Laura Dodds

Purdue Extension Marion County

We provide relevant and research-based educational services to Marion County residents and organizations who share our passion for building young leaders through 4-H Youth Development, creating strong families and healthy communities, developing profitable businesses and trusted employees, and growing a vibrant and sustainable natural environment. Our dedicated team of educators and staff focuses on four distinct program areas to accomplish this vision; 4-H Youth Development, Health & Human Sciences, Community Development, and Agriculture and Natural Resources. In Marion County, we specialize in serving urban residents, with a passion for those residents often underappreciated within our communities, systems, and social constructs. At Extension, we learn alongside Indiana residents, finding practical applications that link scientific, research-based information from Indiana's only Land Grant institution, Purdue University, with local needs— from Main Streets to neighborhoods, to our urban farms transforming lives and livelihoods.