![Aaron Backs](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Aaron-Backs.jpg?h=1b61752e&itok=Zr2TofA7)
Communities across Minnesota are reaping the benefits of a new program launched by CERTs and RSDP that engages young professionals.
![Dalila Hussein](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/HHH%20Dalila.jpg?h=a86cebac&itok=Wchnx7zz)
A series of profiles of students, faculty and staff who have worked with the Humphrey and RSDP through the years tells the story of partnership between these two organizations.
![climate illustration shows all sorts of heat, flood, dry earth, lighting and rain](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Extreme-Weather-Collage-update.jpg?h=f975ad7e&itok=WKj8umow)
Equipped with communication skills and climate science knowledge, these Extension participants direct efforts toward communities.
![Rani and Karen talk and Karen gestures. There are multiple colorful square textiles on the wall behind them.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/DSC_0844%20crop.jpg?h=df8f01b8&itok=6q99fRZy)
The interdependence of five counties and three tribal communities, with Bemidji as an economic hub, got the gears turning for Rani Bhattacharyya.
![Wayne Kilen & Shannon Stassen](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Shannon%20%26%20Wayne.jpg?h=40e0f359&itok=5uvuHu7E)
The University of Minnesota Extension RSDP is supporting a Northwest Minnesota organization in powering electric wheelchairs for veterans.
![Three goats in a barn looking right at the camera.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/goats.jpg?h=49c34930&itok=3PK77ZkZ)
“Nobody's ever collected data like this in Minnesota,” says local goat farmer, Tiffany Farrier. Farrier recently teamed up with Extension RSDP to become the state’s first certified halal meat farm.
![Ryan Babcock & Alena Whitaker standing together in from of a large root system from a fallen tree.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Ryan%20%26%20Alena%201200.jpg?h=30513240&itok=QCx7Dykl)
Hear from an AmeriCorps member who spent his year of service with Northeast RSDP.
![Constance Carlson](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/C%20Carlson%20square.jpg?h=6e3ee359&itok=3mfidaC5)
Starting in mid-July, a familiar face joined the RSDP Statewide leadership team to serve as Assistant Statewide Director. Constance Carlson has been part of RSDP since 2016 when she was hired to develop markets and supply chains for specialty crops.
![tomatoes, bananas & strawberries](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Misc%20fruit%20RSDP.jpg?h=85a873a5&itok=3u8YlMqs)
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food security inequities in parts of Olmsted County. Working with the Southeast RSDP, concerned community partners came together to study the gaps and take action.
![Kernza growing in a field.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/field.jpg?h=2d8d0331&itok=_2mk5kQT)
Extension’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) works with farmers, industry and communities to build supply chains.