.