National 4-H Council inspires young people with the ideas they need to become leaders and positive disruptors in their communities. Through national events such as the National 4-H Youth Summits, 4-H ignites within each young person the desire and avenues to do more.
Each year youth participants, in partnership with adult mentors, are provided the opportunity to develop, present and implement a 4-H Lead to Change Project.
The 4-H Lead to Change (L2C) process challenges young people to step up and take action on a specific issue facing their community. Through this process youth become catalysts for positive change as they practice and apply real world skills needed for career success and to better their communities. Delegations who attend the Summit are eligible to compete for awards through the multi-tier L2C process.
Finalists are selected from written action plans to present their project to industry leaders. Winners receive $2000 to implement their project throughout the remainder of the year. Thanks to the generous support of our partners, a select number of L2C project teams later receive a $5000 Scale for Success award based on their ability to scale their impact and scope of their work. Of the original L2C projects, two or three are awarded $5,000 to further their impact. Scale for Success recognizes and allows the 4-Hers involved to further grow as community leaders cultivating the necessary skills and experiences, they need to create real change, and make the best better.
"Through the 4-H Agriscience Summit and Nurture Natives, I have become largely aware of the remarkable difference youth can make. In the last year, I have become passionate about advocating for positive change in my community."
It is thanks to the sponsors of the 2022 National 4-H Youth Summit on Agriscience that we can go beyond a single event to deeply impact communities. We want to thank our partners Nationwide, Corteva, and Nutrien for their support and sponsorship of these Lead to Change projects.
Check out the inspiring Lead to Change youth projects
This year's Ignite by 4-H participants will be eligible to apply for L2C funding thanks to our 2023 Lead to Change Sponsors:
