Extension RSDP unites rural communities with University of Minnesota resources
University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) launches projects that drive sustainability in four focus areas: agriculture and food systems, clean energy, natural resources, and resilient communities.
In 2023, RSDP:
- Supported 133 projects across Minnesota.
- Supported projects in 88 Minnesota cities, towns and tribal nations.
- Engaged 49 university students in working with communities.
- Supported communities with 17,000+ volunteer hours.
Helped Minnesotans save or offset 108.8 billion BTUs of energy through the work of the Clean Energy Resource Teams. (That’s enough to power a 13-watt LED light bulb in every one of Minnesota’s 2.2 million homes.)
“The projects supported work ranging widely in geography and focus, but each reflects RSDP’s commitment to deepen the impact of University of Minnesota partnerships with rural communities,” says Kathy Draeger, RSDP statewide director.
For example, in 2024:
Southwest RSDP
With Clean Energy Resource Teams, University of Minnesota Twin Cities engineering students connected with Nathalie Nkashama, owner of World Mart, a food bus in Worthington. Nkashama seeks to eliminate the emissions and noise from her generator. The students and their professor, Paul Imbertson, have been helping World Mart explore solar and electrification options. A tour to University of Minnesota Morris showed students and Nkashama examples of how solar panels were being fitted on mobile units.
Central RSDP
Crosslake leaders turned to U of M partners, including RSDP, to create a community-designed master plan and economic feasibility study for The National Loon Center. Today, Central RSDP supports a partnership between The National Loon Center and Bug-O-NayGe-Shig Leech Lake Band School, engaging students in the Upper Mississippi River Basin in becoming future lake leaders.
Northeast RSDP
In Duluth’s Hillside neighborhood, residents have a life expectancy of 11 years less than those living in other Duluth neighborhoods. RSDP is partnering with the St. Mark Giving Garden, which provides opportunities for healthy food, connection, economic growth and healing. With support from RSDP, Zaakir Hassan, a University of Minnesota Duluth student, worked as an intern at the garden.
Statewide RSDP
First-generation University of Minnesota-designed deep winter greenhouses were built in each of the five RSDP regions in 2017-18. In 2024, RSDP and partners will break ground on new farm-scale models. The locations are being selected through an application process and will be used for research, food production and public education.