Community involvement and leadership are core skills essential to thriving communities. Many of Extension’s most popular and long-standing programs celebrate community connectedness and the benefits of living in a society that is enabled to facilitate group decisionmaking and implement effective plans.

Our programs and tools enhance local, state, and national efforts to create vibrant economic ecosystems that provide opportunity for businesses, communities, and the Illinois workforce. We are committed to enhancing community resilience because we believe it is the foundation of economic vitality.

Extension programs facilitate decision-making and discourse that balance the needs of agricultural producers against public interest in sustainable food production and preservation of the natural environment. Our work connects those who are vested in protecting and preserving natural resources.

With target audiences ranging from small farm producers to global food manufacturers to those who shop for and prepare meals for their families, Illinois Extension maintains a portfolio of resources to address issues of safety, security, and access throughout the food production, preparation, and consumption cycle.

We believe healthy families are an essential component of resilient communities, so our programs address critical issues like financial literacy, health management, and family wellness. Illinois Extension and our partners are committed to supporting Illinois at its most vulnerable level—individual families.