Eolfc 2013 crosswind farms - local food processing considerations
Center for Small Farms & Community Food Systems · diverse communities around the state, including...
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Center for Small Farms & Community Food Systems Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences Highlights—Years 1 through 5 The Center for Small Farms & Community Food Systems is an Extension and engagement center, connected to communities all over Oregon. Our name recognizes that sustainable agriculture and food production are integrally linked with the economies and health of communities. The Center uses education, research, and collaboration to achieve a vision of successful, environmentally regenerative farms, sustainable community food systems, and students trained to work in a dynamic, rapidly changing food and farming environment. Launched in September of 2013, the Center organized around these strategic goals: 1. Expand the Small Farms Program with new faculty and programs aimed at the long-term viability of small farms and local food systems; 2. Tackle broader food systems challenges – especially at the interconnections of agriculture, food, and health – through interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach partnerships; 3. Provide OSU students with opportunities to develop high “Food IQ”; and 4. Build a nimble, entrepreneurial, and resilient Center that supports all of the above, for the long haul. Here, we report on our progress and highlight selected accomplishments since 2013. The integrated nature of the Center’s work means that our extension, research, and collaborative relationships are woven together, influencing and benefiting each other.
Transcript of Center for Small Farms & Community Food Systems · diverse communities around the state, including...
CenterforSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystems
OregonStateUniversityCollegeofAgriculturalSciences
Highlights—Years1through5
TheCenterforSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystemsisanExtensionandengagementcenter,connectedtocommunitiesalloverOregon.Ournamerecognizesthatsustainableagricultureandfoodproductionareintegrallylinkedwiththeeconomiesandhealthofcommunities.TheCenteruseseducation,research,andcollaborationtoachieveavisionofsuccessful,environmentallyregenerativefarms,sustainablecommunityfoodsystems,andstudentstrainedtoworkinadynamic,rapidlychangingfoodandfarmingenvironment.
LaunchedinSeptemberof2013,theCenterorganizedaroundthesestrategicgoals:
1. ExpandtheSmallFarmsProgramwithnewfacultyandprogramsaimedatthelong-termviabilityofsmallfarmsandlocalfoodsystems;
2. Tacklebroaderfoodsystemschallenges–especiallyattheinterconnectionsofagriculture,food,andhealth–throughinterdisciplinaryresearch,education,andoutreachpartnerships;
3. ProvideOSUstudentswithopportunitiestodevelophigh“FoodIQ”;and4. Buildanimble,entrepreneurial,andresilientCenterthatsupportsalloftheabove,forthelong
haul.
Here,wereportonourprogressandhighlightselectedaccomplishmentssince2013.TheintegratednatureoftheCenter’sworkmeansthatourextension,research,andcollaborativerelationshipsarewoventogether,influencingandbenefitingeachother.
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TheCenterisanationalleaderinExtensioneducationandengagementwithsmallfarmersandranchers,otherlocalandregionalvaluechainbusinesses,andappliedresearchwithfieldandpolicyapplications.ThemissionoftheSmallFarmsProgramis:ToprovideOregon’ssmallfarms,ranches,andlocalfoodsystemstakeholderswiththetraining,tools,andresearchtheyneedforlong-termfinancialandenvironmentalsustainability.
OurFaculty• Since2013,thecoreSmallFarmsProgramhasgrownfrom6
(4.15FTE)positionsserving8countiesto12positions(8.81FTE)serving18counties.
• On-campusCenterstaffing–2leadershippositions–staysleanbydesign,sowefocusourgrowthandconnectionsoutincountiesandcommunities.
• Ourfacultyhavesecuredover$2millioninextramuralfundingforcuttingedgeeducationalprogramsandappliedresearchsince2013.
• Ourteam-basedapproachtoprogrammingiseffectiveandanaspirationalmodelforpeerprogramsinotherstates.
• OurfacultyhavebeenrecognizedwithindividualandteamawardsfromOSUandfromstateandnationalorganizations.
OurInnovativeEducation&AppliedResearchProgramsFarmviabilityandenvironmentalsustainabilityaretopprioritiesnationally.Ourfarm-levelprogramsfocusonwholefarmmanagement,soundfinancialandaccountingsystems,andecologicallybasedsolutionstofarmproductionchallenges.Farmersareinvolvedeverystepofthewayinshapinghowwedothiswork.Wealsoaddressthebroaderfoodsystem,frommarketlinkagesandvaluechainstotheroleofthesefarmsandfoodsystemsinruraleconomiestothepublicpolicyenvironment.
Keyprogramsandprogresssince2013EDUCATION&ENGAGEMENT–inperson,online,hands-on,participatory,andeffective
Wearenationalleadersinnewandbeginningfarmerandranchereducation.Wehavealwaysworkedwithfarmersatallexperiencelevels,butin2014,wepivotedtofocusnotjustonlaunchingnewfarmersbutkeepingfarmersfarminginthefaceofchallengingmarketsandachangingclimate.Highlightsinclude:
FlagshipEducationalProgramsExpanded:
• GrowingFarms• GrowingAgripreneurs• Women’sfarmingnetworks• NicheMeatProcessorAssistanceNetwork• OSUSmallFarmsConference
NewEducationalPrograms:
• ManagerialAccountingcurriculumandcohorts• DryFarmingCollaborative• AffordablePackhouse:DesignandDemonstration• OrganicExtensionProgram• StrategiesforEfficientGrazingManagement• EcologicalStrategiesforManagingInsects
OurvisionandgoalstouchonandworktowardsallthreeofOregonStateUniversity’sStrategicMandates–Sustainableearthecosystems,Humanhealth&wellness,andEconomicgrowth&socialprogress–atalocalscaleandinpartnershipwithcommunities.
Goal1: ExpandtheSmallFarmsProgram—newfacultyandprograms
Results: Weexpandedourreachandimpactwithnewfaculty,newfunding,innovativeeducation,andappliedresearchonhighprioritytopics.
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Keyprogramsandprogresssince2013(cont’d)APPLIEDRESEARCH–on-farm,on-station,participatory,timely,andhighimpact
Since2013,theCenterhasengagedinawidevarietyofappliedresearchregardingfarmproduction,newfarmers,local/regionalmarketsandeconomies,andpolicy.Researchhighlightsinclude:Production-focusedresearch:• DryFarmingGrowerResearchCollaborative• CroptimeDegreeDayModelingforVegetables• WinterVegetableProduction
Marketlinkagesresearch:• UseitorLoseIt:valuechainresearch(USDA)• FarmerPerspectivesonOrganicTransitionin
Oregonandnationally
Crucialissuesforfarmersbeyondproduction:• FutureofOregonFarmland:SuccessionandAccess• HowSmallFarmsDefineSuccess• DevelopmentalStagesofBeginningFarmers• EconomicImpactofLocalFoodProducers
Policyresearch:• FiveYearAssessmentofOregon’sFarmDirect
MarketingLaw
Ourresearchreportsandrelatedoutreachareusedbyfarmers,foodandfarmadvocates,researchers,andpolicymakers.Theyarealsosharedwithpeersandstakeholdersthroughconferencepresentations,journalarticles,researchmonographs,extensionpublications,andbooks.
Afewexamplesoffarmer-focusededucationprogramsandappliedresearch
GrowingFarms:SuccessfulWholeFarmManagement
GrowingFarms,originallydevelopedin2007asanin-personworkshopseriesforbeginningfarmers,wastransformedintoacomprehensiveonlinecoursein2014.• ThecoursewontheGoldAwardfromtheAssociationofCommunication
Excellencein2013,andtheOSUDivisionofExtendedCampusBestCourseInnovationAwardin2018.
• China’sCentralAgriculturalBroadcastingandTelevisionSystem(CABTS)hasproposedamemorandumofunderstandingwithOSUtobringthecoursethereto“combinethenationalconditionsofChinatodevelopanonlinecoursesuitabletoChinesefamilyfarmlearners.”
• ThecoursematerialhasbeentransformedintoabookthatwillbepublishedbyStoreyPublishingin2019.
DryFarmDemonstrationandGrowerCollaborative
Anincreasinglyunpredictableclimatemeansfarmersneednewtoolsforsustainability.Dryfarming,practicedwithgrainsinthePNWfordecades,alsoworksforvegetablesandfruitsinsomeregions.• DemonstrationplotsatthreewesternOregonresearchstationsare
providingdataandhands-oneducationforfarmers.• TheGrowerCollaborativeinOregonandthewesternU.S.isreplicatingon-
farmresearch,sharingmethods,communityplantbreeding,andmore.• Participatingfarmershaveincreasedknowledgeaboutdroughtmitigation,
aremoreabletoproducecropsinwatershortagesandwithreducedlabor,aremoreabletosolveproblems,andaremorepositiveabouttheirfuture.
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Afewexamplesoffarmer-focusededucationprogramsandappliedresearch(cont’d)
ManagerialAccountingandCostStudyCohortsHighlydiversifiedfarmsneedbettersystemstogathercostofproductioninformation.Wedevelopedathree-part,onlinecourseformulti-cropvegetablefarmers.Thecurriculumisintegratedwithhands-on,season-longCostStudyCohortsatavarietyofsitesacrossOregon.Participatingfarmershaveincreasedtheirknowledgenotonlyabouttheircostsbutwheretoinvesttheirtimeandresourcestotheirbestadvantage.Thesewell-established,successfulfarmersseeadirectlinkbetweenthisprogramandtheirlong-termsustainability.
OrganicExtensionProgram
Oregonranks6thamongU.S.statesinthecertifiedorganicacreageand4thinfarmgatesales.In2017,welaunchedanewinitiative,theOrganicExtensionProgram,respondingtohighdemandfromOregon’sorganicfarmers,witha$100,000commitmentfromOregonTilth,Inc.Ourinitialgoalistobuildthecurrentpart-timestaffpositioninto1.0FTEwithcontributionsfromOSUandtheorganicsector.Ourlonger-termgoalistohavefourormorepositionsaroundOregon,focusedondifferentcropandlivestocksystems.
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AroundtheU.S.andinOregon,communitiesarerethinkingandreshapingtheirfoodsystemstoaddresspersistentchallengesrelatedtohealth,equity,theenvironment,andlocaleconomies.Thesesystemicchallengesneedinterdisciplinaryteamsthatworkintruepartnershipwithcommunities.Thisworktakestime.Inourfirstfiveyears,wehaveledandsharedleadershipfortwocollaborativenetworksthatareconnectingacrossexpertise,geography,andexperiencetotransformthefoodsystem.OregonCommunityFoodSystemsNetwork(OCFN)
OCFSNisapowerfulnetworkof53organizations–fromstatewidetolocal,representing28ofOregon’s36counties–unitedunderasharedvision:AllOregoniansthrivewithhealthyaffordablefoodsfromanenvironmentally,economicallyresilient,andequitableregionalfoodsystem.Networkmembersservediversecommunitiesaroundthestate,includingfarmersandlocalfoodbusinesses,lowincomepopulations,ruralcommunities,andcommunitiesofcolor.
OurCenterisoneofOCFSN’stwo“backbone”organizations,withOregonFoodBank.OCFSNvaluesourresearch,education,andtechnicalexpertise,ourcommitmenttobuildingmemberandNetworkcapacity,andourroleas“gateway”toexpertiseandresourcesatOSUandbeyond.
Goal2:Tacklebroaderfoodsystemschallengesattheinterconnectionsofagriculture,food,andhealththroughinterdisciplinaryresearch,education,andoutreachpartnerships.
Results:Wehavebuiltstrongpartnerships–insideandoutsideOSU–thathavealreadyresultedinvaluableeducationandresearchprojectsandareasolidfoundationfortheworkahead.
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OregonCommunityFoodSystemsNetwork(OCFN)(cont’d)
OregonCommunityFoodSystemNetworkMemberOrganizations
1000FriendsofOregonACCESSAdelanteMujeresCentralOregonIntergovernmentalCouncilCultivateOregonCurrySoilandWaterConservationDistrictEcotrustFamiliasenAccionPortlandFarmersMarketFoodAllianceFoodRootsFriendsofFamilyFarmersGorgeGrownFoodNetworkGrowingGardensGrowPortlandHealthcareWithoutHarmHighDesertFoodandFarmAlliance
OregonFarmers'MarketAssociationJamesBeardPublicMarketMarion-PolkFoodShareOregonFarmtoSchool&SchoolGardenNetworkHuertodelaFamiliaNEDCOCommunityLendingWorksNehelemValleyFarmTrustNeighborWorksUmpquaNorthCoastFoodWebNEOregonEconomicDevelopmentDistrictOregonClimateandAgricultureNetworkOregonFoodBankOregonHealthSciencesUniversityOregonPublicHealthInstituteOregonRuralActionOregonStateUniversityCenterforSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystemsOregonTilthOutgrowingHungerPCCRockCreekLearningGarden
PinerosyCampesinosUnidosdelNoroestePlanningOregon,PortlandStateUniv.RogueFarmCorpsRogueValleyFarmtoSchoolRogueValleyFoodSystemNetworkSauvieIslandCenterSchoolGardenProjectSchoolyardFarmsSlowFoodWallowasTenRiversFoodWebTerraNovaSchoolofScienceandSustainability,BeavertonSchoolDistrictRaices/TheNextDoor,Inc.UniversityofOregonFoodStudiesProgramVillageGardens,JanusYouthProgramsWEAVE-NW,NorthwestPortlandAreaIndianHealthBoardWillametteFarmandFoodCoalitionZengerFarm
OurinvolvementwithOCFSNhasalreadyresultedinhighimpactprojectsdoneinclosepartnershipwithotherOCFSNmembers:• TheFutureofOregonFarmlandresearchprojectandreportledtostatewidelisteningsessions,new
educationalworkshopsforfarmersandfarmserviceprofessionals,additionalpublications,andsupportforthenewOregonAgriculturalHeritageProgram,createdbythe2017OregonLegislature.
• TheEconomicImpactofLocalFoodProducersstudyhasnotonlybenefitedthestudyregion,CentralOregon,buthasinspiredatleastthreeotherregions(sofar)torequestsimilarstudieswithus.
• TheOregonCommunityFoodSystemsIndicators,originallydevelopedforMeyerMemorialTrust’sCFSInitiative,arenowacuratedcollectioninOSURuralCommunitiesExplorerandareacrucialdatasourceforOCFSNmembers.WebelievethisdatabaseisuniqueintheU.S.
WithOCFSN,theCenterisaccomplishingsomethingthatOSUandtheExtensionServicehaveneverdonebefore:engagedandcollaboratedwithover50independentstatewideandcommunitybasedorganizationsandparticipatedinmovingtheorganizationtowardcommongoalswithpotentiallytransformativeresults.
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OSUExtensionCommunityFoodSystemsWorkingGroup
Systems-levelengagementwithoutsidepartnersbecomesmorepowerfulwhenweareconnectedinsideOSU.ExtensionDirectorScottReedestablishedaCFSSteeringCommitteein2015tocoordinateandcommunicateExtension’sCFSwork.Underourleadership,the8-membercommitteehasgrowntoanactive,22-memberworkinggrouprepresentingSmallFarms,Family&CommunityHealth,MasterGardener,4-H,CommunityEconomics,SeaGrant,andtheLinusPaulingInstitute.Whatbeganasinformationsharingandpeerlearninghasfosteredcreativecollaborationthatintegratesourvariedfoodsystemsexpertiseandexperienceincommunities.Afewexamples:
• SmallFarmsandFCHfacultycombinedFCH’straditionallyconsumer-focusedfoodpreservationcurriculumwithSmallFarms’enterprisedevelopmenttrainingtocreateanew,highdemandworkshopseriesforfarmerswantingtolaunchnew,value-addedfoodmicroenterprises.Thecoursehasbeentaughtin3regionssofar,andanonline/classroomversionisindevelopment.
• 4-H,SmallFarms,andMasterGardnerfacultyinvolvedwithfarmtoschoolandschoolgardenprogramsconductedastatewidecapacityassessmentthatledtoExtensionleadershipinvestinginastatewidestrategicplanforOSUinthisnationallyimportantinitiative.
• FCHandSmallFarmsfacultyinvolvedwith“VeggieRx”produceprescriptionprogramssharebestpractices,whileworkingtowardamulti-siteevaluationwithcommunityandstatewidepartners.
• ACPHHS-CASteaminourgroupwona2-collegemini-grantforintegratedfoodsystemsresearchtoinvestigateformalandinformalemergencyfoodsourcesformigrantfarmworkersinOregon.
Ourpresentationstopeersarewellattendedandreceived,catalyzingnewideas,projects,andconnections.WehavealsoinfluencedhowOSUExtensionLeadershipunderstands,values,andsupportscross-cuttingfoodsystemswork.Inshort,ourCFScollaborationshaveputOSUExtensiononthemapasaresponsiveandrespectedpartnerforOregon’scommunityfoodsystemsmovement,andalsoasaninnovatoramongpeerinstitutionsnationally.
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Since2013,wehaveprovideduniqueopportunitiesforstudentstoengagewithfoodsystemsissuesandpractitioners,throughtheiracademicworkandinternships.Wehaveworkedwith14graduatestudents,asleadprofessorsoroncommittees,whohavecomefromarangeofdisciplines(seebox).Theirresearchhasfocusedoncollaborativeplantbreeding,transitiontoorganicagriculture,definingsmallfarmsuccess,localfoodsystempolicy,smallfarmprofitability,andlandaccesschallengesforbeginningfarmersandranchers.Theseexperienceshaveledtocareerswithnon-profitorganizationsinvolvedinfarmingandpolicy,universityteachingandresearch,andprivatebusiness.
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Goal3: ProvideOSUstudentswithopportunitiestodevelophigh“FoodIQ”
Results: Ourgraduatestudentsareknowledgeableandskilledandontheirwaytomakingadifference.
GraduateStudentDegrees• CropandSoilScience• Horticulture• AppliedEconomics• FoodScienceandTechnology• PublicPolicy• AppliedAnthropology• BusinessManagement(PSU)
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OuroperatingmodelfortheCenterembracesitsExtensionandengagementmission,andhighcontactwithcommunities.Therefore,ourstaffingoncampusisleanwithjusttwofacultypositionsthatprovidestatewidecoordinationtoourprogramswithsmallfarmsandcommunityfoodsystems,plusrobuststaffingincommunities(atresearchstationsandExtensionoffices)with12positionsserving18counties.Resourcesintheformofextramuralandotherfundingflowfromcampustocommunities.WealsohavefouruniquepositionssharedbyCASandCPHHS,designedtointegrateacrossthetwocolleges’foodsystemsexpertise.
Forlong-termsustainability,wehavepursuedsecurefundingforfacultypositions.Since2013,wehavemorethandoubledthenumberandFTEoffacultyonsecurefunding.Wenowhave12positions(8.85FTE)onsecurefunding,upfrom6positions(4.15FTE)in2013.Threeadditionalpositions(1.2FTE)arepartlygrant-funded.InadditiontoaddingacrucialtenurepositionfortheCenter,mostofthegrowthinsecurefundinghasbeenthroughlocalExtensiontaxservicedistricts.TheirinterestinsupportingourpositionsdemonstratesthevalueoftheSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystemsworktoExtensionRegionalAdministrators.
TenureTrackandProfessorofPracticePositions(fixedterm)TypeandSourceofFunds 9/2013 6/2018 Change Number FTE Number FTE Number FTEStatesupportedtenuretrack 1 1.0 2 2.0 +1 +1.0Statesupportedfixedterm 4 2.65 6 4.05 +2 +1.4Taxservicedistrict 1 0.5 4 2.8 +3 +2.3Totalsecurefunding 6 4.15 12 8.85 +8 +4.7
Wehaveinstitutionalizedateam-basedapproachtoprogrammingthatfostersinnovationandistheaspirationofourpeerprograms.Ourteamhasacultureofgoodideasthatattractextramuralfunding.Ourmodelusesoursecurelyfundedfacultypositionsasafoundationtopursueextramuralfundstoenhanceconsistentandlong-termprogramsandprojects.Ourcampusbasedfacultyleadlarge,statewideandnationaleducationandappliedresearchprojectsfundedthroughcompetitivegrants,industrypartnerships,andfoundationandpublicsupport.Fieldbasedfacultyleadregionallybasededucationandappliedresearchprojectsfundedthroughcompetitivegrants.
SummaryofExtramuralFunding(September2013throughJune2018)Oncampusfaculty(Stephenson&Gwin):
NationalCompetitiveGrants $1,371,682Foundation&PublicFunding(NMPAN) $249,017PartnershipwithOregonTilth,Inc. $109,000Centerendowmentfund $47,750Totalcampusextramuralfunding $1,777,449
Offcampusfaculty: Competitive(federal,state) $1,019,745
TotalofTotals $2,797,194
Thesefundshavesupportedourleadingedgeeducationprogramssuchasourbeginningfarmerprograms,andappliedresearchondevelopmentalstagesoffarmers,degreedaymodeling,andmostrecently,oliveandwintervegetableproduction.Ournascentendowmentincludes500smalldonationsfromfarmerswhoseendorsementwillhelptopositiontheCenterforlargerdonorsinthefuture.
Goal4: Buildanimble,entrepreneurial,resilientCenterthatsupportsalltheabove,forthelonghaul.
Results: Wearemakinggoodprogress.
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Diversity,Equity,InclusionAcrucialpartofresilienceisrelevance.AstheCollegeofAgriculturalSciencesandOregonStateUniversityworkcollectivelytoimprovediversity,equity,andinclusion,wetooaredoingthiswork.TheCenterengagesthreeaudiencesoffarmersconsideredunder-servedbytheUSDA:WomenFarmers,LimitedResourceFarmers,andSociallyDisadvantagedFarmers.Our10womenfacultyandprogramassistantandthreemenfacultystrivetoreflectanddirectoutreachtothesegroups.Someexamplesofoureffortinclude:• WesupportandfacilitatefourWomen’sFarmerNetworksinfourregionsofOregonwithover400
womenfarmersparticipating.Thesenetworksincreaseconnectionstoinformation,haveenhancedasenseofcommunity,andledtoundertakinginnovativeapproachesthatsupportlong-termsuccess.
• Toassureaccessforlimitedresourcefarmers,ourprogramfeesareaffordable.Forinstance,ourannualSmallFarmsConferencechargesonly$55andisheavilyunderwrittenbysponsors,andourbasiconlinefarmmanagementcourseispricedsignificantlylessthansimilarnon-creditcourses.
• Wecollaboratewiththreenon-profitorganizationsservingLatinxfarmers:AdelanteMujeres,HuertodeFamilia,andRaices/TheNextDoor.Weprovideeducationalpresentationsonrequest,arearrangingforSpanishtranslationofhigh-priorityExtensionpublications,anddevotestaffandresourcestoorganizingaSpanishlanguagetrackatourannualSmallFarmsConferenceco-designedwiththesegroups.Weofferasignificantlyreducedregistrationfeeandmakespecialaccommodationfortheregistrationprocess.
• Weaiminthecomingyearstodevelopsimilarsupportivepartnershipswithotherorganizationsservingcommunitiesofcolor,forexample,withMudBoneGrown,aninternshipprogramforfarmersofcolorbasedattheOregonFoodBank.
TheNextFiveYearsTheCenterforSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystemshasaccomplishedagreatdealinitsfirstyears.Wewerelaunchedwithasmallinvestmentandhaveproventhevaluemanytimesover.Wehavemadesignificantprogressonthegoalswesetnearlyfiveyearsago.TheSmallFarmsProgramhasgrowninnumberoffaculty,andthebreadthandrecognitionofitseducationalprogramsandappliedresearch;theCenterisleadingOSUincommunityfoodsystemengagement;studentsaresecuringsatisfyingcareersinfarmandfoodsystemwork;andtheCenter’snimbleandentrepreneurialapproachpositionsitforextramuralfundingandendowmentgrowth.ThereiscontinueddemandfortheCenter’sworkfromourconstituentsandpartners.Together,wehavelaidcrucialgroundworkforfutureaccomplishmentsandarelookingforwardtothenextphase.`
