Cultivating Change Foundation Announces New Committee and Financial Partner to Support and Grow Collegiate Affiliate Program

February 22, 2021

On February 22, 2021, the Cultivating Change Foundation Board of Directors announced the establishment of a Collegiate Program Committee.  The Foundation’s Collegiate Ambassador Program (CAP) was founded in 2016 at Penn State with just nine students.  Since the formation of the first collegiate affiliate chapter, the CAP’s alumni network has grown to almost 20, with approximately 50 current active members.

In the time since these chapters formed, the respective chapters have proven to be successful in their mission: to promote visibility and inclusion of LGBTQ+ students in the agricultural college at their university.  In doing so, the student leaders organized social events to ensure LGBTQ+ students in the organization had a safe, welcoming space.  They also planned professional development events to provide important opportunities for members.  These professional development events were often executed alone, but sometimes in collaboration with external groups.

CAP alumni Coleman Simpson and Kurtis Miller developed the frameworks for the Collegiate Program Committee.  Simpson and Miller saw an opportunity to better support the CAP through active engagement and leadership from alumni and the Foundation’s Board of Directors.  According to Simpson, “it’s been great to receive the support of the Foundation, and I’m excited for the impacts we’ll create. There is a lot of energy around supporting LGBTQ+ students in ag, and Kurtis and I are excited to capitalize on that energy.”  Miller explained that “with CAP at its current size and continuing to grow, it is imperative to provide support for these students. I am so excited to support the Foundation in its endeavor to expand and support this program through direct chapter support.”

Foundation Board Chair Kirk Maag stated, “the Foundation’s Board of Directors enthusiastically adopted and will support the work of the Collegiate Program Committee.  We appreciate the leadership from CAP alumni like Coleman and Kurtis, who are working to advance our mission to value and elevate LGBTQ+ agriculturists—particularly as it relates to LGBTQ+ agriculturists on college campuses.”

Collegiate Program Committee Role 

The Collegiate Program Committee will serve as an advisory committee to the Foundation’s Board of Directors.  The committee will recommend approval of affiliation for chapters to the Board of Directors, support activities of and coordinate the various chapters in an effort to ensure the growth of individual chapters and the success of the national collegiate program. 

New Financial Partner

In other exciting news, a new financial partner (Ag First Credit) has earmarked part of its support to benefit collegiate program building efforts. 

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