Item No. 1 of 1

INVESTIGATOR: Joseph, H. M.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
THIRD SECTOR NEW ENGLAND, INC.
89 S ST STE 700
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02111

EXPANDING TRAINER SKILLS AND VISUAL-BASED RESOURCES FOR REFUGEE AND OTHER BEGINNING FARMER INCUBATORS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Over 50 refugee farming incubator projects (RFIPs) nationwide trained over 1000 refugee beginning farmers in 2019. But too many of RFIPs struggle with the training process due to acombination of limited appropriate resources and capabilities to work with challenges audiences.ISED Solutions proposes a national ET collaboration with nine project partners to improve the quality of training materials and T&TA delivery to refugee and other farmers.Project core objectives are to implement a nationwide community of practice (CoP), expand visually-based content for T&TA providers, and develop trainers' skills in adult education and T&TA delivery through training-of-trainers.Core activities will include peer-to-peer engagements through CoPs for both incubator farm staff and farmers, expansion and dissemination of visually-based farmer education content, and skills development through training-of-trainers.These activities should result in ongoing networking and collaboration through CoP networks, 40+ farm incubator programs nationwide downloading and utilizing training resources, 9 RFIPs and 25-30 staff improving T&TA content and delivery, and 600 to 1200 beginning farmers receiving improved T&TA. They will thus expand their knowledge of farming and improve farm business outcomes. These resources will also be widely distributed to reach other beginning farmer incubators and help thousands of other beginning farmers.Other collaborating institutions/organizations:ISED will collaborate with the following programs:(1)Major partner: International Rescue Committee (IRC) - US National office - NYC;(2-5)Four IRC local programs: Tucson, AZ; Sacramento, CA; Seattle, WA; Salt Lake City, UT;(6)Global Growers Network, Decatur, GA;(7)Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas, Kansas City, KS;(8)Lutheran Services of Iowa, Des Moines, IA;(9)Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming, Ithaca, NY; and,(10)The Nashville Food Project, Nashville.

OBJECTIVES: Overall Goal / Outcome:Strengthen the capabilities of farming incubator projects (9 directly and 30+ more subsequently), toprovide audience-appropriate education & training and technical assistance. This will directly benefit 600-1200 beginning and aspiring farmers in partner projects, up to 1200 more in 30 additional RFIPs, as well as many other beginning farmers and incubators.Obj. 1: Implement a Community of Practice (CoP) approach to all aspects of this initiative:1-a) 30-40 T&TA providers in nine RFIPs engage in peer-to-peer content development, T&TA skills building and delivery, and related assessment and feedback.Obj. 2:Expand visual-basedcontentfor T&TA providers and beginning farmers.2-a) Compile hundreds of high-quality third-party visual resources in open access formats.2-b) Develop at least 100visually-based products using the above individual images.2-c) Pilot testing: RFIPs will use these resources along with enhanced instructional methods for farmer T&TA to provide feedback to improve them as needed.2-d) Dissemination: Post completed on multiple websites resources to make widely availableObj. 3: Skillsdevelopment Training of Trainers:Build the skills of 25-30 staff in nine programs in experiential teaching methods tailored their core farmer audiences.3-a) Identify proficiency standards and targets all targeted skills development3-b) Augmentmultiple teaching and communications proficiencies for partners via training by professional experts in four domains.3-c) Training of trainers - Trained staff disseminate skills development across their projects.3-d)RFIPs use these instructional methods to improve their T&TA delivery for all farmers3-e)Provide associated resources on these skills for ongoing access for all incubators.3-f)Help refugee farmers themselves get directly engaged in their T&TA via WhatApp.