MU Extension in the St. Louis area

We have moved!

Our new office address:
10650 Gateway Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
Office: 314-400-2115 Fax: 314-569-4199

MU Extension in St. Louis County — Socially Speaking

Make sure you follow us on Twitter and Facebook! And if you want even more info — look for us on Pinterest! Lots of interesting info and it's the best way to keep up with us!

Mark your calendar: Open House 2013!

The 2013 MU Extension St. Louis County Open House will be held on Wednesday, June 26 in our new office building at 10650 Gateway Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132. Come join us and meet MU Chancellor Brady Deaton as well as MU Extension Administration and St. Louis County elected officials! Register Online or call Janie Lewis at 314-400-7115. Hope to see you there!

Suzanne Gellman's Next Divorce Seminar is May 22

Divorce on the Horizon? Considerations for Women — the new seminar is May 22, 2013 from 6-9 p.m. in our office building at 10650 Gateway Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132. Registration is required! Call 636-970-3000! Get more details with the Flyer (PDF)!

Eat Well Be Well with Diabetes

Mark your calendars! Eat Well Be Well classes will be held in our office. Mondays, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: June 24, July 1,
July 8, July 15.

Location: St. Louis County Extension Center
10650 Gateway Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132

Registration Deadline: June 19, 2013

Cost is $30 per person. If you have questions, please contact Damaris Karanja, 314-400-7298.

St. Louis County Program Director wins Citizenship Award

Congratulations to MU Extension St. Louis County Program Director, Nina Balsam, for winning the 2013 Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly Women’s Justice Award for Citizenship. Ms. Balsam has worked tirelessly for the last 30 years to help protect victims of domestic abuse. She created the Missouri Restorative Justice Coalition while implementing the Missouri Restorative Justice Initiative. She co-authored and argued the passage of the Missouri adult abuse law and has clearly dedicated her life to restorative justice principles. Through her teaching and speaking engagements, she is training the next group of innovators to share her passion.

Five questions with Erika Johnson

We would like to introduce Erika Johnson, new 4-H Youth Development Specialist in St. Louis County!

1) If there was one thing about 4-H in St. Louis that you want people to know, what would that be?

While many may think 4-H is just about chickens and livestock, it has so much more to offer than that. 4-H is a program, rich with tradition and values, designed to empower young people to be tomorrow’s leaders.

2) What is your educational background?

I have a Master’s Degree of Science Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Harris Stowe State University. My Bachelor’s degree is in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

3) Why did this position appeal to you?

This position appealed to me because I have seen what 4-H can do, and I wanted to be a part of something that I knew would have long-term positive effects.

4) What is the biggest challenge of managing 4-H in St. Louis County?

The biggest challenge is making the public aware that 4-H is here and available for them. Hopefully, I’ll be able to help with that.

5) What is your favorite color?

Green.

We are excited to learn about Erika's programs! If you have any questions about starting a 4-H club in St. Louis, please contact Erika at 314-400-7288 or johnsonerik@missouri.edu!

4-H St. Louis visits Nelly's School

Did you know that St. Louis has an active 4-H? Did you know that it focuses on leadership and college prep? Did you know that we visited Nelly's ex'treme Institute on a college tour? We did! And here are the pics on our Facebook page to prove it!

Renting an apartment?

Check out the Rental Inspection Checklist video and download the Checklist so that you know what to look for before you sign on the dotted line. This is part of the Housing Education program, Rent Smart.

2013 annual meeting and installation dinner

We had a great time at Spazio's with our honored guest, St. Louis County Executive, Charlie Dooley! Check out the photo album on Facebook! That's Mr. Dooley patting St. Louis County Program Director, Nina Balsam, on the back!

Join our mailing list!

Don't you want to join our email list? We're good at it! It's official!

MU Extension soil testing in St. Louis

MU Extension offers soil testing all year long. If you have any questions or would like more information, you can reach Nathan Brandt at 314-400-7388. See our Soil test flyer (PDF) for more details about sample size as well as drop-off locations. We look forward to seeing you!

Community Partnership Project on Facebook

Check out Kara Lubischer's Community Partnership Project (CPP) page on Facebook. The Community Partnership Project—Linking University of Missouri Extension and University of Missouri St. Louis with the St. Louis community.

Crafting Healthy Cleaners

If you or your organization would like more information about how to avoid the use of harsh toxins and chemicals in your home, please contact Kandace Fisher-McLean regarding her presentation, Crafting Homemade Healthy Cleaners: learn how to make inexpensive and safe non-toxic cleaning products using ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry!

2013 Labor Law Breakfast Series

It's that time again! Register online for the upcoming year! This is a monthly series for union officers, staff and other professionals to learn about the latest developments and trends in labor and employment law. If you have questions, please contact Rob Russell at 314-400-7635 or russellrob@missouri.edu.

MU Extension welcomes Amy Buchanan

The University of Missouri Extension in St. Louis County would like to welcome Amy Buchanan to our office. Amy graduated with a BA in Journalism from Webster University, finalizing a journey that included many sleepless nights, endless articles and 2 a.m. newsroom edits. She previously worked at The Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No. 562. In addition, Amy has volunteered with Operation Food Search and United Way. She is anxious to bring that spirit of community service and team work to Extension and we are excited to have her on our team!

MU Extension specialist wins Buchanan Award

We would like to congratulate MU Extension Housing and Environmental Design Specialist, Kandace Fisher-McLean, for winning the Pat and Tom Buchanan Endowment Award.

MU Extension St. Louis gets a visit from Chancellor

The St. Louis Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association and the St. Louis County MU Extension Council welcomed Chancellor Brady Deaton and his staff to our office for the Mizzou Global Update reception. Chancellor Deaton and the Vice Provost for International Programs, Handy Williamson, spoke at length about the strong presence the University of Missouri has established around the world. As Dr. Williamson stated, “It’s a black and gold world!” Check out the pics on our Facebook page!

Community development specialist's thoughts on closing the food gap

Kara Lubischer wrote an opinion piece, "Hungry for Change: Place-Based Strategies to Close the Food Gap", for the Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis. Kara works with a variety of community development programs for MU Extension including the Healthy Corner Store Project, St. Louis as well as working to alleviate "food deserts" in the metro area.

MU Extension specialist named associate extension professional

MU Extension Health and Nutrition specialist, Damaris Karanja, was appointed Associate Extension Professional. Damaris has been with Extension since October 2001. Her work has included development and implementation of health and nutrition programs for a wide variety of audiences. Some of her programs include Stay Strong, Stay Healthy as well as diabetes education, a personal mission for her. Please join us in congratulating Damaris on her great work and continued success!

4-H kids teaching kids about science

Donna Garcia, urban 4-H youth development specialist, makes a cameo in this cool video. Great job, 4-H!

Extension welcomes Judith Culp as civic communication specialist

A native of St. Louis, Judith brings years of experience as a media professional. Ms. Culp is a proud graduate of the film program at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and holds a Master’s in Media Communications from Webster University. She is an avid proponent of independent filmmaking, social media and the integral role technology plays in the future of communication. Judith also currently serves as a consulting partner in her own media production firm, Culp/Burchyett, with David Todd Burchyett.

“I look forward to working with the specialists to promote the amazing work that they do in the community and to spread the word about all of the wonderful things MU Extension has to offer,” Ms. Culp stated. In addition, she believes that MU Extension may very well be St. Louis’ “best kept secret”, something she is eager to change. Contact Judith Culp.

St. Louis County Extension Center recognizes community partners

On Thursday, April 19, 2012, the St. Louis County Extension Center recognized 8 community partners at their first Annual Recognition Event. Those recognized had made a significant contribution to the development and implementation of our programming, or had otherwise provided significant support for the St. Louis County Extension Center. Kay Gasen, the Director of the Community Partnership Project, a joint initiative of MU Extension and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, was the keynote speaker. The following individuals received a plaque in recognition of their contributions: Anna Gall, Employee Wellness Coordinator for the St. Louis County Government; Anne Lapides, owner of Sugar Creek Gardens; Gayle McHenry, Executive Director of Shepherd's Center of Webster/Kirkwood, Inc.; Vince McKinney of Youth in Need; Dr. Thomas Meuser, Director, Director of Gerontology Graduate Program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis; Rep. Rory Ellinger, Missouri House of Representatives; and Jamie Opsal, Community Health Coordinator for the St. Louis County Health Department. Congratulations to all the recipients!

Extension faculty member receives award for "Taking Care of You: Body-Mind-Spirit"

Mary Wissmann, nutrition specialist with the St. Louis Co. Extension Center, worked with a team of MU Extension faculty to develop and pilot the "Taking Care of You: Mind-Body-Spirit" Program. The team received the Jeanne M. Priester Award, which honors groups that develop and expand programs that positively impact health. For the details, check out the Nutrition and Health page.

Healthy Corner Store Project

You can learn about our Healthy Corner Store Project by checking out "New Initiative Promotes Produce, Not Chips, at Corner Stores," a new article in the Riverfront Times.