4-H & Youth Development

 
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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

WHAT IS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT?

Civic engagement refers to an approach that encompasses individuals getting involved and addressing public issues in their community (Delano-Oriaran, 2015). It also refers to multiple ways that youth identify with the common good and become engaged members of their communities (Flanagan & Faison, 2001). Civic engagement through 4-H helps empower young people to be well-informed citizens who are engaged in their community and the world. Being involved in civic activities, youth can learn about community affairs, build decision-making skills, gain civic literacy skills and even gain confidence and understanding needed to make positive connections and relationships within their community. 4-H Civic engagement is focused on three specific program areas:

  • Leadership and Personal Development – focuses on engaging youth in their communities through programs and organizations with opportunities to share their voice

  • Community Action – focuses on youth giving back to their community, learning life skills and creating solutions to problems in their community

  • Communication and Expressive Arts – focuses on youth learning creative thinking, writing and building their communication skills through visual arts programs

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TOPICS & 4-H PROGRAM AREAS

Civic Engagement

  • Youth Voice

  • Informed Decision Making

  • Advocacy

  • Activism

Civic Education

  • Government Principles

  • Personal Roles and Responsibilities

  • History

  • Heritage, Cultural and Global Competency

Services

  • Community Service

  • Service Learning

  • Community Youth Development

Leadership

  • Mutual Respect and Understanding

  • Character Development

  • Problem Solving

SIGNATURE LEADERSHIP STATEWIDE PROGRAMS

4-H iCongress Summer Program is designed for 4-H members between the ages of 11 and 13 who are interested in becoming leaders in 4-H. Through fun and exciting interactive sessions, youth will enhance their ability to serve in local, district, state and national 4-H leadership roles. These roles include 4-H club leaders, camp counselors, members of 4-H Cabinet, State Congress leaders and National Congress and Conference participants. iCongress is open to any 4-H member from across the state between the ages of 11 and 13.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH 4-H NOT REQUIRED. By participating in this summer program, youth will automatically be enrolled into the Virginia 4-H program free of charge through their respective local county/unit. Additionally, iCongress will enhance the ability of new, current and future 4-H youth to serve in local, district, state and national 4-H leadership roles. You must be 11-13 during the current 4-H year (October 1 through September 30) to attend iCongress as delegates. Current 4-H teen leaders, who are ages 16-18 with CIT training and leadership experience, may participate as teen counselors.

This highly acclaimed iCongress program features interactive activities that:

  • Expose youth to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Math) subjects

  • Strengthen team-building and networking skills

  • Introduce them to distinguished speakers

  • Teach them table etiquette

  • Helps them develop personal action plans and discovering personality styles

  • Teaches them basic marketing skills and life empowerment skills

  • Allows them to learn and experience what it’s like to live on a college campus

Teen Excellence in Leadership Institute (TELI) focuses on (1) understanding self and developing a personalized action plan for engaged leadership, (2) networking with other teens interested in learning about the issues facing youth and communities, (3) designing a team project to address community leadership needs in Virginia and (4) learning more about advocacy and outreach that will improve the lives of others.

The TELI program includes two face-to-face weekend retreats and two virtual sessions delivered over three months. The program was designed for a maximum of 25 emerging leaders in the 10th and 11th grades who seek to practice and advance their leadership skills. Topics covered include:

  • strengths-based leadership

  • problem-solving style

  • group facilitation skills

  • adult-youth partnerships

  • team building

  • project collaboration

  • peer feedback and evaluation

  • effective communication

  • leadership principles

  • etiquette

  • civic change initiatives

  • critical reflection

Participants engage in team projects to design a response to a community issue in Virginia. Youth-adult partnerships are fostered through assigned team project mentors who serve as a source of knowledge and feedback.

Junior MANRRS Leadership Institute (MANRRS) - The National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Pre-College Initiative Program enhances pre-college students’ academic, professional and leadership skills to maximize their success in life.  The Institute is designed to stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering, agricultural and mathematics fields, or STEAM. The goal is to encourage students in grades 7–12 to attend college and pursue agriculture, natural resources and environmental sciences degrees. The purpose of the Jr. MANRRS Leadership Institute is to promote academic and professional advancement by empowering and exposing underrepresented, underserved, first generation and diverse students to viable career pathways, while learning how to become the next generation of diverse leaders. The program provides activities that help students:

  • Discover firsthand how agriculture, engineering, and technology relate to the world around them

  • Discover the excitement of academic excellence, leadership, technical development, and teamwork

  • Provide leadership and professional development skills, such as dressing for success, interviewing skills, writing resumes, learning proper dinner etiquette, completing college applications and essays, and networking opportunities

  • Receive college application information, including how to get into college, financial aid information, etc.

  • Connect to opportunities to be mentored and/or tutored by college students or professionals currently working in a STEAM field

  • Meet other Jr. MANRRS members, collegiate members, and alumni members from around the country

STEPS TO GET YOUR YOUTH INVOLVED?

Step 1: locate your local county/unit office & speak with the 4-H extension agent. You can find it here: https://ext.vt.edu/offices.html

Step 2: Introduce yourself & ask 4-H agent what programs and clubs are offered

Step 3: Fill out 4-H paperwork (health history, code of conduct, member enrollment)

Step 4: Follow Local 4-H Unit Office, Virginia 4-H, and the VSU College of Agriculture (Facebook, Twitter) Social Media Pages

Step 5: Enjoy the Wonderful World of “Virginia 4-H” across the Commonwealth

SUPPORT 4-H PROGRAMS AT VSU

Virginia 4-H provides meaningful opportunities for young people to grow, develop leadership skills and play a vital role in the community. Investing in 4-H means investing in our youth, our communities and our future leaders. Through its youth development programs, 4-H offers experiential learning in every community in Virginia and is committed to providing programming in four important areas: agriculture, STEM, civic engagement and healthy living. 

iCongress – one of our signature 4-H programs held at VSU – offers youth ages 11-13 a week of fun and engaging sessions that prepare them to serve in local, district, state and national 4-H leadership roles.

By investing in our youth, you’re helping more than 217,000 Virginia 4-H members develop caring relationships, learn leadership and life skills and provide service to others and their communities. The skills learned through 4-H help young people become confident, competent, caring and contributing citizens. 

Your donation will make an immeasurable difference, especially for youth who are financially disadvantaged, and will help establish a foundation account to support 4-H youth programs. To donate, please visit https://supportvsu.afford.com/PPT/MakeAPayment, select “I Support Virginia State University,” click “Make a One-Time Payment,” select 4-H Programs held at VSU.

We thank you for your generosity and partnering with Virginia 4-H to grow the next generation of great leaders.

RESOURCES

Youth Civic Engagement Matters Embracing Citizenship in Urban Areas -https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/4-H/4H-908/4H-908.html

Youth Advocacy Matters — Finding a Voice Through 4-H - https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/4-H/4H-907/4H-907.html

Helping Your Child Become a Responsible Citizen - https://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/citizen/citizen.pdf

Leadership Washington Focus (LWF) - https://4-h.org/parents/leadership-washington-focus/

Authentic Youth Civic Engagement - https://www.nlc.org/program-initiative/authentic-youth-civic-engagement

Youth Civic Engagement & Leadership - http://youthtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/11/Youth-CEL_FINAL.pdf

360 Civic Learning - https://generationcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/360-Civic-Learning-updated-8.12.19.pdf

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