Established as a land-grant university under the second morrill act of 1890, north carolina a & T state university (N.C. A & T) has sought to expand educational opportunities and upward mobility to…

Established as a land-grant university under the second morrill act of 1890, north carolina a & T state university (N.C. A & T) has sought to expand educational opportunities and upward mobility to the state's black citizens and others. Cooperative extension, at N.C. A &T, provides research-based information to north carolinians who have social, cultural, and economic barriers to upward mobility; enabling them to make decisions that improve their communities and lives. Its' work is part of an integrated, nationwide educational and outreach network serving limited-resource individuals, youth, families and communities; especially in rural and under-served areas. N.C. A & T cooperative extension deploys a workforce of subject-matter specialists, county-based agents, and paraprofessionals who deliver programs through NC cooperative extension centers across the state; inclusive of urban counties and cities like guilford, wake and mecklenburg counties, the cities of durham, winston-salem and asheville, and areas spanning from the north carolina coast to the edges of the cherokee reservation in the mountains. Extension professionals use various delivery methods from one-on-one demonstrations to virtual videoconferencing and online computer-assisted training to address the unique needs of individuals and communities with limited resources. A variety of assessments are utilized to assess needs, make informed choic ES or set priorities relative to educational program foci in cooperative extension around (1) plant and animal agricultural systems; (2) food safety, nutrition and health; (3) youth, family and community well-being; and (4) environmental and natural resources.