eXtension is excited to announce the first Community Issue Corps opportunity specifically targeting Communities of Practice
and Learning Networks. This Community Corps will identify and engage eXtension 
Communities in a Design Event supporting projects targeting local, area, state, or national audiences to make a visible and measurable impact at the local level. During the Design Event, eXtension will assist project teams in the refinement of their plans and provide access to resources and people (Key Informants) that will help shape the project’s design and potential impact. We are prepared to accept up to 10 projects/programs from existing or new eXtension Communities to become the first Community Issue Corps.
WHAT DOES A COMMUNITY CORPS PROJECT LOOK LIKE?
An eXtension Issue Corps project can be made up of a small or large team of individuals who have a common interest in solving a local problem or addressing a local issue. This is an opportunity for a Community to tackle a NEW topic or goal with NEW strategies for execution and evaluation that can then be applied to future projects and programs. A Corps project is a way to narrow a Community’s focus on key competencies/deliverables and design the educational outreach as an experiment/research project in order to determine local impact and effectiveness while establishing communication and marketing strategies to broadcast success stories. The Design Event can take a GOOD IDEA and make it a GREAT IDEA that results in a pitch for seeking support, funding, and resources needed to carry out the activity. Corps projects can be thought of as pilots and those findings could be used to expand to larger scales once a tested methodology is established for the specific purpose. Scan projects from our first Issue Corps at i-Three Issue Corps Project Map of 2016.
Starter Ideas for Community Corps Projects:
Develop a locally-targeted social media campaign around a desired public behavior change
Provide a civic engagement toolkit that can be used to spearhead a local change initiative
Modify a successful program to better reach a culturally diverse population and test locally
Use multimedia storytelling to raise awareness of a local emerging issue or successful strategy
Host an innovation contest to generate new solutions to an identified local issue
Demonstrate a new way to visualize local data generated within your content area
Create a Citizen Science project that engages the public in helping to solve a local problem
Test a new online education delivery method with a local-level target audience
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
Readiness criteria important for successful leadership of Issue Corps projects.
Takes initiative
Perceived as influential
Curious teachable spirit
Good storyteller and communicator
Open to new ideas
Creative
Flexible and adaptive to change
Ability to get things done
Enjoys collaborating
Uses mobile technology such as a smartphone or tablet for their work
Perseverance to overcome obstacles and modify strategies
FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
eXtension Foundation will cover the following onsight expenses:
Hotel room nights
Event scheduled meals and breaks
Meeting space
i-Three Issue Corps Project Members should be prepared to cover transportation expenses:
Travel by plane or car to Detroit, Michigan
Travel from the airport to the hotel if applicable
Meals on your own
Any incidentals
PROPOSAL GUIDELINES:
Projects should result in the ability to impact the target audience at a local level even if the activity is designed and delivered for a state, a region or nationally. Execution of projects must be accomplished in a short timeframe concluding in late spring or early summer.
Innovative approaches to addressing local issues are desirable and preferred. Projects as presented will serve as a concept that is ready for further refinement during the design event.
The Primary Project Contact leader from the Community must be from a member institution. Review the list of Member institutions to verify membership status.
WHAT WILL THE COMMUNITY ISSUE CORPS DO?
Submit a proposal by October 7, 2016: This call for proposals is meant to be simple and straightforward asking for basic Community information and 200 word responses to several questions. (see below)
Upon acceptance, receive one-on-one online coaching to review your proposal and prepare for the Design Event.
Take advantage of an online orientation webinar that will cover key topics in preparation for the Design Event and for shaping your proposal.
Attend the Design Event – December 7 – 9, 2016. Corps members must arrive on December 7th (possible evening reception and activity on Dec. 7) to be able to meet starting at 8 am on December 8 and will finish December 9th no earlier than noon. This event will provide each team (up to 3 members per team) with access to new strategies and resources that will shape each proposal individually and result in a clearer plan of action.
Design Thinking
Concept Mapping
Key Informants
Creating a Project Pitch
Receive additional Coaching and Professional Development from eXtension as new questions or needs emerge after the Design Event.
Share outcomes and impact of your project:
Share proposal and results with eXtension in a webinar spotlight
Share work in social media networks & with your institution’s communication team
Provide blog posts for eXtension about the progress of your project
Showcase (abstract, paper, poster, presentation) your project works and outcome at an appropriate national or state meeting
PROPOSAL INFORMATION REQUESTED:
Submit your responses by OCTOBER 7, 2016 to the following questions using the online Community Issue Corps application.
Name of Community or Network
Primary Project Contact, Institution, & Contact Information
Name of Collaborators, Institutions, & Contact Information (Feel free to list all team members associated with the project then successful applications will identify the 3 representatives to the Design Event)
Summary of Proposed Project to include answers to each question in 200 words or less:
Proposal Topic or Title (keywords)
What is the LOCAL Problem or Issue the proposal will address?
Describe your proposed solution to the problem?
In the design of the proposal, what is the local level change expected to achieved?
How will you measure the local level change?