Driven, the University of Minnesota’s decade-long fundraising campaign, is coming to a close in a few months. Donors’ investments have provided new funding that will help strengthen the impact of programs across Extension.
2021
![two women cooking soup illustration. One has pink hair.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/two-women-cooking-illustration.jpg?h=3fd64437&itok=mqgO8dMl)
From nutrition programs, to youth and families, to agriculture and leadership, participants in University of Minnesota Extension education find strategies that bring them to their own optimum state of mental health.
![Ann Thureen and Greg Towne in front of raised garden bed](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/two-volounteers.jpg?h=bd00373c&itok=rbE0MCdP)
University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener volunteers help elders and people with memory disorders — and their caregivers.
![Architectural drawing of a farm scale winter greenhouse](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/RSDP%20farm%20scale%20winter%20greenhouse%20drawing.gif?h=104211c8&itok=ieWWaXq6)
As part of its solar winter greenhouse initiative, RSDP and community partners recently released new farm-scale winter greenhouse designs that build and improve upon the success of the program’s deep winter greenhouse technology.
![Three women talking in front of several greenhouse and a colorful crop of Zinnias in the foreground.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/RSDP%20Farmers%20and%20Extension.jpg?h=8d5bec0f&itok=MCcZMM8c)
U of M student Kate Stower knew she wanted to carve out a path to support small towns in her graduate program. This led her to working with 100 Rural Women and Northwest RSDP in a community-engaged project supporting women’s leadership in rural areas and small towns across the state.
![Woman holding a conservation kit and behind her is a SUV filled with additional kits.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/RSDP%20EnergyBurden%20Banner%201.jpg?h=3dc37160&itok=ZaFBxcj9)
As part of a campaign to reduce household energy burden, Extension RSDP and the Clean Energy Resource Teams are working with local partners to ensure families living in manufactured homes and underserved communities have access to energy savings tools and resources.
![Sketch of neighborhood design for affordable housing including solar energy](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/RSDP%20Zero%20Energy%20Banner.gif?h=9cccf8ba&itok=p4i_ghtp)
A collaborative project of the Community Action Center of Northfield, Southeast RSDP and partners incorporated climate justice goals into plans for Hillcrest Village, an innovative affordable and emergency housing development.
![Amy Rager teaching about trees in a fall woods.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/BWCA%20Anthony%20V%20Hall%204.jpg?h=2003e1c8&itok=tYfoDdew)
Changing temperatures and sporadic growing seasons threaten the iconic landscapes of the Northwoods, but a new market of climate-smart tree seedlings and research from a project supported by Northeast RSDP are helping the region’s forests and economy adapt.
![Javier Garcia and Molly Zins mirando por encima de los tomates cosechados.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Agua%20Banner.jpg?h=e2aed52e&itok=iGjyWdWz)
Un proyecto multilingüe reciente dirigido por Cooperativa Agua Gorda con el apoyo de Central RSDP está conectando esa granja en Long Prairie con certificación ecológica y de propietario inmigrante con los nuevos mercados y los recursos de la University of Minnesota.
![Javier Garcia and Molly Zins looking over harvested tomatoes.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Agua%20Banner.jpg?h=e2aed52e&itok=iGjyWdWz)
A recent multilingual project led by Cooperativa Agua Gorda and supported by Central RSDP is connecting the immigrant-owned, organic produce farm in Long Prairie to new markets and University of Minnesota resources.