What's they key to 4-H's success?
4-H is the largest youth service organization in the country, with more than 5.5 million young people participating in its programs. Only 1.4 million of these actually belong to clubs; the rest take part in 4-H activities sponsored by school and community groups, many of which are run by the more than 700,000 adult and teen volunteers.
Ginny Diem, a Rutgers, N.J., Cooperative Extension 4-H agent, attributes 4-H's longevity to its grassroots connections. According to Diem, "A good youth developer always finds out what the community needs -- surveys the community, puts together advisory groups. You begin by knowing your community and reviewing local resources."
4-H's evolution from "corn clubs" into an organization with a global scope and a multicultural character is a testament to its emphasis on "knowing the community." During a period of demographic shifts in the 1960s, 4-H agents realized the importance of involving more than just "farm kids." They extended urban initiatives and reformulated traditional programming to reflect individual communities' changing needs. Through the '70s and '80s, 4-H developed projects to engage underrepresented groups and offer suburban and urban youth relevant learning experiences.
In its efforts to create or adapt stereotype-dispelling programs like SPACES and True Colors, 4-H is, in turn, eroding stereotypes about itself. Nevertheless, the "cows and canning" image has been a difficult one to leave behind. According to Janet Olsen, associate program leader of Michigan State University's 4-H Youth Programs, "People are still sometimes surprised that they can be part of 4-H even if they don't live on a farm. The challenge for us is to help potential volunteers recognize the breadth of our projects and keep them from shutting the door too quickly. For someone who wants to work with kids, 4-H offers a world of possibilities."
-- by Gabrielle Lyon