THE SRDC WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THREE PRIORITIES THAT IMPACT THE WELL-BEING OF SOUTHERN RURAL COMMUNITIES, AS IDENTIFIED BY THE TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THESE PRIORITIES ARE: (1) DEVELOP PATHWAYS TO RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, (2) BUILD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, AND (3) MOBILIZE RESOURCES AROUND EMERGING ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP PATHWAYS TO RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH (A) SUPPORTING THE SERA 47 LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOODS INITIATIVE, (B) INCREASING BROADBAND ACCESS AND ADOPTION BY WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL DIGITAL EDUCATION EXTENSION TEAM, (C) GROWING RESEARCH AND EXTENSION COLLABORATION AROUND HEIRS' PROPERTY ISSUES, (D) EXPANDING CIVIL DIALOGUE EFFORTS AROUND RACE AND ETHNICITY, AND (E) EXAMINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AREA TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO REGIONAL NEEDS AMPLIFIED BY COVID-19. UNDER THE SECOND PRIORITY, BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, SRDC WILL (A) CONTINUE SHEPHERDING CREATE BRIDGES WHICH IS DESIGNED TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN RURAL RETAIL SECTORS WHICH OFTEN MAKE UP A LARGE PORTION OF RURAL EMPLOYMENT, (B) EXPAND RURAL RESOURCES TO PROMOTE PROSPERITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE USDA OFFICE OF PARTNERSHIP AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, (C) SUPPORT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS IN THE SOUTHERN REGION PROGRAM LEADERSHIP NETWORK, AND (D) COORDINATE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ANNUAL SOUTHERN REGION COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS REPORT. FOR THE THIRD PRIORITY, THE CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MOBILIZING RESOURCES AROUND EMERGING ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES BY ASSISTING WITH A NATIONAL SCAN OF PRIORITIES FOR THE EXTENSION DISASTER EDUCATION NETWORK (EDEN).