The art and science of networking extension

Abstract

As Extension professionals are increasingly tasked with moving beyond program delivery into the murky realmof systems change, networks represent an essential organizing framework for this transition. In this article, weexamine the ways in which networks are becoming a modern mode for social change. By providing examplesfrom our work with food networks, we demonstrate how these collaborative approaches can produce a greaterimpact for Extension and the communities we serve. Lastly, we discuss the critical characteristics of successfulnetworks and the role Extension can play in their optimization.