KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Extension Disaster Education Network is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2025 Advancing Disaster Education in America grants. These grants support innovative educational initiatives that enhance disaster preparedness, response, and recovery across the United States.
“These outstanding projects support EDEN in our mission to reduce the impact of disasters in our communities,” said Angie Lindsey, EDEN chair. “We look forward to watching these projects develop and to sharing the results of these projects with our entire network.”
2025 awardees and their projects:
- Meggan Franks, Louisiana State University – AgCenter Resilience Response Initiative (ARRI), $25,000
- Kelsey Johnson, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service – Improving Coordination during Disaster Assessment by Developing Standardized Map Products, $25,000
- Matt Rodriguez, University of California – Promoting Healthy People and Communities: A Youth Mental Health First Aid Project, $24,842
- Carla L. Schwan,University of Georgia – SAFE: Strengthening Awareness for Food Safety Emergencies, $25,000
- Aaron Yoder, University of Nebraska – Building Resilience Through Preparedness: Empowering Young Farmers and Ranchers to Thrive Amid Natural Disasters, $18,613
“We are thrilled to support these five projects,” said Fred Schlutt, EDEN program manager. “These initiatives demonstrate the creativity and dedication of Extension professionals in addressing critical disaster challenges and empowering communities to build resilience.”
Through these grants, EDEN continues to lead the charge in disaster education by fostering innovative solutions that address real-world challenges. From food safety to mental health, and from robust mapping tools to agricultural resilience, these projects demonstrate the diverse ways in which Extension professionals contribute to disaster preparedness and recovery.
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