CULTIVATING BELONGING HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS (NACDEP) SINCE ITS GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION IN 2005. HOWEVER, THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED ALREADY EXISTING FUNDING DISPARITIES BETWEEN 1862 AND THEIR FELLOW 1890/1994 LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES (LGUS), MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO AFFORD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. IN ORDER TO BRIDGE THIS DIVIDE, NACDEP'S BOARD IS REACHING OUT TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD &AMP; AGRICULTURE (NIFA) WITH AN IDEA FOR HOW TO SUSTAINABLY RECRUIT AND EMPOWER A DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP, WHICH COULD BUILD THE CAPACITY OF OUR PROGRAM AREA SYSTEM-WIDE.THE 2022 NACDEP CONFERENCE (JUNE 5-8, 2022, IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA) HAS FOUR GOALS:1) OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS TO SHOWCASE THE IMPACT OF THEIR PROGRAMMATIC AND RESEARCH EFFORTS OF THE PAST YEAR(S) THROUGH POSTERS, PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS;2) LEARN ABOUT BEST PRACTICES FROM COLLEAGUES ENGAGED IN THE SAME LGU PROGRAM AREA;3) EXPLORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH FELLOW EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS THROUGH NETWORKING; AND4) BUILD COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESS AT LGUS NATIONWIDE.