PROJECT SUMMARYTHE ASSOCIATION OF EXTENSION ADMINISTRATORS (AEA) IS PLANNING TO HOLD A SYSTEM-WIDEEXTENSION CONFERENCE ON JULY 25-29, 2021. THE CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE RENAISSANCEORLANDO AT SEAWORLD HOTEL IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL 19 UNIVERSITIES,COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS 1890 UNIVERSITIES, ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE. AEA IS A MEMBERSHIPORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ADMINISTRATORS FROM THE NATION'S 19HISTORICALLY BLACK LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES. THE THEME OF THE 2021 SYSTEM-WIDE EXTENSIONCONFERENCE IS POSITIONING EXTENSION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. IT WILL OFFER VALUABLE PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT TO MORE THAN 600 EXTENSION SPECIALISTS, LOCAL AGENTS AND EDUCATORS WHO TRANSLATESCIENCE FOR PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS; ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC BY PROVIDING RELIABLE SCIENCE-BASEDINFORMATION THAT LEADS TO POSITIVE ACTION; AND TRANSFORM INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, FARMSAND BUSINESSES IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS.THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THECONFERENCE IS TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF 1890S EXTENSIONPROFESSIONALS TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER SCIENCE-BASED PROGRAMS. WEAIMEAT HELPING DIVERSE RURAL ANDURBAN YOUTH, FAMILIES, FARMS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY, THOSE THAT ARE UNDERSERVED,UNSERVED AND HAVE LIMITED-RESOURCES, TO MAKE INFORMED, PRACTICAL DECISIONS RELATED TO FOOD ANDAGRICULTURE AND THEREBY IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. THE CONFERENCE WILL HELP THE PROFESSIONAL TOBE BETTER PREPARED TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER PROGRAMS DURING THIS NEW NORMAL THAT WAS CREATED BY THEINCIDENCE OF COVID-19.THE OBJECTIVES ARE: (1) TO HIGHLIGHT THE HISTORY, ROLE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF 1890 LAND-GRANTUNIVERSITIES AS DRIVERS OF CHANGE; (2) TO ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES OF CAMPUSBASEDSPECIALISTS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATORS ON INNOVATIVE WAYS TO EMPLOY THE EXTENSIONPROGRAMMING MODEL TO ADDRESS STAKEHOLDERS' NEEDS; (3) TO ENGAGE ATTENDEES IN DISCUSSIONSFOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSESSING AND WRITING EFFECTIVEPROGRAM IMPACT STATEMENTS; (4) TO SHOWCASE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT USE STAKEHOLDERS' INPUT TO SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESS RELEVANT NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED POPULATIONS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURALSCIENCES; (5) TO EMPOWER PARTICIPANTS TO DEVELOP COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN EXTENSION, RESEARCH,TEACHING AND ALLIED PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN LEAD TOCREATION OF INNOVATIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY ANDINTEGRATED PROJECTS THAT ARE DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY NEEDS AND SUPPORTED BY COMPETITIVE GRANTS; AND(6) TO SHOWCASE PROGRAMS THAT MEET NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN EXTENSION.THE CONFERENCE PROPOSAL IS SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THE AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM,AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM AREA, RELATED TO SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZEDFARMS; SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES; AND RURAL ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT.