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.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Twenty Missouri residents have been honored as the state’s Most Engaged Neighbors for 2025. These awards highlight everyday Missourians whose commitment to their neighborhoods strengthens community bonds and creates belonging.
Food insecurity is on the rise in Missouri, according to the newly released 2025 Missouri Hunger Atlas. Published every other year, the atlas provides local leaders, nonprofits and agencies with data they can use to guide resources and shape solutions.
A handwritten note can have a powerful impact, offering a personal touch that builds connections and encourages others, especially in times of isolation.
MU Extension has partnered with the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail Coalition, which is working to make Missouri a fueling station for pollinators as they migrate between Canada and Mexico.
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…
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…
Ag and bioscience drive economic growth and job creation in the North Central U.S., boosting productivity and innovation.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Researchers and authors have used a variety of terms to describe the state of neighboring in America.
Missourians shared nearly 20,000 acts of kindness during Good Neighbor Week, celebrating community and connection statewide.
Grant-funded initiative supports community-led planning to bring affordable high-speed internet to Missouri’s most underserved rural counties.
Parties are great ways to get to know your neighbors, especially if you do a "favorite things party."
Child care shortages cost Missouri $1.15 billion annually through lost tax revenue, absenteeism, and limited workforce participation.
Child care shortages cost Missouri $869 million annually, straining businesses, tax revenue, and families while limiting workforce growth.
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.
Digital Ambassadors empower communities with skills to access online resources, build confidence, and stay connected through trusted partners.
Discover a searchable Missouri map of public computers, Wi-Fi sites, digital literacy programs, classes and tech help—easily find nearby resources.
Access practical tips and guides to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters at home and in your community.
Learn how asset-based community development uncovers residents' gifts to strengthen urban neighborhoods and create lasting impact.
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.
Learn expert tips to prevent, respond to, and stay safe from cyberbullying online.
Learn how to handle flooded vegetable gardens, protect crops, and ensure food safety after heavy rain or floods.
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.
A community nonprofit turns vacant lots into gardens, farmers markets, and programs linking food access with local growth.
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.
A volunteer group in Missouri is helping communities access and benefit from broadband through local training and support.
Missouri EATs empowers communities to enhance local food systems through collaboration, planning, and sustainable development.
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.
Missourians reported nearly 20,000 acts of neighboring in 2023, celebrating community connections during Good Neighbor Week.
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.
Missouri marks the first Good Neighbor Week from Sept. 28, encouraging connections and community across the state.
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.
More than half of Missouri’s workforce now crosses county lines for jobs, up from 40% in 2002, with sharper growth in nonmetro areas.
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. – 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.…
An $86M investment generated nearly $950M in economic impact, reaching millions through programs and resources across Missouri.
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…
Launch of a new national subgroup to support professionals serving veterans through shared resources, collaboration, and innovative programming.
A new fellowship program in St. Louis empowers leaders to co-create community-driven solutions, focusing on economic mobility and disaster recovery.
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.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Neighborhood Leadership Academy has awarded 20 mini-grants totaling $46,805 to groups across Missouri.
Voices from across America reflect on everyday neighborly acts—from greetings and gatherings to caring and uniting communities.
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.
Helping farm and food entrepreneurs access funding, training, and regional market connections to build stronger local food systems.
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.
Missouri’s population grew 1.5% from 2020–2024, driven entirely by domestic and international migration.
Expanding broadband in rural Missouri can boost local economies, create jobs, and support education and healthcare access.
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…
Supporters responded with resilience during COVID-19 and helped raise nearly $1,000 for Feeding Missouri’s network of six food banks.
Learn how Missouri communities are improving broadband access with local resources and the Digitally Connected Communities Guide.
A nonprofit founded by local nurses offers compassionate end-of-life support in a welcoming home environment for families in need.
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. – 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…
A Springfield tool-sharing library promotes affordability, community, and sustainability—and offers a blueprint for other towns.
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.
Explore how storytelling strengthens civic engagement, builds trust, and fosters collaboration to transform communities through shared narratives.
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.
University of Missouri Extension Wright County Engagement Specialist Janice Weddle and University of Missouri Extension Douglas County Engagement Specialist Dr.
Take a short anonymous survey on household internet access and use to guide state broadband expansion, training, and infrastructure planning.
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.
Volunteers are needed to help Missourians build digital skills, access broadband, and improve online confidence through local training sessions.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- When a neighbor receives a kind note from us, especially if it is handwritten, they feel like the writer has a deeper desire to serve them or connect.
GREENVILLE, Mo. – “So, if the thrill of counting Easter eggs has faded and sightings of neighborhood bears in windows have become less frequent, would you be up for a new adventure?” asks Kelley Brent, county engagement specialist in nutrition and health for University of Missouri Extension in…