- Author: Ricardo A. Vela
They are considered the backbone of any nonprofit organization. They strongly believe in the objectives of the institution in which they invest their time. Of course, I am talking about volunteers—the special people who are motivated to change the communities where they live. Their passion makes them the perfect ambassadors of the organization, and often, their work catches the eyes of potential donors.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has more than 26,000 volunteers who perform a variety of activities within the 4-H, Master Gardener, Master Food Preserver, and Environmental Stewards (California Naturalist and Climate Stewards) programs, among others, according to Gemma M. Miner, UC ANR volunteer coordinator. These volunteers are vital in educating communities, mentoring others, and representing their program and UC ANR at public events.
UC ANR volunteers are estimated to make about 2 million public contacts annually (data prior to COVID-19) through activities where they promote research-based information from UC ANR experts.
Since 2018, one of UC ANR's goals has been for academics to develop and manage projects that allow volunteers to lead, with the intention of strengthening volunteer engagement.
Miner emphasized that the search for volunteers is continuous. However, due to the diversity of UC ANR's state programs and the strategic locations of UC Cooperative Extension, attracting the right people is not a difficult task.
But who are the right people to volunteer at UC ANR?
The ideal candidate is any adult willing to contribute to improve the lives of Californians. "Collaborating with UC ANR is a lot of fun and rewarding, as you have the opportunity to return to the community what it has given us and often help families who desperately need some support," said Miner.
Volunteering challenges
As the population in California moves from rural to urban areas, low-income families face disadvantaged situations. As a result, 6.8 million people live below the poverty level. This represents 1 in 6 California residents.
Latinos are one ethnic group hit harder by this problem.In California, 40% of the population is of Latino origin, yet the economic and social disparity is a sad reality for many of these families. Latinos comprise 51.4% of the population living below the poverty level, which is why UC ANR maintains as one of its objectives to help these families through the available programs. To successfully achieve this objective, it is vital to have volunteers who are not only bilingual but also bicultural.
Juan Jiménez and his wife Michele are two of thousands of volunteers who collaborate with UC ANR. Both participate in the 4-H youth development program in Riverside County. They know the importance of being bilingual and bicultural. They also know firsthand the reward of volunteering. "Volunteering makes me feel human and that I'm contributing to the community and my family," Juan said.
For Michele, volunteering for the community she lives in is natural. “Since I was a child, I have been a volunteer; my parents instilled in me the service to our community, our church,” she said. “To me, it is a very normal and satisfying thing.”
Every year in April, not-for-profit organizations everywhere in the country celebrate and recognize the work of those tireless people who dedicate their free time to the benefit of others. UC ANR joins them, and from the bottom of our hearts, we say:
Thank you, Volunteers!
- Author: Ricardo A. Vela
Me refiero a los voluntarios, hombres, mujeres, jóvenes y adultos que, en busca de la recompensa más gratificante, ayudar al prójimo, se involucran en las organizaciones que promueven los valores en los que creen.
De acuerdo con el reporte anual más reciente de la División de Agricultura y Recursos Naturales de la Universidad de California (UC ANR, por sus siglas en inglés). En el año 2022 los voluntarios donaron a UC ANR 1,170 mil 098 horas de trabajo, lo cual representa 41 millones 608 mil 685 dólares en donaciones monetarias.
De acuerdo con Gemma M. Miner, coordinadora de voluntarios UC ANR esta institución cuenta con más de 19 mil voluntarios quienes desempeñan una variedad de actividades dentro de los programas de 4-H, Maestros Jardineros, Maestros Conservadores de Alimentos, y California Naturalistas entre otros. Los voluntarios realizan una gran variedad de actividades como educar, asesorar y fungir como representantes de su programa y de UC ANR en eventos públicos.
Se calcula que estos voluntarios acumulan cerca de dos millones de contactos públicos anualmente (datos antes de COVID-19) en actividades donde promueven la información basada en las investigaciones de los expertos de UC ANR.
Uno de los objetivos de UC ANR desde el 2018 es que los académicos desarrollen y administren sistemas que permitan que los voluntarios lideren proyectos, y que de esta manera se fortalezca su compromiso con UC ANR y sus principios de comunidad.
Miner, asegura que la búsqueda de voluntarios es continua, sin embargo, debido a la diversidad de los programas estatales de UC ANR y las ubicaciones estratégicas de las Extensiones Cooperativas atraer a las personas indicadas no es una tarea difícil.
¿Quiénes son las personas indicadas para ser voluntarios en UC ANR?
De acuerdo con Miner, el candidato ideal es cualquier persona dispuesta a contribuir con su granito de arena para mejorar las vidas de los californianos. “Colaborar con UC ANR es muy divertido y gratificante, ya que se tiene la oportunidad de regresar a la comunidad lo que esta nos ha dado y en muchas ocasiones ayudar a las familias que necesitan desesperadamente que las apoyen,” dijo Miner.
Los Retos del Voluntariado
Conforme la población en California se desplaza de las zonas rurales a la mancha urbana, familias de escasos recursos y en situaciones de desventaja requieren más apoyo para salir adelante. Desafortunadamente como resultado de ello 5 millones de personas viven por debajo del nivel de pobreza, es decir 1 de cada 6 residentes en California. Los latinos son el grupo étnico más golpeado por este problema.
En California el 40% de la población es de origen latino, sin embargo, la disparidad económica y social es el pan de cada día para muchas de estas familias ya que los latinos son el 51.4% de la población que vive bajo el nivel de pobreza. Razón por la cual UC ANR mantiene como uno de sus objetivos principales ayudar a estas familias a través de los programas como CalFresh y el Programa Ampliado de Educación Alimentaria y Nutricional (EFNEP por sus siglas en inglés). De igual forma UC ANR se preocupa del futuro y cuenta con voluntarios para el programa 4-H y el desarrollo juvenil, para ello es vital contar con candidatos para voluntarios que sean bilingües y biculturales.
Juan Jiménez y su esposa Michele son dos de los miles de voluntarios que colaboran con UC ANR, ambos participan con el programa de desarrollo juvenil 4-H en el condado de Riverside y conocen la importancia de ser bilingües y la recompensa de ser voluntarios. “Ser voluntario me hace sentir humano y que estoy contribuyendo con la comunidad y con mi familia,” asegura Juan.
Mientras que, para Michele, servir a la comunidad en la que vive es algo natural. “Desde pequeña he sido voluntaria, mis padres me inculcaron el servicio a nuestra comunidad, a nuestra iglesia, para mi es algo muy normal y satisfactorio”.
En abril se celebra y reconoce la labor de los voluntarios, esas personas incansables que dedican su tiempo libre para el beneficio de otros.
Ante la gran labor que hacen en UC ANR les decimos humildemente a todos ellos
¡Muchas gracias!
- Author: Norma De la Vega
- Translated by: Ricardo Vela
The Latino Initiative team of UC ANR's 4-H youth development program received the national diversity and inclusion award for their outstanding performance in expanding the 4-H program to California's Latino youth. The award was presented at the November annual conference of the National 4-H Association of Extension for Youth Development in Memphis, Tennessee.
The award recognizes their pilot program implemented in eight California counties that generated a 250% growth in the participation of Latino children and adolescents from 2016 to 2019.
“I'm so proud to be associated with this very important work and group of passionate and skilled colleagues.” The Latino initiative has set a strong foundation for expanding this work throughout California to ensure all young people have access to high caliber programming that meets local needs.” Stated Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty, UC ANR Statewide 4-H Director.
Members of the Latino Initiative present included Lupita Fábregas, Claudia Díaz Carrasco, Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty, Russ Hill, and Liliana Vega.
"This week, I am happy to be at the National Conference of the 4-H Extension Association for Youth Development," Claudia Diaz Carrasco, a 4-H advisor in Riverside, wrote on social media after receiving this recognition. "Since 2015, I have been given the opportunity to learn by doing, and I am working to make this world a better place by helping train the next generation."
Before implementing the Latino 4-H Initiative, many Latino parents were unaware of the importance of 4-H. They knew about the youth clubs only from what they saw at county fairs, where children and teens interacted with animals. Parents believed that 4-H was a hobby for those who wished to explore animal life. However, with the time and effort of bilingual and bicultural 4-H experts, more young Latinos have discovered that 4-H is not a hobby but an invaluable opportunity to develop skills that help them succeed in life.
It was then that University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources began to execute profound changes to expand its coverage. The first step was to adapt and develop 4-H content to serve the needs of Latinos and offer its programs to youth in urban areas of California. Afterwards, bilingual, and bicultural experts were hired. More Latino volunteers were recruited to run the pilot program in Kern, Merced, Monterey, Orange, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, and Riverside counties, areas with large Latino populations.
"At first, we didn't know what the program was about," said Jose Sanchez, a Merced County teen who enrolled in 4-H after participating in a cooking class during high school. "My mom and sister came to training. We liked these workshops, and my mom liked that the workshops were in English and Spanish."
Sanchez, who likes mechanics and is interested in engineering-related careers, said that he was presented with the opportunity to be part of “Juntos” at the end of his first year of participation in 4-H. This 4-H program promotes the college experience among Latinos through a multi-day learning visit on the UC Merced campus. That opportunity put university life among his goals. "Living on campus for almost a week was one of my favorite experiences. We learned a lot about careers, life at the university, and I also met new friends," Sanchez said.
Díaz Carrasco added that the sustainability of an initiative like this requires a good strategy accompanied by a large amount of human, cultural, financial resources, and a real and sincere connection with the community. "Locally in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, we have been able to continue building on the foundations of the Latino initiative. I feel privileged because my personal and professional experiences have underpinned this work."
Diaz Carrasco envisions expanding the program over the next five years. "I would like to continue the initial idea of having a Latino 4-H specialist provide the statewide leadership and coordination that is required to continue to expand the Latino initiative. I think that if each county makes a real effort to get to know the Latino community in its geographic area and its specific needs, we will surely find similarities and differences that we can address as a team and thus create programs that are accessible and welcoming to young Latinos."
/span>- Author: Norma De la Vega
El equipo de la Iniciativa Latina del programa de desarrollo juvenil 4-H de UC ANR, recibió el premio nacional de diversidad e inclusión por su sobresaliente desempeño en la ampliación de este programa a la juventud latina de California. Este es un reconocimiento por la creación de un programa piloto implementado en 8 condados del estado Dorado que en un periodo de tres años entre 2016-2019 generó un crecimiento del 250% en la participación de los niños y adolescentes latinos.
Durante la conferencia anual de La Asociación Nacional 4-H de Extensión para el Desarrrollo Juvenil, realizada en la ciudad de Memphis, Tennessee en el mes de noviembre, se entregó este reconocimiento a los integrantes de la Iniciativa Latina presentes: Lupita Fábregas, Claudia Díaz Carrasco, Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty, Russ Hill y Liliana Vega en reconocimiento a la labor ejecutada y que ha permitido que más niños y adolescentes latinos conozcan los beneficios de 4-H.
“Esta semana me siento feliz de estar en la conferencia Nacional de la Asociación de la Extensión 4-H para el Desarrollo Juvenil”, escribió en medios sociales Claudia Díaz Carrasco, consejera en Riverside de 4-H tras recibir este reconocimiento. “Desde 2015, se me ha otorgado la oportunidad de aprender haciendo y yo estoy trabajando para hacer este mundo un mejor lugar ayudado en la formación de la próxima generación”.
Antes de la implementación de la Iniciativa Latina 4-H, varios padres latinos desconocían la importancia de 4-H. Sabían del club juvenil solo por lo que veían en las ferias de los condados, que era niños y adolescentes interactuando con animales. Los padres creían que 4-H era un pasatiempo para quienes deseaban explorar la vida animal. Sin embargo; con el tiempo y el esfuerzo de expertos bilingües y biculturales de 4-H, más jóvenes latinos han descubierto que no se trata de un pasatiempo, sino que de una invaluable oportunidad para desarrollar destrezas que ayudan a tener éxito en la vida.
La Iniciativa Latina de 4-H se formó tras reconocer el enorme cambio demográfico que ha experimentado California en las últimas décadas. En 2014, los estudiantes latinos pasaron a ser el grupo el grupo étnico más numeroso en las escuelas públicas 54 por ciento de los niños eran latinos. Sin embargo; este grupo no estaba participando de manera proporcional en 4-H.
“Al principio no sabíamos de qué se trataba el programa” indica José Sánchez, un adolescente del condado de Merced que se inscribió en 4-H tras participar en una clase de cocina durante la secundaria. “Mi mamá y mi hermana vinieron a los entrenamientos. Nos gustaban estos talleres y a mi mamá le agradó que los talleres eran en inglés y español.”
Sánchez, quien le gusta la mecánica y se interesa por las carreras relacionadas con la ingeniería, dijo que al termino de su primer año de participación en 4-H, se le presentó la oportunidad de ser parte de Juntos, el programa de 4-H que promueve la universidad entre los latinos, a través de una visita de aprendizaje de varios días en el campus de UC Merced. Y esa oportunidad puso entre sus metas la vida universitaria. “Vivir en el campus por casi una semana fue una de mis experiencias favoritas. Nosotros aprendimos mucho sobre las carreras, la vida en la Universidad y además conocí nuevos amigos”, dijo Sánchez.
Díaz Carrasco añade que la sostenibilidad de una iniciativa como esta requiere una buena estrategia acompañada de una gran cantidad de recursos humanos, culturales, financieros, así como una conexión real y sincera con la comunidad. “A nivel local en Riverside y San Bernardino hemos logrado seguir construyendo sobre los cimientos de la iniciativa latina. Me siento privilegiada debido a que mi experiencias personales y profesionales han sustentado este trabajo”.
¿Qué es lo que sigue para la Iniciativa Latina en los próximos 5 años?
“Me gustaría que se continuará con la idea inicial de tener un especialista estatal latino de 4-H que proporcione el liderazgo y coordinación a nivel estatal que se requiere para seguir ampliándonos a otros condados. Pienso que si cada condado hace un esfuerzo real para conocer a la comunidad latina en su área geográfica y sus necesidades específicas, seguramente encontraremos similitudes y diferencias que podemos abordar como equipo y así crear programas que sean accesibles y acogedores para los jóvenes latinos”, concluyó Díaz Carrasco.
- Author: Ricardo A. Vela
They are considered the backbone of any non-profit organization. They strongly believe in the objectives of the institution to which they invest their time. Of course, I am talking about volunteers. Special people whose motivation is to change the communities where they live. Their passion makes them the perfect ambassadors of the organizations and often times their work catches the eyes and the pockets of donors.
According to Gemma M. Miner, volunteer coordinator of Agriculture and Agricultural Resources at the University of California (UC ANR), this institution has more than twenty-six thousand volunteers, who perform a variety of activities within the programs 4-H Youth Development, UC Gardener Master, UC Master Food Preserver, and UC California Naturalist among others. These volunteers perform a variety of activities such as educating and mentoring participants and representing their program and UC ANR at public events.
UC ANR volunteers are estimated to accumulate about two million public contacts annually (data prior to COVID-19) in activities where they promote research-based information from UC ANR experts.
One of UC ANR's goals since 2018 is for academics to develop and manage systems that allow volunteers to lead projects, with the intention of strengthening volunteer engagement.
Miner emphasizes that the search for volunteers is continuous, however. Due to the diversity of UC ANR's state programs and the strategic locations of the Cooperative Extension offices, attracting the right people is not a difficult task.
But who are the right people to volunteer at UC ANR?
According to Miner, the ideal candidate is any adult willing to contribute to improve the lives of Californians. "Collaborating with UC ANR is a lot of fun and rewarding, as you have the opportunity to return to the community what it has given us and often help families who desperately need us to support them," she says.
Volunteering Challenges
As the population in California moves from rural to urban areas, low-income families face disadvantaged situations. As a result, 6.8 million people live below the poverty level. This represents 1 in 6 California residents.
Latinos are the ethnic group hit hardest by this problem.[1]In California, 40% of the population is of Latino origin, yet economic and social disparity is the sad reality for many of these families. Latinos comprise 51.4% of the population living below poverty level,[2] which is why UC ANR maintains its commitment to help these families through the available programs. In order to successfully achieve this objective, it is vital to have volunteers who are not only bilingual, but also bicultural.
Juan Jiménez and his wife Michele are two of thousands of volunteers who collaborate with UC ANR. Both participate with the 4-H youth development program in Riverside County and know the importance of being bilingual and bicultural. They also know first-hand the reward of volunteering. "Volunteering makes me feel human and that I'm contributing to the community and my family," says Juan.
For Michele, volunteering for the community she lives in is a natural thing: "Since I was a child, I have been a volunteer. My parents instilled in me the service to our community, our church. To me it is a very normal and satisfying thing."
Every year in April, non-for-profit organizations everywhere in the country celebrate and recognize the work of those tireless people who dedicate their free time for the benefit of others. UC ANR joins them and from the bottom of our hearts we say:
Thank you, Volunteers!!
----------------------------
[1] Public Policy Institute of California - June 2020
[2] US Census Bureau 2020