**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE SOUTHERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SRDC) HAS THREE PRIORITIES ENDORSED BY ITS TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE REGION'S 1862, 1890, AND 1994 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS, THROUGH RESEARCH AND EXTENSION, PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR ADDRESSING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESS. SRDC PRIORITIES ARE TO: 1) DEVELOP PATHWAYS TO RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, 2) BUILD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, AND 3) MOBILIZE RESOURCES AROUND EMERGING ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES. PROGRAMMATICALLY, THE SRDC WILL DEVELOP PATHWAYS TO RESILIENT COMMUNITIES BY: SUPPORTING THE SERA 47 LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOODS INITIATIVE, ENHANCING HEIRS' PROPERTY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION COLLABORATION, WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL DIGITAL EDUCATION EXTENSION TEAM AND1890 PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, EXPANDING DIALOGUES ON RACE AND ETHNICITY THROUGH COMING TOGETHER FOR RACIAL UNDERSTANDING, SUPPORTING THE ECOP DEI PROGRAM ACTION TEAM, AND SUPPORTING INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES FOSTERING HEALTHYCOMMUNITIES ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE. FOR BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, SRDC WILL: CONTINUE LEADING CREATE BRIDGES TO STRENGTHEN RURAL RETAIL ECONOMIES, SUPPORT THE SOUTHERN REGION PROGRAM LEADERSHIP NETWORK, COORDINATE THE SOUTHERN REGION COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS REPORT, ENGAGE WITH THE DELTA SCHOLARS UNDERGRADUATE INITIATIVE, AND PARTNER WITH THE LEAD AND DRINKING WATER INITIATIVE. TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES, SRDC WILL ASSIST WITH: EXPANDING AND IMPLEMENTING CURRICULA TO ENHANCE GRANT WRITING CAPACITIES FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGING WITH RECREATIONAL ECONOMY CONCERNS, AND EXPANDING INVOLVEMENT IN CLIMATE INITATIVES TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC RESILIENCE. COMPLEMENTING WORK IN THESE AREAS, STRUCTURAL EFFORTS WILL INCLUDE THE 1890 FELLOW INITIATIVE, CROSS-PROGRAM REPORTING, DEVELOPING PUBLICATION PLANS, AND DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING RESEARCH METHODS TO INFORM EXTENSION.