From the U.P. to Flint and Detroit neighborhoods, partnerships are vital to MSU Extension's mission

Jeff Dwyer, left, and Kirk Heinze

Whether we are discussing robust nutrition education programs in Marquette and Flint or innovative recreation and urban agriculture initiatives in Detroit, MSU Extension's (

) new director underscores the importance of collaboration.

"Ultimately, it all comes down to partnerships," says Dr. Jeff Dwyer, interim director of MSUE. And these partnerships extend well beyond colleges and departments at MSU into communities and community organizations across the entire state.

A paradigm of the power of partnerships is connecting community health care providers, MSUE educators and the MSU medical colleges--something Dwyer, previously a senior associate dean in the College of Human Medicine, is committed to strengthening. "Our

already does of lot of community-based health care education. And between the

and the

, there are over 2,000 trainees across the state. But many traditional health care providers, and even some of the trainees, are not aware of MSUE's health programs that are offered literally right outside their doors."

In Flint, where MSUE has 12 full-time educators and is working quickly to add more, the long-standing partnership between Extension and the agricultural community has already produced notable results. "While we are all sickened about what has happened in Flint, it is time to focus on what we can do to help these children and families."

In partnership with the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA), several dairy producers, and Flint-area food banks, MSUE was instrumental in

. "To illustrate the importance of partnerships, it took just a couple of days working the Ken Nobis at MMPA and three phone calls to the local food banks to get this milk delivered and distributed."

MSUE is also working with the Flint health care community and the media to increase awareness of and participation in expanded nutrition education programs that will teach residents, for example, how to properly prepare and cook food to help mitigate the effects of lead.

In Detroit, MSUE has 60 educators on the ground, delivering programs ranging from outdoor recreation and youth leadership development to personal finance and urban agriculture.

"In addition to several organizations and agencies in Detroit, we are collaborating with several MSU colleges including education and social science, and, of course, with

and with the MSU

. Frankly, we have been thrilled that we have been invited to a growing number of community-based conversations about ways we can participate in Detroit's renaissance."

Click here to hear my conversation with Dwyer.

And please join me every Sunday evening at 7:00 for

on News/Talk 760 WJR.

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