I believe that mutual respect, openness, creativity, and innovation—the core values of the 21st century—are the hallmarks of Cooperative Extension work.
I believe that Extension educators are called upon not only to affirm these values but also to ensure that they comprise an integral part of our work.
I believe that Extension educators constitute the most valuable of all infrastructure—human infrastructure—and that this deep reservoir built of trust and collaboration retains an infinite capacity for fostering human achievement.
I believe that we are more than simple purveyors of knowledge—we are knowledge enablers whose charge is to add value to knowledge by demonstrating how practical, meaningful, and lasting use can be derived from it.
I believe that our long-standing experience with and affinity for collaborative learning, reflected in the work of Seaman Knapp and Booker T. Washington, singularly equip us for the immense challenges that await us in the 21st century.
I believe that the collaborative learning embodied in Extension work is enhanced by a generous measure of empathy and compassion.
I believe that in an era of frenetic growth punctuated by rampant scarcity, we are called to be sustainers, securing and enriching the lives and livelihoods of those we serve without eroding the ability of future generations to secure and enrich theirs.
I believe that by acknowledging and celebrating our differences, we enhance opportunities for personal growth and enrichment and secure the personal freedom of and respect for all.
I believe that the prevailing winds of change are summoning us to do what we have always done best: to work, to teach, and to inspire through dialogue and empowerment, demonstrating to our diverse audiences the value of accepting and embracing change as an inevitable facet of life and as an opportunity to formulate new ways of thinking, living, and working.
I believe passionately in these ideals and because they embody the essence of Cooperative Extension work, I proudly proclaim and honor them as my own.
Our Mission
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the primary outreach organization for the land grant mission of Alabama A&M University and Auburn University, delivers research-based educational programs that enable people to improve their quality of life and economic well-being.
Core Values
- Research-based programs, materials, and educational activities
- Positive relationships with clients, communities, partners, and stakeholders
- Relevant programming that addresses current societal challenges and opportunities
Related Topics
Alabama is home to more than 4.7 million people. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System reaches one in three Alabamians, providing research-based educational programs in agriculture; forestry, wildlife, and natural resources; family and consumer sciences; economic and community development; 4-H and youth development; and urban affairs.
Socio-economic data can provide important insights into the residents of the state’s 67 counties. This county data is an important tool of Alabama Extension, which uses it to target and fine tune its programs.
One resource used by Extension can be found at AlabamaPossible.org
Barriers to Prosperity: Data Sheet 2020
As a part of the Raising Trees Webinar Series, professionals presents a one-hour webinar in Spanish once a month. Retitled as Creciendo Arboles, these webinars are co-produced by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Auburn University and the University of Georgia.
Details
This webinar series is free to attend. These sessions can also be counted as ISA Continuing Education Units (CEU).
Dates and Topics
April 8 –Integrating Interdisciplinary Tools for Urban Tree Management
Francisco Escobedo, research social scientist with the Los Angeles Center for Urban Natural Resources Sustainability, USDA Forest Service
Today, urban tree management requires more than planting and pruning trees. For better planning and management in the medium and long term, multiple tools and disciplines are also required. This presentation will show how tools based on ecology, economics, and other disciplines can contribute to the sustainability of trees. Examples of applied ecology and economics will be presented and how they can provide tools, guidelines and policies to promote the benefits of urban forests.
Registration: https://auburn.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4L41KW5VTUe7aIrRZoScmw
This three-part virtual series will familiarize audiences with key legal concepts associated with managing urban trees from various professional perspectives, including commercial, consulting, and municipal forest management.
Details
Dates and Topics
Each webinar starts at Noon CT. The webinars are presented through Zoom, an online video presentation format. Registration is required.
May 27 – Introduction to Key Legal Concepts in the Management of Urban Trees
Duration: 2 hours including a 15 minute question and answer session
- Welcome
- Beau Brodbeck, Skip Kincaid, and Dale Dickens
- Presentation 1: Key Legal Concepts: Negligence and Duty – 45 minutes
- Scott Rouse, Alabama Forestry Commission
- Presentation 2: Neighbor Law – 1 hour
- Joe Samnik, Expert Tree Consultants
- Q&A session – 15 minutes
Registration: https://auburn.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DUaAU80ITimxaNS8NDyGLA
June 3 – Consulting Arboriculture: Reducing Your Exposure to Liability
Duration: 2 hours including a 15 minute question and answer session
- Presentation 1: Concepts of Risk and Liability for Commercial and Consulting Arborists – 45 minutes
- Skip Kincaid, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist
- Presentation 2: A Review of ANSI A300 and How It Affects How You Do Business – 1 hour
- Joe Samnik, Expert Tree Consultant, LLC
- Q&A session – 15 minutes
Registration: https://auburn.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Nez0hmBmS1S02g8bZFXnQg
June 17 – Municipal Arboriculture: Minimizing your Community’s Legal Exposure
Duration: 2.5 hours including a 15 minute question and answer session
- Presentation 1: How are Alabama Communities Addressing Tree Risk and Liability: Results from an Alabama Study – 15 minutes
- Beau Brodbeck, Alabama Extension specialist
- Presentation 2: Managing Municipal Forests: Where are the Legal Challenges? – 1 hour
- Joe Samnik, Expert Tree Consultant, LLC
- Topics: Tree injuries, roots and sidewalks, sign visibility, and the role of ordinances and inventories
- Presentation 3: Good Steps, Bad Steps – 1 hour
- Skip Kincaid, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist
- Q&A Session – 15 Minutes
Registration: https://auburn.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_irwQgeUSTaaXHiVabnOOdQ
Sponsoring Organizations
- The Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Auburn University
- The Alabama Forestry Commission
- The Southern Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture
