SOCIAL RECKONING AROUND RACIAL JUSTICE SINCE 2020 HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR THE NATIONAL EXTENSION TOURISM (NET) NETWORK TO EXPAND ITS EFFORTS AROUND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INCLUSION (DEAI). NET'S LISTSERV MEMBERSHIP HAS QUADRUPLED SINCE 2018 BUT REMAINS PREDOMINANTLY WHITE; YET THE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND WORKFORCE NET OFTEN TARGETS REPRESENTS MUCH MORE DIVERSE POPULATIONS. SUBSEQUENTLY, NET'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DIRECTED THE FORMATION OF A NEW DEAI COMMITTEE FOR NET IN EARLY 2022, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING LED BY THE LEAD PD, N. CHIN. DESPITE THE ACKNOWLEDGED DESIRE FOR NET TO BECOME A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ORGANIZATION, EFFORTS THUS FAR HAVE BEEN MINIMAL. THIS CONFERENCE GRANT WILL ENHANCE NET'S ENDEAVORS AROUND DEAI AT ITS 2023 CONFERENCE, ENVISIONING THE FUTURE OF EXTENSION IN TOURISM, WHICH WILL BE HELD IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ON SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2023.