Engaging Youth, Serving Community began with a grassroots effort to recognize the 4‑H Centennial in 2002. As a result, the National Conversation on Positive Youth Development in the 21st Century brought together youth and adults in local communities, at the state level, and finally in Washington, D.C. to discuss how to develop a positive future for youth in America’s communities.

Engaging Youth, Serving Community aims to impart youth with the life skills and experience they need to emerge as effective leaders and contributing members of society. In addition, the program works to improve the ability of youth and adults to collaborate with diverse community members to identify local issues and develop strategies for addressing them. The end result is that young people and adults will begin to have a more positive attitude toward the role of youth in communities.