4~H,,, More Than You Ever Imagined
4-H Focuses Programs on “Saving Kids’ ” Lives
By Donald T. Flo^d, Jr.,
Vice President and COO,
National 4-H Council
What’s it like in a typical day for
America’s kids? For some of us it
conjures up images and pictures from
our childhood - a beautiful spring day -
kids playing ball, maybe riding a bike.
For today’s kids - there can be a very
different image that comes to mind.
Let’s take a look at a typical day.
Today, 2,660 babies will be born into
poverty (poverty in America is a family
making less than $13,000); 1,400
babies will have babies today—that
1,400 teen Mom’s; 15 children will die
from firearms; 24 children will be mur
dered today and everyday in America;
2,800 kids will drop out of school
today, and another 2,800 tomorrow; 3
young people will die from AIDS today
- AIDS the silent, classless, raceless
killer that has so many myths surround
ing it that camouflage its deadliness.
Thirteen thousand kids will be sus
pended from school today, and again
tomorrow, and the next day, and the
next day. And today in America 6,000
kids will be arrested, another 6,000
tomorrow, and another 6,000 the next
day (data from Children’s Defense
Fund).
This look at a typical day in America
paints a picture of kids dying or follow
ing a dangerous lifestyle after falling off
the positive youth development path.
With this grim reality National 4-H
Council believes that we have to build
an Army, an Army of people with
resources and ideas and powerful
enough to win the battle — and the
war, and we have to do this now.
Two years ago we changed our focus
and started listening to young people
and their issues of importance. They
told us to treat them as partners, to treat
them not as future leaders, but as today’s
leaders. We joined the growing move
ment called community youth develop
ment (CYD). CYD combines, in an
inclusive way, the ideas of the commu
nity development world with the positive
youth development world that 4-H is so
famous for. 5.6 million kids are involved
in the 4-H program.
In Indianapolis we are working to
bring systemic reform to the school sys
tem with our workforce preparation pro
gram. Both the school system and
businesses are reallocating resources to
help kids get ready for work.
In May, 4-H Youth Voices and Ac
tion was accepted by The Advertising
Council as one of their public service
advertising campaigns. The idea will be
to position America’s children as mak
ing a difference in their
communities...that kids can and do be
come involved in ever increasing and
meaningful ways - changing the fabric of
their communities.
We are a leader in technology. To
day we can push a button and instantly
communicate via the Internet with all
counties.
All of this is connected - as we move
to “save kids’ lives” in this country. You
are an important link in our Army for
Kids—you have helped us by making a
personal financial commitment, support
ing our work - supporting kids and the
Army for Kids. Thank YOU, on behalf
of the kids. Thank YOU!
Hoke County 4-Hers are shown here making Christmas Crafts.
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I'll'
For more information about 4-H contact Sandra Kelly at the
Cooperative Extension office at 875-2162.
Bicycle Safety Camp
(Left): Jonathan Patton manuevers through cones. (Right): Brad Fogleman practices
hand signals.