206 - A Community-Engaged Approach to Managing Drought

Abstract Information: Universities are uniquely positioned to address global challenges through community-engaged partnerships, fulfilling their civic missions while advancing societal well-being. Recognizing this potential, the Carnegie Foundation has introduced a community engagement classification to guide universities in enhancing their service practices and fortifying campus-community connections. This classification outlines a future-oriented framework for community-engaged teaching, research, and scholarship. Moving beyond traditional outreach models, the Carnegie framework advocates for "engagement" rather than "outreach," promoting a bidirectional, collaborative model for partnering with communities to tackle societal issues. This paradigm shift fosters more equitable partnerships within Extension programs, empowering stakeholders as co-creators of knowledge and leading to initiatives that are more attuned to community needs worldwide. In a practical application of this framework, Dr. Stacia Conger spearheaded a 2022 initiative to develop an irrigation web tool, offering a strategic response to drought management in Louisiana. The project aimed to enhance farmers' access to technical information for site-specific water use strategies and to cultivate robust, enduring community relationships. The initiative's success is evidenced by the adoption of more efficient irrigation techniques among farmers, leading to behavioral changes and reduced resource utilization. Employing the Carnegie partnership framework, the project team implemented a community-engaged program evaluation process. This approach ensured continuous feedback from end users, thereby refining the partnership evaluation and enhancing the tool's development. The positive reception of the AgCenter as a collaborative entity and a trusted source of irrigation information is a testament to the strengthened community ties and shared objectives for future disaster risk mitigation collaborations. Moreover, the inclusion of community input as an integral part of program development and evaluation has yielded an intervention that not only aligns with community needs but also delivers measurable social and environmental benefits. This poster underscores the significance of community-engaged evaluation in university-led initiatives, offering valuable insights into the creation of impactful, reciprocal partnerships that can serve as a model for addressing pressing environmental concerns.