National Associations
NACDEP (National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals) is an organization dedicated to improving the visibility, coordination, professional status and resource base of community and economic development Extension programs and professionals.
Vision:
Advocating community and economic development programming, while educating and recognizing Extension professionals who develop successful programs and expand resources to strengthen communities.
Definition: Community development is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes participatory democracy, sustainable development, rights, equality, economic opportunity and social justice, through the organization, education and empowerment of people within their communities, whether these be of locality, identity or interest, in urban and rural settings.
Statement of Extension professionals role in community development: Community Resources & Economic Development (CRED) Extension Professionals work WITH communities to support activities that encourage broad participation and result in social, environmental, and/or economic improvement as defined by the community.
ANREP (Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals) strives to provide a variety of approaches to help educate landowners, managers, decision-makers, and youth.
Objectives:
To bring together natural resource / environmental education extension professionals to discuss natural resource issues, needs and opportunities of mutual interest; to facilitate information sharing, and recognize innovative work.
To promote cooperation on natural resource issues and educational and training efforts among the various states and regions, as well as among governmental agencies, private natural resources groups, related industries and other natural resource professionals.
To discuss, develop, sponsor, and promote educational and training programs and activities that will advance the practice of natural resource management.
To provide support and promote activities and programs at the national level that advance natural resource management, education, training, and diversity in the work force.
To advance the professional status of natural resource extension professionals (NREPs) by encouraging professional selfimprovement.
To strengthen communication with Extension Administration at the county, state, and federal level.