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Year Awarded: 2001
Project Leaders:
Michigan 4-H Foundation, Michigan State University Extension’s
4-H Youth Development, Cheryl Howell, Russell G. Mawby, Cheryl N.
Booth
Project Description:
In 2002, 4-H marked its 100th anniversary. To celebrate
this milestone and prepare for another century of youth development,
4-H engaged youth and adults from around the United States in
a series of conversations to find out what they wanted and needed
from 4-H’s youth development programs. This National Conversation
on Youth Development in the 21st Century was a large-scale research
and strategic planning process that began at the local level
and culminated in a national conference in the winter of 2002.
Recent Developments:
See article on the 4-H Youth Conversations on pages 7-9 in MSU Connect Magazine
4-H Youth Conversations
(From an article in FACT Forum newsletter, April-June 2002)
The Michigan Conversation on Youth Development in the 21st Century
has published a final report on this winter’s statewide conversations
with youth, citizens, policy makers, schools and communities. Coordinated
by MSU Extension’s 4H Youth Development Programs, and supported
in part by FACT, the project has initiated an ongoing statewide
dialogue about the needs and hopes that Michigan citizens have for
youth. Both youth and adults identified education access, equity
and opportunity as a top priority issue. Youth also pointed to negative
peer pressure and substance abuse as issues of concern, while adults
felt that quality of family life, and the need for increasing positive
role models and mentors deserve attention. This effort was part
of the National Conversation on Youth in Washington D.C. held in
February 2002. Five national themes for youth development were developed
at that conference. They include:
- Involve youth directly in creating policy and making decisions
at all levels of government and society
- Seek multi-cultural acceptance and unity for all families, lifestyles
and settings.
- Provide safe and inviting environments for a variety of learning
strategies.
- Attract and retain exceptional people to the field of youth
development.
- Build collaboration among youth organizations and across government
programs impacting young people.
Resources and Links:
The Michigan Conversation on Youth Development web page
The National Conversation on Youth Development web page
Michigan 4-H Foundation
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