Community development : article
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension Greene County Extension Council is pleased to announce ten Greene County residents chosen for special recognition as neighbors.
Seventeen Missourians were honored with statewide awards for outstanding neighborly acts during the first Missouri Good Neighbor Week.
A handwritten note can have a powerful impact, offering a personal touch that builds connections and encourages others, especially in times of isolation.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Performing an act of neighboring is easier than many people imagine according to David Burton, county engagement specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
Adventure Backpacks equip families with tools for nature exploration, fostering leadership, learning, and community engagement through outdoor activities
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Businesses that do not consider using AI will fall behind those that do. Businesses without an AI approach will become less and less competitive.” This was the message from Chi-Ren Shyu, director of the University of Missouri MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics.
“It Happened” features local and national artists who create work on the issue of sexual violence. These works, some including very personal stories, address the reality of rape and sexual assault on university campuses, at K-12 schools, and in communities regionally, nationally and around the…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A two-day training this fall will show civic leaders, artists, elected officials, entrepreneurs, business owners and others how the arts can play a role in community and economic development.
So you volunteered to plan the neighborhood July 4th parade, but you have no idea how to start? Do not panic. Here are some basic steps on how to plan an event. Follow these steps – and apply some elbow grease and time -- and you should have an event that leaves your attendees ready for your next…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Food, health, energy and the environment are among the most vital concerns when it comes to human survival and quality of life.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Researchers and authors have used a variety of terms to describe the state of neighboring in America.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Second Annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4) was a documented success. Organizers had a goal to document 15,000 acts of neighboring. But instead, Missourians reported 19,752 acts of neighboring during the week.
Shannon and Carter counties in southeastern Missouri have some of the worst broadband coverage in the state. Local stakeholders say that means communities in the two counties are cut off from essential health, education and employment resources.
Parties are great ways to get to know your neighbors, especially if you do a "favorite things party."
Urban planner and author Jeff Siegler will talk about “Civic Apathy and Civic Pride” at the 2025 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Siegler, whose work focuses on restoring civic pride and reversing community disengagement, will deliver the…
University of Missouri Extension invites economic developers, chamber of commerce directors, nonprofit professionals and community leaders from across the state to attend the 2025 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, in downtown Excelsior Springs.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new report from University of Missouri Extension reveals a staggering economic toll of Missouri’s child care crisis: an estimated $1.15 billion lost each year due to access challenges.
ST. LOUIS — Analysis from University of Missouri Extension reveals that Missouri loses an estimated $869 million annually due to child care shortages. This includes $723 million in employer costs from absentee workers and turnover along with $146 million in tax revenue that would otherwise be…
A small town in northwestern Missouri is one of seven communities in the nation testing experimental technology that could expand rural access to high-speed internet and the opportunities that can bring.
University of Missouri Extension’s Urban West Region is partnering with ArtsKC to develop a comprehensive asset map and online arts inventory for the five-county Kansas City metro region.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Greene County 4-H is partnering with the Greene County Office of Emergency Management to help youth and families get prepared for emergencies, and to get more youth interested in public safety careers.
Discover how entrepreneurship can revitalize communities, foster economic growth, and create vibrant ecosystems for small towns.
When Lisa Robinson’s mother was in hospice care, an online consultation with a trusted doctor brought a quick diagnosis, a prescription to clear up an infection — and peace of mind.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new online tool will help connect more Missourians with broadband resources in their communities.
University of Missouri Extension has resources to help you and your family prepare for and recover from disasters.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Michael Mather, author of "Having Nothing, Possessing Everything," was a guest in University of Missouri Extension's Neighboring 101 class on Dec. 16, 2021.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- When a disaster strikes, who are you going to call? Several residents in rural Highlandville recently answered that question with action when they reached out to their neighbors and came to help when a neighbor's home caught on fire.
“One of the many reasons people may not want to connect online or use online applications is cyberbullying,” notes Joe Lear, a consultant for the University of Missouri Broadband Initiative.
If they have been touched by floodwaters, discard leafy vegetables, fleshy fruits or vegetables (like tomatoes, berries and summer squash), root crops, corn, grains and even produce with a hard, protective skin. Record all losses.
A community garden in Noel, Missouri, brings together diverse groups, promoting cultural exchange, shared meals, and stronger connections across differences.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Getting to know your neighbors may be as easy as getting a picnic table, painting it turquoise, and creating a neighborhood gathering spot in your front yard.
Work as a corporate paralegal brought Erica Williams up against issues of disinvestment in North St. Louis County that began to “bother my spirit,” Williams said. “There was a loss of investment in jobs, community, places to find healthy food — a loss of hope in the region — and lots of vacant land…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri ranks below the national average in many key measures related to health and access to health care, especially in rural parts of the state.
Helping Missouri communities expand broadband access with the Digitally Connected Communities Guide for better digital connectivity and growth
OZARK, Mo. – Superheroes may not be powered by humility, but great leaders are, according to Dr. Pam Duitsman, a county engagement specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Nothing connects neighbors like food, and apparently, nothing says love like lasagna.
Karen Harris of Springfield is the area volunteer coordinator for a neighboring movement known as Lasagna Love.
St. Louis' West End residents collaborated to implement traffic-calming measures on Hamilton Avenue, enhancing safety and fostering community engagement.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- People who are afraid to commit to anything drift through life. Those who make commitments and honor them gain favor and a good reputation, accomplish their goals and reap the rewards, according to David Burton, county engagement specialist with University of Missouri Extension…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missourians report higher rates of disability and long COVID than the U.S. average, according to a study brief by University of Missouri Extension.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Missouri is stronger when its communities are vibrant and healthy, but people can struggle to find information and programs designed to help build those vibrant communities, says Claire Rippel, University of Missouri Extension community development education director.
Research shows that broadband access can boost a community’s economy and quality of life, but only if people take advantage of that access. A volunteer cadre of Missouri Digital Ambassadors will work with people in their communities to help them realize the benefits of broadband.
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The tally is in, and 31,129 acts of neighboring were documented this year as part of the fourth annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week, Sept. 28 – Oct. 4. The goal had been to reach 20,000 acts.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missourians from all walks of life celebrated the first Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4) by doing and reporting neighboring acts and nominating others as the most engaged neighbors in their respective counties.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – David Burton, a community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension, returned from the 48th annual Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) conference in El Paso, Texas, May 24-28, with the Best Neighborhood Program award.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri Governor Mike Parsons signed HB1738 on Friday, July 1, 2022, which includes language designating Missouri Good Neighbor Week starting on National Good Neighbor Day (Sept. 28) and continuing for six days.
OWENSVILLE, Mo. – It’s a beautiful Saturday morning in spring, perfect for outdoor fun and relaxation. But about a dozen University of Missouri students are devoting the weekend to service. They started the day working at a health fair at the Gasconade Manor nursing home.
Wilson Majee, a Mizzou health sciences professor, collaborates to adapt the Neighborhood Leadership Academy for South African community leaders.
MU Extension faculty and staff pitch in to keep this small county’s food lifeline going.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – While the past two years have fueled growth in remote work, most workers in Missouri still commute to their jobs.
LEXINGTON, Mo. – Visitors to historic Lexington, Missouri, can learn about the town’s rich Civil War history through an audio walking and driving tour created through the University of Missouri Extension Community Arts Program.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension invites dynamic speakers and facilitators to share their expertise at this year’s Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in Excelsior Springs.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Twenty-seven leaders from 13 states graduated from the North Central Cooperative National Extension Leadership Development (NELD) program, hosted by MU Extension’s Missouri Training Institute (MTI).
UNIONVILLE, Mo. – You’ve just been elected to a public board of directors. Now what?
University of Missouri Extension offers a two-night course to help newly elected board members. The course is offered at Unionville, Kahoka, Trenton, Brookfield, Edina and Palmyra, 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 9 and 16.…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A recently completed assessment of University of Missouri Extension found that with an annual investment of $86 million (2016), MU Extension generated dividends totaling nearly $950 million.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – “I was a great neighbor until I discovered that I was not,” says David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Greene County. “I don't throw loud parties. I mow my yard regularly. I clean up my leaves. I even pick up after my dog when I…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $179,614 grant to the University of Missouri to support efforts to help veterans, Latinos, women and socially disadvantaged persons to farm or go into agribusiness.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Students at Frederick Douglass High School in Columbia are learning about the Missouri River and its history through a series of field trips and activities developed by their teachers in collaboration with researchers from the University of Missouri School of Natural Resources.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Neighborhood Bingo does not involve dabbers, a rotating bingo cage, or numbered balls. But it does require a game card created by a University of Missouri Extension specialist for use as a tool for connecting neighbors and families through a fun activity.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Neighborhood Leadership Academy has awarded 20 mini-grants totaling $46,805 to groups across Missouri.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – At the end of Good Neighbor Week in Missouri, organizers documented 5,579 acts of neighboring submitted by nearly 100 groups and individuals.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The village of Turney in Clinton County celebrated the launch of experimental wireless broadband service Sept. 17.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Local civil rights pioneer Eliot Battle is the subject of a new documentary that chronicles his pivotal role in desegregating schools, housing and the Columbia community.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension is one of 14 partners to organize the new Heartland Regional Food Business Center serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas.
MARYVILLE, Mo. – Efforts to expand broadband access and digital literacy in northwestern Missouri can be a model for the rest of the state, said B.J. Tanksley, director of broadband development for the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Farm households increasingly rely on off-farm income. A report from University of Missouri Extension notes that, on average, 82% of farm household income comes from outside the farm.
“We are in desperate need,” says Michelle Kleeman, 4-H club leader and owner of Kleeman Family Farm in southwestern Missouri. These five words describe the frustration many rural families face without access to one of today’s essential school supplies — high-speed internet.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Opioid use disorder suppresses Missouri’s labor force participation rate by an estimated 3% among workers ages 25 to 54, according to a study by the American Action Forum.
Placemaking strategies help create vibrant communities that attract skilled workers, boost economic growth, and enhance quality of life. Learn more about its impact.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Sunni Purviance is president of the Southeast Neighborhood in Roanoke, Virginia. She has worked hard to improve the reputation of her neighborhood.
CHILLICOTHE, Mo. - University of Missouri Extension will present a free play to help farmers talk about succession planning, 7-9 p.m. Friday, June 10, at the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center at Chillicothe High School.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Putting your community in the social media limelight brings the risk of receiving occasional negative comments. You might be thinking, “Won’t negative comments turn other potential customers away?”
Not necessarily, says David Burton, county engagement specialist with University…
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The relationships we have with others impact different aspects of our lives, according to Amber Allen, a human development specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Addiction costs Missouri $1.4 million per hour, but a recovery-friendly workplace can increase profits for businesses and foster an employee-focused culture.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mike Thibideau recalls the dread he felt that Monday morning when he called his boss to tell him he was in treatment for addiction.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Analysis from University of Missouri Extension has placed Missouri as the 19th-most-populous state in the U.S. as of 2024, with 6.25 million residents.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A recent analysis shows how expansion and adoption of internet services in three northwestern Missouri counties could help grow their economies in the decade ahead.
Michael Brittian and Ed Goeke returned to Springfield from the 50th annual conference of Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) in Jacksonville, Fla., May 20-23, with the Best Neighborhood Program award in the Social Revitalization category. This year’s conference had 525 registered attendees from 36 states and…
Good news! Thanks to those who responded to the #ShowMeResilience T-shirt campaign, almost $1,000 was donated last month to Feeding Missouri!
Learn how Missouri communities are improving broadband access with local resources and the Digitally Connected Communities Guide.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As a palliative care nurse at Boone Hospital, Jackie Reed saw families dealing with the declining health of loved ones have to make difficult financial decisions.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Closing the gender gap in civic representation is the focus of the latest episode of “Show-Me MO Success,” a podcast from University of Missouri Business and Community Extension.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Women make up 51% of Missouri’s population but only 22% of the state legislature. according to a 2016 report prepared for Women’s Foundation by the University of Missouri Institute of Public Policy,
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Quality of life is affected by the quality of the neighborhoods in which people live.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. –The Dorothy Day Cabin sits in the Green Hills of Platte Wildlife Preserve just a few minutes north of downtown Kansas City. Dorothy Day, an artist and conservationist, lived in the cabin until her death in 2011. Platte County spent $1 million to preserve the cabin and has looked…
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The sharing economy has found its way to Springfield in the form of a tool library.
ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Storytelling Festival awarded MU Extension the inaugural Nancy and Ken Kranzberg Spirit of St. Louis Storytelling Award. Founded in 1980, the festival brings regional and nationally recognized storytellers to St.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – High-speed internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Most of us access the internet daily for health care, education, employment and social connection.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new partnership between the University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security (ICFS) and MU Extension will make it easier to access information about local and regional food systems and food security.
Missouri youth summit empowers teens to lead with courage, focusing on leadership, service, and community action projects.
University of Missouri Extension Wright County Engagement Specialist Janice Weddle and University of Missouri Extension Douglas County Engagement Specialist Dr.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – To guide the state’s internet expansion and training efforts, the Missouri Office of Broadband Development and University of Missouri Extension are conducting a brief online survey on household internet access and use.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Three factors continually show up in research when people express what they want in a “healthy” neighborhood: safe, clean, and friendly.
FAYETTE, Mo. – It’s not exactly beating swords into ploughshares, but a University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist spent 18 months in Iraq helping promote peace through farming.
Master Gardeners continue to care for Truman Gardens, preserving its historical beauty with vibrant blooms that enhance the visitor experience.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - It only takes a small act of kindness to make a big difference in the life of someone in your community, like a service provider, a community leader, a lonely person or a neighbor.
A plan to expand high-speed internet to a rural Missouri community aims to address broadband access challenges and improve connectivity.