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On September 1, 2001, I moved to New York City to start a new job in the positive youth development field that I love so much.  Ten days later, our lives were changed by the attacks on the World Trade Center towers.  Here’s what I remember:

  • Looking out my 10th floor apartment window in the morning and seeing smoke billowing from the first tower.
  • Walking to NY Presbyterian Hospital to give blood. Seeing the doctors and nurses straining their eyes toward downtown and waiting outside in the emergency room driveway for ambulances to bring patients.
  • Spending hours dialing and re-dialing my cell phone to reach my family in Missouri because the cell phone antennas atop the World Trade Center were gone.
  • The quiet streets in NYC in the days after 9/11.  No cars, no people, just silence as the city mourned.
  • Second Avenue on 9/12 – empty of cars except for a miles-long line of yellow bulldozers and construction equipment heading to the WTC site like an excavation armada.
  • Adding my brownies to the huge potluck table of food from neighbors for the police officers and staff of the 13th Precinct who were working around the clock right on my block of 21st street.
  • The heroes – police, fire, EMT, Port Authority. Everyone giving them tremendous respect and appreciation for all they had done and all they had lost.
  • The horrible smell of all that was burning downtown and changing my air conditioner filters every week to get rid of the black soot.
  • So many people wanting to support the needs of kids through our organization during such a difficult time.
Most of all, I remember the overwhelming feeling of unity this tragedy brought to our country. As a new New Yorker, I tangibly felt the support of the entire nation and the world as we struggled to come to grips with what had happened. And I was determined to stick around to be part of the city’s recovery.

On this 20th anniversary, I realize that today’s 4-H’ers don’t remember 9/11. Thank goodness.  Our 4-H'ers and their peers in Gen Z are being shaped by other formative experiences – the pandemic, school shootings, racial injustice, and cyber-bullying.

After more than 20 years in this field, this anniversary of 9/11 is a reminder to me that every generation faces significant challenges. To build the resilience, confidence and connections needed to thrive, our young people need the mentors, leadership roles and skill-building that positive youth development organizations like 4-H provide.  Thanks to millions of Cooperative Extension staff, volunteers and supporters through the decades, 4-H has been here for every generation since 1902 and we will continue to be here for Gen Z and beyond. How thankful I am to be a part of such an important mission.

May each of us never forget the heroes who gave their lives for their neighbors on 9/11 or the lessons of that horrible day that inspire us to “pledge our hands to larger service for our clubs, community, country and world.”

During this year’s Global 4‑H Digital Summit, the inaugural Global 4‑H Youth Committee will be introduced, comprised of 15 young people to represent youth voices from each of the five 4‑H global regions. Among the three representing North America are two from the United States—Dylan Gentry and Katie Pascavis.

Get to know the two 4‑H U.S. members:

Dylan Gentry, Kentucky 4‑H

Dylan Gentry, raised in rural Central Kentucky, loves 4‑H and personal development. His experience in 4‑H culminated in 2018-2019 as he was elected Kentucky 4‑H Treasurer and awarded the title of Honorary Commissioner of Agriculture by current Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner, Dr. Ryan Quarles. In his last year of 4‑H eligibility, he was an ambassador for the States’ 4‑H International Program. As an ambassador, he traveled to Seattle, Washington, to orientate inbound Japanese and Korean youth before their yearlong foreign exchanges in America.

Dylan Gentry is a senior at the University of Kentucky, where he is pursuing a dual degree in Family Sciences and Community & Leadership Development. In addition, he has minors in Appalachian Studies and Agricultural Economics with a certificate in Business. Upon graduating in the spring of 2022, Dylan plans to attend law school and finish a doctoral program. With this extensive education, he hopes to better himself and his future job performance. His dream job is to work as an assistant dean for Extension or department director for 4‑H Youth Development at a land-grant university.

Dylan’s past work experience includes working under Dr. Rachel Noble as the state intern for 4‑H Leadership and International programs. As an intern, he authored the 2019 National State Officer Report, a first-of-its-kind report which reached out to all 50 states’ 4‑H programs to capture information about their state officer programs. He also co-authored 4‑H international programming curriculum focusing on the country of Brazil. Other experiences include interning under Dr. Jennifer Hunter, Assistant Director of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension. In addition, Dylan currently works part-time with the Globalizing Extension Innovation Network, where he works with Extension professionals to incorporate global perspectives into local programming opportunities.

Katie Pascavis, Illinois 4‑H / Arizona 4‑H

Katie Pascavis was raised in Bloomington, Illinois, and joined the 4‑H program when she was five years old as a Cloverbud, but she considers herself a 4‑H’er for life. As a 5th-generation 4‑H’er, the program is truly in her blood. Katie’s family moved to Arizona, where she continued her participation in 4‑H. She began organizing community service projects for her club, including local nursing home visits and food drives.

Katie served as President of the Queen Creek 4‑H Club and the State 4‑H Dog Committee, where she taught younger 4‑H’ers how to train dogs and small stock at weekly meetings. In addition, she started her county’s first 4‑H STEM project club. Katie was selected for the 2017 National 4‑H Congress Youth Leadership Team and was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the National 4‑H Gala. Through 4‑H, she competed in public speaking at National Western Roundup and represented Arizona at National 4‑H Conference. There, she worked with a team of 4‑H’ers to create a youth policy proposal that they presented to the U.S. Department of Health.

Currently, Katie is a junior at Arizona State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Global Health with a certificate in Sustainable Food Systems. She continues the 4‑H mission of service-learning through ASU’s Engineers Without Borders international team designing rainwater catchment systems. Katie is also a researcher for the Luminosity Lab, an interdisciplinary research and development lab on campus. In addition, she works on various COVID-19 response projects, including the XPRIZE Next Gen mask and the Fulbright Post-COVID challenge. Katie also continues to volunteer with both the Arizona and Illinois 4‑H programs.

Recently, Katie started as a Sustainability and Impact Analyst for Biomass Controls PBC, which provides eco-friendly solutions to global agricultural, water, and sanitation challenges. She aspires to focus her career on increasing access to clean water, food, and sanitation worldwide, a passion that she discovered through 4‑H.

Our world needs to solve big challenges in human health, agriculture, and food, and 4‑H is playing a critical role by cultivating the next generation of leaders in the agriculture industry. After the National 4‑H Youth Summit on Agri-Science this past March, teams of youth took part in the Dolphin Tank.

The Dolphin Tank”—a take on television’s Shark Tank—challenges teams of youth to develop Community Action Plans (CAP) that address a local agriculture issue in their community. The 4‑H-developed challenge provides experiences that lead to Positive Youth Development (PYD)* and sparks curiosity and discovery.

Teams were tasked with developing a written plan then pitching their ideas to ag industry leaders from Brightmark, CME Group, Farm Credit, National Corn Growers Association, Nationwide, New Holland, and Nutrien.

The highest ranked teams pitched their ideas for the opportunity to receive funds to put their plan into action. With support from Nationwide, Nutrien, and Brightmark, 24 teams from 17 states each received $1,000 to $2,000 to implement their Community Action Plan.

One of this year’s Dolphin Tank winning teams was the Eclectic Clovers Club, from Oregon State University Extension 4‑H. We got a chance to talk to Riley, a member of the team and a rising Junior at Zena Springs School in Polk County, Oregon, and Anne M. Walton, the team’s 4‑H leader, about their experience.

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Riley and Anne, what inspired you to take part in the National 4‑H Summit on Agri-Science?

Riley: I have been interested in agriculture science since I was in elementary school, starting with dog training and an interest in vet school. After taking Junior Master Gardener classes I am now more focused on farm and forest. I was intrigued by the aspect of growing things that could benefit others, [like] a community garden or seed planning. In college, I want to get an engineering major and a military science minor. After college, I plan to specialize in biotechnology. Starting this project was really the opportunity to get my foot in the door and network with other people.

Anne: As a long time 4‑H Leader and Educator, I am always excited when 4‑H provides an avenue for young people to expand their knowledge and excitement about real world topics and careers.

Regarding your Summit experience, did you learn anything that surprised you?

Riley: I added to my existing knowledge of drone use in agriculture! I did not know how technologically advanced some of the drones could be for crops. This information from the speaker at Nutrien helped me develop my “Dolphin Tank” pitch.  Some of the newest drones can sense temperature fluctuations in different areas of crop fields, find and herd livestock, and ensure safety of workers in the field. Prior to starting this project, I did not know very much [about] aerospace technology and its use in farming.

Anne: For Riley, it was a great [opportunity] to attend the Summit and feel she wanted to try for a CAP Award. When she brought the idea to our survey group, the students got excited about the prospect of some support for advanced equipment to use in the project, and to be part of a national award interview.

What was it like working with your team for this program?

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Riley: For most of my group it was their first time doing a big presentation. We started by developing a list of what we wanted to cover in the proposal, then we got to work assigning people to topics based on what they were interested in. Once we got the script set in stone and the slides made, we practiced several times over Zoom.  The whole process took about a month.

Anne: Part of our project survey area is managed by a private hardwood forest sawmill group from Willamette University and Oregon State University, so we had [several] scientists and foresters that we were already working with to bounce this award idea off of. My team members are great young people that I have already done projects with. We had been using a number of these survey techniques, learning the flora and fauna, and monitoring water levels and health on our own project grounds (my farm) for a couple years. So I felt they were ready to use these skills on a bigger scale and be able to give useful information to the neighboring properties.

What did you learn by preparing for and participating in the ‘Dolphin Tank’?

Riley: I learned how to present large-scale information and data in the form of a proposal. I thought the presentation experience was very streamlined. I appreciated the feedback we received after we presented to the panel. For my team and I, seeing the panel of adults genuinely interested was very welcomed because it is never easy for youth to get adults to notice and pay attention to our ideas and concerns about our planet.Anne: When one decides to pursue an award like this, one does so with the intention of succeeding. I told Riley and the team that they made a great effort in their essay and interview, and that alone was a great learning experience. We really could not believe how exciting it was to win. We thank you so much for this tremendous opportunity!

*Positive Youth Development (PYD) is the cornerstone of the   4‑H model. PYD:

  • productively and constructively engages youth within their communities;
  • recognizes, utilizes, and enhances their strengths; and
  • promotes positive outcomes for them by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and providing the support needed to build on their leadership strengths.

The worldwide coronavirus pandemic took so much from people over the past year. It also showed how far people will go to help others.

As life came to a grinding halt and health officials called on the public’s help to flatten the curve, nearly all group, in-person activities were cancelled due to social distancing. For a 4-H teen robotics team in Elgin, Ill., that meant a competition season lost, but also an opportunity to help their community.
 
With school now on Zoom and all other activities wiped from the calendar, the “got robot?” FIRST Tech Challenge Team quickly put their newly gained free time to use by making face shields for health care and other frontline workers – tested and approved by the Kane County Coroner’s Office.
 
Using open-source instructions and designs found online, the team of about 11 changemakers printed and assembled the masks in their homes. At its peak, the team ran as many as 10(ten) 3-D printers in homes. Some were borrowed from school. Some families purchased them. A local dentist loaned his printer. Running around the clock, the printers made 40 headbands per day. Depending on the size of an order, a single printing run could last as long as 10 hours.
 
“[W]e were happy to get up in the morning, start printing, have some breakfast, [and] do some school. Hopefully, a little past lunchtime, it would be at least over halfway done,” said Brock Russell, 18, a “got robot?” member. “And then before dinner you would take it off, start a new print, maybe clean up some old ones that you’ve already got printed, and just repeat the process every day.” 
     
After printing the pieces, they filed down rough edges, punched holes in the plastic shields, and packaged the parts with instructions before shipping. They used a Google Drive spreadsheet to record and track orders. Team members and their families were responsible for delivering the face shields in their local communities using their local contacts and networks.
      
Early on, the STEM team reached out to local hospitals to see if they needed more PPE.
    
“We asked, ‘Hey, how bad is it?’ And they responded with, ‘It’s 10 times worse than you imagine.’ They were washing masks, reusing gloves, bringing homemade cloth masks in, which were not medical grade at all,” Russell said. “And after we donated a couple [face shields], word of mouth just kept going and it kept getting bigger.”
 
The shields went to local hospitals, the coroner’s office, police and grocery workers. Postal workers also received some, said club member Raymond, 15.
    
“[T]hey didn’t have very much protective equipment unless they brought it from home. Especially in the early days and the mail never stopped. It probably ramped up if anything, so yeah, postal workers were another big one that we were able to give to and help and they were extremely grateful for it,” he said.
  
By the end of April, they had printed 4,000 shields. In May, the team set up a GoFundMe account to offset the cost of supplies, such as filament, eventually raising more than $4,300, which was even more than they needed. As a result, they redirected nearly half that money to other critical educational needs in the community. One of those initiatives was supplying backpacks filled with STEM educational activities in both Spanish and English to local students, in partnership with the local library. Separately, the group has also used 3-D printing to make prosthetic hands for children in developing countries.

The face shield printing reached peak production in the summer, and then as nationwide PPE production caught up, demand for the “got robot?” masks decreased by September. As of mid-March 2021, they had distributed nearly 7,300 face shields. Although many of the face shields were used in their suburban Chicago community, some of the shields went as far as Colorado and Georgia, and some found their way to Puerto Rico and Mexico.

The reach of the shields and the impact on the community surprised Burrage.

“Originally, I thought we could get these out to some people and they would help some people, but it would kind of be something that would last for maybe a month at the most, and then they would get discarded or whatever, but they’re still in use now,” he said.

Part of the impact came from lessons learned in 4-H, such as how to work as a team and the empowerment to accomplish projects, said team mentor and Russell’s mother, Susan Russell. “It was inspiring as a mentor to see that they believe so much in what they were doing. And they’re like, ‘We can do this, we got this.’ There was no fear of the numbers. There was no fear of the amount of outreach,” she said. “It was like, a bunch of factories really pumping these things out and it was quite amazing.

”Kane County 4-H Program Coordinator Doris Braddock has watched the evolution of the “got robot?” team for several years. Along with the community service, they share their time and knowledge whether helping with robotics competitions or teaching at summer camps, she said.

“So anytime we need something in the robotics line, I feel confident I can call on these youth and they’ll step up to the challenge. Very proud of them,” she said.

The teens of “got robot?” are creating positive change in their community. Find out how you can be recognized as a changemaker by applying for the 4‑H and Invisalign® ChangeMakers Program!

"got robot? 4-H Club Creates 3D-Printed Face Shields for First Responders

Although I’ve grown up on a farm my whole life, I didn’t come from a 4‑H family. In fact, it wasn’t until I was in third grade that I even began to understand what 4‑H was. Some family friends encouraged me to get involved with some of the programming that 4‑H has to offer, and after talking to them, I knew I wanted to get involved. I went to their house, and I immediately fell in love with all of their cute, fluffy cows. That one positive experience with them turned into a 10-year career that was filled with a broad variety of programs, competitions, and even starting a family livestock business.

As my 4‑H career progressed, I wanted to pass on my knowledge to the future generations of agriculturalists. I not only wanted to teach people about some of the programs I became involved with, but I also wanted to provide them with opportunities that they couldn’t get anywhere else. I began to reach out to students at my school and invite them to come to my house, do their homework, and learn about a variety of potential areas of interest through hands-on experiences. In my time doing this I brought 12 new members to the 4‑H program, and many of those have begun their own cattle herd and have continued my legacy left on them to educate others.During my freshman year of high school, I made a new friend. Her name is Anna, and she has down syndrome. While I was feeding my cows at the fair, she ran up to me and said “I do that,” which to her meant that she wanted to get involved with agriculture but didn’t know how because her abilities were different than mine. Together, we got involved with a program called PossAbilities. This program partners an older 4‑H’er with a member with a disability. These members spend time working on their projects together and learning new things. Today, Anna is active in 4‑H and she now has her own beef herd that all started because we believed in each other’s abilities.Because of 4‑H, I found my passion. I found that I love to work with livestock, but more importantly that I love to educate and advocate for others. My journey began because one person believed in me, and my journey is continuing because of resources like 4‑H at Home. Had I not gotten out of my comfort zone to get involved with 4‑H at a different level, I never would have found my passions.

While I have been stuck at home during this pandemic, I find myself wondering how I can continue to impact those around me. There is one specific resource that has still allowed me to be involved in 4‑H, and that’s 4‑H at Home. This provides activities on a wide variety of topics that can be done with friends and family. For example, you can do a hands-on activity involving agriculture, which isn’t a topic that is covered in the classroom at some schools. 4‑H at Home can introduce young people to new areas of interest, and once an activity is completed it will recommend other activities for you so you can continue your learning journey.

Here are some of my favorite activities that kids can enjoy at home, while exploring different aspects of agriculture:

You can visit 4‑H at Home and use the filter tool to find activities related to agriculture, animal science, and so many other topics. It’s a great resource for young people, and I am thankful for my friends, family, leaders, and organizations for finding new and innovative ways to get involved in 4‑H programming, even while I’m stuck at home.

Madelyn is the 2021 4‑H Youth in Action Pillar Winner for Agriculture, sponsored by Bayer.

In life, there is only one constant: change. We cannot ignore it or resist it, and no matter how much we would like things to remain the same, change is inevitable. Sometimes, whether for good or for bad, we all reach a moment that changes the course of our lives forever. That moment came for me in the spring of 2014.

In January, my sister had three surgical procedures on her heart, brain and stomach. She was placed in hospice care and given one year to live. Then in March, I lost everything when my house burned down, and just one month later, my family was rear-ended on the highway during rush hour traffic. My family was shaken by this experience, and I was left with a severe back injury that prevented me from doing everything I loved. As anyone can imagine, I was only 12 and I was broken. I did not want to leave my house, spend time with friends, or do anything that would push me out of my comfort zone.

Seeing I had hit rock bottom, two of my friends wanted to give me an opportunity to be a part of something. They invited me to join their 4‑H Robotics Club, and that’s when my life began to change for the better.

Despite my initial skepticism, I quickly recognized the importance of joining the 4‑H family. 4‑H has encouraged me to move out of my comfort zone, speak up for what is important, and foster relationships with members of my community. In 4‑H, I learned that STEM is for everyone, regardless of where you went to school or what you look like.

While I was lucky enough to find a STEM program that was open to all students, it wasn’t until my sophomore year that I realized there was a discrepancy in local STEM access and opportunities. I wanted to help my club grow by reaching other students who, like me, needed a place to connect and grow. I developed a comprehensive community outreach plan that would aid underrepresented students in local STEM circles. As a result of my 4‑H experience, I worked hard to raise more than $7,000 and volunteer at over 60 community events to encourage kids to get involved in STEM.

Without the support and inspiration from 4‑H, my leaders, and my friends, I never would have found my passion for STEM accessibility. My passion is what keeps me going, inspiring me to continue to push myself and to achieve my goals. There are no words that can express how much this has meant to me. As the 4‑H Youth in Action STEM Pillar Winner, sponsored by HughesNet, I can look back and see that 4‑H has helped me and so many others find their purpose in life.   It has taught me that while change is inevitable, it does not define you; it’s how you choose to react to it.

For those of you who feel broken, or like you don’t have a place to connect and grow, know that you will always find a place in 4‑H. Taking the step to get involved changed my life forever, and it can change yours, too.

Now more than ever, the world needs young people. We need their leadership, their compassion, and their drive. In fact, 78% of Gen Zer’s feel it is important to be seen as someone who stands up for what they believe in. For over 100 years, 4‑H has equipped young people with the skills they need to lead and positively impact their communities through acts of service, big and small. That’s why National 4‑H Council has teamed up with Invisalign to celebrate young people who are changing the world through the Invisalign® ChangeMakers initiative.

Through this new initiative, Invisalign and 4‑H will recognize 100 teens who have taken action to uplift and empower their community in 2020. The incentive: a $5,000 award and honors at a virtual event in July 2021.

So—are you changing the world? Here are six examples to help teens answer the question.

1. Feeding the community comes first: With the so many hardships experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families struggle to provide basic care for the families, like mealtime. Like the one Yusuf volunteered at, local food banks have become a saving grace for so many communities in need. Despite the risk of in-person contact, Yusuf knew he needed to lend his hand, and as a result, helped distribute more than 1,500 boxes of food.

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2. Turning a creative outlet into a service project: We all have ways of coping with difficulties in our lives. Many people use those experiences to pay it forward to those will similar life challenges. Maria, who was diagnosed with autism at an early age, knew the importance of coping with sensory overload. So, she created Heavy Hugs Weighted Blankets for Autism to help others on the autism spectrum reduce sensory overload with deep pressure. In 2020, she used those same sewing skills to make masks donated to pediatric centers and hospitals.

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3. Solving food insecurity: The need for more sustainable food has been an issue for communities even before the onset of a pandemic. Food distributors like grocery stores and markets struggle to meet the community’s demands with healthy food options aren’t available. Alexa wanted to do her part to make sure her community had access to food. So, she volunteered to help connect distributors and donors to food insecure communities and people in need. She has helped facilitate the distribution of over 200,00 pounds of food and growing.

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4. Making learning accessible to all: The effects of the pandemic have been tough on kids, as so many students have had to shift their way of learning. This shift has impacted the availability and accessibility of educational resources. Ashini—through her organizations, Reading Rainforest and Students to Science—helps introduce kids in underrepresented groups to STEM through virtual learning sessions, access to experts, and more.

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5. Fighting hunger: When schools closed due to COVID-19, many kids lost a healthy and free source of meals. Erin decided to meet kids where they are by delivering meals to their homes, ensuring they had access to nutritious foods.

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6. Growing food for good: Community gardens have been an easy way to provide communities with foods that are healthy and locally grown. For Janya, being a part of her local community garden was a great way for her to use her passion for and skills in agriculture and help alleviate food shortages, now and in the future.

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Learn more about the Invisalign® ChangeMakers Initiative and how to apply at Invisalign.com/ChangeMakers.
I’ve proudly recited the 4‑H pledge since I was 9 years old. But, much of my 4‑H experience has been unconventional.

I’ve attended virtual 4‑H meetings before “Zoom” became a household name; completed fair projects from the St. Louis Children’s Hospital while waiting for a bone marrow transplant; attended conferences and helped judge fair projects from my hospital room;  and wrote legislators regarding important health and agricultural issues while recovering in my bed at home.

For the past five years, I’ve spent much of my life in and out of hospitals undergoing treatment for stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma cancer. I’ll never forget how difficult that first hospital stay was. Not only was my family still reeling from the cancer diagnosis, but we didn’t have any basic supplies for a lengthy hospital stay. Who thinks about toothbrushes when you’re just trying to wrap your mind around chemotherapy? Who remembers to pack snacks when confronted with their child’s serious illness?

But that experience got me thinking…Other families must be dealing with this, too. Could I make their days and nights a little more comfortable so they can focus on healing…and on just spending precious time with each other?

4‑H taught me many things, but most of all it taught me the importance of contributing to my community. It inspires us to be leaders when we’re called to serve. And that’s what I needed to do. I needed to turn my experience with pediatric cancer into a platform of awareness, advocacy and compassion.

In 2017, I took initiative and formed my platform, “Crowns Fight Cancer,” shortly after being crowned Jr. Miss Effingham County Fair Queen. I knew in that moment – when my name echoed over the loudspeaker – that it wasn’t about me, but rather every kid stuck in a hospital whose voice couldn’t be heard. So, I started advocating for childhood cancer research, awareness, and funding with a passion. I traveled to Washington, D.C. multiple times to speak with congressional leaders, I’ve been a guest speaker at CureFest, met with the FDA about issues affecting pediatric oncology patients, and was featured in an award-winning docu-series about pediatric cancer.

During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, I’m beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to bless other families going through their own harrowing cancer journeys. I organize supply drives collecting toiletries and snacks to donate to St. Louis and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospitals and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Using my 4‑H leadership skills, I’ve partner with local businesses, civic organizations, 4‑H clubs, area schools, and the media to promote this initiative which has – to date – provided families with more than 60,000 essential items. This project is something I am incredibly proud of, and I am excited to see how it will continue to grow.

One thing I love about 4‑H is how much it embraces diversity and people of all abilities. There’s no one way to be a 4‑H’er. With each passing year, I’ve gained a broader skill set, expanded my knowledge, and increased my beneficial contributions to society. Throughout my battle with cancer, I’ve felt empowered and supported by my 4‑H community which, in turn, has allowed me to empower and support others.

Participating in 4‑H truly changed the course of my life and equipped me for the future – inspiring my dream to become a Pediatric Oncology Nurse. The hands-on projects I’ve participated in helped grow my confidence and develop my independence and strength. As a nurse, I will be able to take what I’ve learned in 4‑H and directly apply it on an oncology floor – enriching the lives I touch and teaching pediatric patients the power of resilience.

Cancer is part of my story, but it doesn’t define me. 4‑H continues to be the reason for some of my best days, and helps me through some of my most challenging ones. And after a year like 2020, millions of kids need that support, too. This difficult year is always going to be part of our story, but it doesn’t have to dictate our future. I believe 4‑H is what kids need most right now.

If there’s a kid in your life, introduce them to 4‑H. It can change the course of their future in remarkable ways.

Elizabeth Weidner
Illinois 4‑H
2021 4‑H Youth in Action Civic Engagement Pillar Winner

Thank you to our 2021 4‑H Youth in Action Civic Engagement Pillar sponsor, Allstate.

As the president and CEO of National 4‑H Council, there is nothing more important to me than ensuring America’s young people have the skills to lead and change the world. I have dedicated my career to supporting children and their families, and I have never seen a more urgent need for investment in young people and their futures.

To witness the pain and growing disparities caused by the pandemic and systemic racism is heartbreaking.  COVID-19 is exacerbating inequities in mental health, access to education and employability – particularly among those communities already experiencing trauma, systemic social inequity and other disadvantages prior to the pandemic.

Too many young people are at risk of being left behind. The opportunity gap is widening—in virtually every corner of America. Much of the evidence of this is included in a new white paper – Beyond the Gap – prepared by youth development leaders, researchers, practitioners and young people, together with experts in the private and public sectors.

As a nation, we must invest more in positive youth development.

America’s Cooperative Extension System and 4‑H are working to bring a life-changing experience to millions more young people—10 million kids by 2025—because we believe that every child should have an equal opportunity to succeed. Not in the future. Right now.

Closing the opportunity gap means that the health, well-being and success of any young person isn’t determined by their zip code or the color of their skin. It means that all youth have access to positive youth development programming—and the necessary support and experiences to navigate the social and economic realities that we now face.

Closing the opportunity gap will take bold thinking and action.  It will require a collective effort. It means engaging youth development organizations, school systems, corporations, foundations, local, county, state and Federal governments.

In 4‑H, we are fortunate to have some powerful allies. Our partners—some of the largest brands in the world like Google, Microsoft, Walmart, Nationwide and others—are committed to creating opportunity for more young people. In addition, Federal Agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Justice support 4‑H in its work to scale and advance diversity, equity and inclusion efforts that directly impact youth of color.

We must listen to young people.

Youth can lead us and teach us. Where adults see challenges, youth see opportunities to step up and give back. They are incredibly creative and inspiring. And they must have a role in creating their own futures. The resilience, confidence and strength of young people is what gives me hope—and youth are asking for more opportunities to positively impact their world.

4‑H is listening to young people and lifting up youth voice through a powerful new campaign – Opportunity4All – that will bring youth to the forefront of discussions about how we eliminate the opportunity gap. Recently, 4‑H youth joined 4‑H alums, thought leaders and other experts for a robust conversation on how best to address the disparities that are holding young people back. You can watch the program here.

Most importantly, we must live our values every day.

At National 4‑H Council, we are taking concrete steps to support and accelerate Cooperative Extension’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work, but also to become a more diverse, inclusive and equitable organization ourselves.

We’ve established a new leadership position at National 4‑H Council to guide the implementation of our DEI strategy and training across Council, and with Extension 4‑H programs. We’re telling an inclusive and aspirational story of 4‑H with youth and alumni from all backgrounds and experiences. We are listening to our partners in higher ed—especially leadership at the 4‑H programs in our nation’s historically black colleges and universities.  And we are setting diversity goals for the composition of Council’s Board of Trustees, leadership and staff.

We are only at the beginning of this journey.  Positive youth development focuses on building youth assets, opportunities and voice – rather than focusing on problems.  A national commitment to positive youth development can transform our country’s social, economic and political imbalances—and create a more equitable and just America.

Our youth are an investment worth making.

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To learn more about what 4‑H is doing in diversity, equity and inclusion, please visit our website for a compendium of DEI resources and information at www.4-h.org/diversity

To hear the stories and the impact young leaders are making today, visit our web site at www.4‑H.org/youthvoices

The passion and drive of young people to create change, lead in their field of interest, and support their communities should be recognized and celebrated. That’s why it’s a priority for me to uplift their voices by sharing their stories and work. Every month, I will have conversations with young alumni and 4-H’ers in my new Youth Empowerment Series. This month, I talk education equity with Stanley Celestine, Jr., Louisiana 4-H alum, founder of Forum for Opportunity Youth, and member of the Avoyelles Parish School Board!