UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Extension’s food, families and communities unit earned two 2026 awards from the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals during the association’s annual conference, held in June in Wichita, Kansas.
Excellence in Community Development Northeast Region Award
The following team members received a Northeast Region Excellence in Community Development Award for their work supporting the Blueprint Communities Program:
- John Turack, leadership and community vitality extension program specialist
- Neal Fogle, leadership and community vitality extension educator
- Robin Perry-Smith, strategic initiatives and urban engagement extension educator
- John Byrnes, former extension educator
- Linda Falcone, former leadership and community vitality extension educator
- External collaborators Justine Trucksess and Julia Fitzpatrick of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center
Blueprint Communities PA Program, developed by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, assists local communities that face challenges and barriers to effective community and economic development.
The Penn State Extension team strengthened the program by developing and leading workshops, coaching 10 community teams, and creating educational resources now used across Pennsylvania. Their efforts helped communities develop five-year strategic plans, secure funding, strengthen local leadership and implement resident-driven projects.
Educational Technology National Award
The association also presented a national Educational Technology Award for the Penn State Extension Food Systems Mapping Instrument. Contributors included Neal Fogle, Robin Perry-Smith, John Turack and Harry Crissy, who are part of Penn State Extension’s leadership and community vitality educator team.
The team developed the interactive mapping tool to help policymakers, entrepreneurs, farmers and other food system stakeholders make informed decisions about local food system development. By integrating data on food production, processing, distribution, retail, demographics and other factors, the publicly available tool helps users identify community needs and opportunities, prioritize projects and support systems-based planning. Since its launch, it has been used by county commissioners, municipal staff, entrepreneurs and extension educators. The tool is publicly available on the Penn State Extension website and has spawned additional articles and hands-on training regarding its potential uses.
The leadership and community vitality team will be demonstrating the tool during this year’s Ag Progress Days from Aug. 11-13 at their Leadership and Community Vitality booth (No. 412) in the Everett Cash Mutual Building.
The Educational Technology Award recognizes innovative uses of technology to deliver or manage educational programs, expand technology’s role in community development work, and promote effective problem-solving through educational tools.
These awards also provide a platform for showcasing community development work nationally.
“The awards program is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the remarkable work being led by community development extension professionals across the country,” said the association’s president, Kara Salazar, of Purdue University Extension. “Each year, I am inspired by the creativity, dedication and meaningful impact our members bring to the communities they serve. These award winners exemplify excellence in community development and demonstrate the power of Extension to create positive change.”
Created in 2003, the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals aims to improve the visibility, coordination, professional status and resource base of community and economic development extension programs and professionals.
The association has more than 350 members across 40 states and territories. Active members are currently employed as extension professionals or have a strong interest in community and economic development extension work.