The news media are invited to hear young people come up with ideas for the future of their communities' youth at the "Conversations on Youth Development" in Fresno, Kern, Merced, and/or Kings counties.
When 4-H commemorates its first 100 years in 2002, it won't be dedicating a granite statue. Rather, 4-H is looking to the future by holding more than 3,000 local "Conversations on Youth Development" to collect a diversity of ideas and put them into action during the centennial year.
The 4-H programs in the San Joaquin Valley are no exception. Kings, Fresno, Kern, and Merced County 4-H members and representatives from other youth organizations are joining adult community leaders to figure out what engages young people, determine the best ways for youth to learn and grow, and find approaches to youth development that will work in the Valley's local communities.
The county ideas will become part of a statewide Conversation Jan. 26 in Sacramento. The ideas generated statewide will be taken by California 4-H members representing each congressional district to the National Conversation on Youth Development in Washington, D.C., Feb. 28 to March 3. The February-March meeting is the cornerstone of the 4-H's 2002 centennial year commemoration.
The upcoming San Joaquin Valley Conversations will be:
Fresno County
7:30 to 9 p.m., Nov. 13
Contact: David Snell, (559) 456-7221, desnell@ucdavis.edu
Kern County
7 to 9 p.m., Nov. 15
Contact: Pam Mouser, (661) 868-6235, pjmouser@ucdavis.edu
Kings County
6 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 26
Contact: Peggy Gregory, (559) 582-3211 Ext 2734, pfgregory@ucdavis.edu
Merced County
6 to 9 p.m., Nov. 13
Contact: Richard Mahacek, (209) 385-7418, rlmahacek@ucdavis.edu
"This may be the largest single undertaking in the first 100 years of 4-H," said Carole MacNeil, director of UC Cooperative Extension's 4-H Youth Development Program. "We're creating a blueprint for youth programs in every community in America. It's exciting to be involved in something that will have a dramatic impact on the young people of this community, state, and nation."
Patterned after successful national conferences on small business and aging, the National Conversation on Youth Development will capture ideas and programs for youth development in the 21st century and present them in a report to President Bush, his cabinet, and Congress. The Conversations on Youth Development will result in planning tools and a national curriculum reflecting the strategies that have been most successful in helping young people succeed. In addition, young people will be making a civic commitment to be involved in their local communities through the Power of Youth Pledge Campaign.
4-H is one of the nation's most diverse organizations, and includes people from all economic, racial, social, political, and geographic categories. There are no barriers to participation. Young people are given the opportunity to engage in activities that hold their personal interest, while being guided by adult volunteers. Local 4-H advisors are youth development professionals who provide direction and program leadership in each county as part of the nationwide Cooperative Extension system.
Originally focused on agricultural projects, 4-H has followed the needs and interests of young people into urban and suburban communities to support their development of life skills through programs in gardening, pet care, engineering, computer science, and many other topics. The projects are offered in traditional club settings, in after-school programs, and during school for academic enrichment.
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