All About EDEN

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What is EDEN • Mission • Membership • Leadership • Participation and Engagement • Delegate Benefits 

What is EDEN?

EDEN reduces the impact of disasters by bringing together and coordinating the expertise and resources of the Cooperative Extension System to address the critical needs of individuals, families, and communities. EDEN is supported by the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through a Food and Agricultural Defense Initiative (FADI) grant and works in alignment with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). Our network comprises a collaboration of Land-grant Universities (1862, 1890, and 1994), Sea Grant institutions, and dedicated partners.

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Mission

The mission of EDEN is to reduce the impact of disasters through the aggregation of research-based resources and coordination to ensure these resources are readily available to the Cooperative Extension System, stakeholders and the communities they serve. This mission is carried out through the achievement of our four strategic goals:

1

Enhance the abilities of individuals, families, organizations, agencies, and businesses to prepare for, prevent, mitigate, and recover from disasters.

2

Serve as a national source for research-based disaster education.





3

Strengthen Extension’s capacity and commitment to address disaster issues.





4

Strengthen EDEN’s capacity to provide research-based disaster education.




Membership

Member Institutions

EDEN membership is held at the institutional level, which includes Land-grant Extension services (1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions and Hispanic serving institutions) and national programs such as the NOAA Sea Grant Program. An institution or national program becomes a member when their director or administrator submits an EDEN Cooperative Agreement (ECA) and appoints a point of contact . The ECA states that the institution or program will share its disaster resources with other member institutions and support participation of the point of contact and delegates at the EDEN annual conference.

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Designated individuals at each member institution who serve as the primary conduits of information in the network. There is typically one POC per member institution. POCs are responsible for:

  • Casting the institution’s official vote on EDEN business.
  • Serving as the primary conduit of information between EDEN and their institution.
  • Ensuring institutional webpages and contact details are current.
  • Communicating EDEN opportunities, issues, and updates to colleagues.
  • Appointing or dismissing Delegates (with director/administrator approval for POC changes).

Extension professionals from member institutions actively engaged in disaster education, encouraged to serve as committee members and perform other organizational functions of EDEN. Delegates may be appointed by the institution’s director, administrator, or POC—or may volunteer by contacting their institution’s POC.
Delegates are encouraged to:

  • Actively participate in professional development opportunities and the annual EDEN meeting.
  • Represent varied program areas across Extension.
  • Serve on EDEN committees or projects.

A retiree from a member institution may become a retiree delegate with the approval of the EDEN executive committee, provided they were a delegate prior to retiring. Retirees are encouraged to serve on committees and participate in organizational functions of EDEN, but may not serve as committee chairs or elected officers and do not have voting rights.

Affiliate membership is open to any individual, organization, institution or agency that is not from an EDEN institutional member. Affiliate delegates are encouraged to serve on committees and participate in organizational functions of EDEN, but are not able to serve as committee chairs or elected officers, and are not eligible to vote on official EDEN business.

Leadership Structure

EDEN operates through a network of dedicated individuals and committees, guided by an Executive Committee and supported by the Food and Agricultural Defense Initiative (FADI-EDEN) team.

– Immediate Past Chair
– Standing Committee Chairs
– Liaisons
– Advisory Group Representatives
– FADI-EDEN Team (non-voting) of EDEN

– Chair
– Chair-Elect
– Secretary

Programmatic:

– Agriculture
– Natural Resources
– Community and Economic Development
– Family and Consumer Science
– 4-H & Youth Development

Functional:

– Exercise & Training for Disaster Resilience
– Marketing and Membership
– Professional Development
– Annual Conference

Programmatic:

– Chaired by the immediate past chair (appointed by the chair in even-numbered years)
– Presents candidates for chair-elect and secretary to be voted on per voting requirements

Appointed Liaisons:

– Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP)
– USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
– National Sea Grant College Program

1890 & 1994 Advisory Groups:

– Bring together Extension professionals from the 1890 and 1994 Land-grant Universities to strengthen disaster education

Task Forces:

– The chair and executive committee may establish task forces for particular functions and needs
– Serve at the pleasure of the executive committee or until mission is completed.

FADI-EDEN Team:

– The Food and Agricultural Defense Initiative (FADI-EDEN) team supports EDEN and the executive committee through coordination and implementation of EDEN’s strategic plan. The grant is currently held by the Extension Foundation.

Participation and Engagement

EDEN’s success relies on the active engagement of its member institutions, Points of Contact (POCs), and Delegates. Each plays an important role in strengthening Extension’s capacity to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

The specific level of participation of each Institution, Point of Contact, and Delegate is to be determined locally. However, the greatest benefit from any collaborative effort is achieved by full participation.

Member Institutions

EDEN membership is by institution. While there is no financial obligation, institutional support is essential for effective participation.
Member institutions are encouraged to:

  • Designate one Point of Contact (POC) to serve as the liaison with EDEN.
  • Support staff participation by appointing Delegates from diverse program areas.
  • Provide travel support for at least one Point of Contact and/or Delegate to attend EDEN’s annual national meeting.
  • Encourage educators, agents, and specialists to contribute their expertise to disaster education.
  • Encourage staff to build partnerships with their state Emergency Management Agency and other agencies or organizations active in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
  • Recognize disaster education accomplishments in performance evaluations and promotion and tenure processes.
  • Encourage all staff to engage in state-level partnerships and available training opportunities related to disaster education.
  • Complete an annual written report of EDEN-related activities and accomplishments.
  • Integrate EDEN resources and research-based disaster education into institutional programs.
  • Allow time for POCs and Delegates to participate in EDEN projects, committees, and meetings.

Points of Contact (POC)

Each member institution appoints one POC, approved by the institution’s director or administrator.
POCs serve as the main conduit of information between EDEN and their institution and are responsible for:

  • Sharing EDEN updates, opportunities, and issues with colleagues.
  • Ensuring institutional contact and web information are accurate and current.
  • Appointing and coordinating Delegates.
  • Representing their institution in official EDEN business and voting when required.
  • Encouraging institutional participation in EDEN committees and projects.

Delegates

Each institution may appoint multiple Delegates to represent various Extension program areas.
Delegates contribute to EDEN by:

  • Participating in committees, projects, and working groups.
  • Promoting and using EDEN resources and courses.
  • Attending the annual EDEN meeting and other professional development events.
  • Recruiting new Delegates and partners to strengthen the network.

Each Delegate should complete their profile for inclusion in the EDEN directory: Complete your Delegate Profile

Suggested Activities for POCs and Delegates

POCs and Delegates are encouraged to engage with EDEN in the following ways:

  • Serve as a liaison between EDEN and their institution’s leadership.
  • Provide regular updates and share EDEN resources with administrators.
  • Participate in EDEN e-group communications and share relevant information internally.
  • Attend the annual EDEN meeting to represent their institution.
  • Prepare an annual report summarizing their institution’s disaster-related activities and impacts.
  • Respond to EDEN requests for proposals or project opportunities.
  • Present or display posters at the EDEN annual conference.
  • Serve on an EDEN committee.
  • Identify and share disaster resources for posting on the EDEN website.
  • Monitor institutional disaster-related webpages for accuracy.
  • Recruit additional Delegates to expand participation.
  • Promote EDEN resources and courses within their institution.
  • Use EDEN resources when providing education to the public.
  • Offer programs that explain EDEN and its resources within their institution and to external audiences.
  • Represent EDEN and share disaster-related education at national or partner conferences.

Delegate Benefits

Career and Professional Development:

Access a wealth of learning opportunities, resources, and expert knowledge in disaster education.

Networking:

Connect with a nationwide community of dedicated Extension professionals working in disaster preparation, mitigation, response, and recovery.

Collaboration:

Partner on impactful projects and initiatives to enhance
community resilience.

Resource Sharing:

Access and contribute to a valuable collection of disaster
education materials.

Visibility and Impact:

Showcase your work and expertise through presentations, publications, and network activities.

Professional Advancement:

Engagement in a national network like EDEN can strengthen your professional profile and contributions relevant to promotion and tenure.

View the EDEN Onboarding Toolkit