The Wisconsin Extension Environmental and Community Development Association (WEECDA) is proud to recognize Mia Ljung, Community Development Educator for Outagamie and Winnebago Counties, as the 2025 recipient of the Mid-Career Impact Award. This prestigious award honors WEECDA members with 5-10 years of service who demonstrate a pattern of quality achievement and service to the organization, profession, or community.

Ms. Ljung has made significant contributions to community development in Outagamie and Winnebago Counties, demonstrating exceptional dedication and leadership. Mia’s focus area is community economic development, but she also provides organizational development and community food systems programming. Her organizational development programming includes facilitating strategic planning processes and offering plain language training that helps public agencies, nonprofits, and businesses improve communication with their audiences. Ms. Ljung has also co-delivered grant writing basics workshops aimed at helping organizations increase their success with finding and applying for grants.

Ms. Ljung’s community food systems programming includes work aimed at addressing farmland access and conservation. Her goal is to build a stronger and more inclusive entrepreneurial and farming ecosystems. She is also collecting public-facing information and mappings for community gardens in her area.

Mia collaborates with numerous Extension colleagues to support economic development professionals (e.g. New North and NEWREP education sessions), coordinates annual pitch competitions for emerging and growing businesses, works to build business resources with Hmong farmers, and works to support a broad network of entrepreneurs. She is currently working with the Wisconsin Rural Entrepreneurial Venture Program, a program designed to advance small town economies through a targeted business approach.

Ms. Ljung’s knowledge and ability as an educator to engage multiple populations have provided Outagamie and Winnebago Counties with positive growth opportunities and, ultimately, incredible gains for various underserved communities.

The Wisconsin Extension Environmental and Community Development Association celebrates Mia Ljung’s extraordinary contributions and her unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for Outagamie and Winnebago residents. Her efforts have made a profound impact, embodying the true spirit of the Wisconsin Idea.