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Extension presents 2025 impact in Cook County, highlights spruce budworm outreach and Food-as-Medicine pilot
Summary
University Extension staff told the committee about 2025 outreach and volunteer programs — including a spruce budworm guide and symposium — and described a Food-as-Medicine pilot to begin in 2026 that will deliver weekly produce boxes to clinic-referred participants.
Carrie Cavan, regional director with Extension, and Sarah Waddle, the local extension educator and community center director, briefed the committee of the whole on Extension’s work in Cook County in 2025 and on multi-year projects that they say are producing measurable community benefits.
The presentation framed Extension’s mission as connecting community needs with university research and local partners. Cavan said the county–university partnership is governed by a state statute and that the local Extension committee (which includes Sharon Rothenbash and two county commissioners) helps ensure programming is responsive to resident needs. “Our goal today is really just to build a shared understanding about this partnership that we have with you,” Cavan said.
Waddle said Extension held educational programs and workshops in 2025 that drew more than 400 participant attendances locally; she emphasized the practical outcomes those…
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