2023 MONROE COUNTY 4-H PARTICIPANTS HONORED WITH YOUTH BUREAU RECOGNITION EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

BY SUSAN COYLE

Spring of 2023 found outstanding Monroe County Youth and Youth Advocates being honored at Monroe County Community College in Brighton.

Monroe County Executive, Adam Bello, County Legislators, and theMonroeCountyYouthBureauDirectorgatheredtorecognize outstanding recipients. e Young Citizen of the Year and Willie W. Lightfoot Youth Advocate of the Year Awards represent two of the highest honors for youth and adult leadership, community service, advocacy, and perseverance. ese awards pay tribute to outstanding citizens who exhibit remarkable leadership, perform extraordinary acts on behalf of others, or have served as a role model for youth advocacy.

Two youth who are active with the Monroe County 4-H program were recognized for their impact in the community. e 4-H Program, o ered through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County, encourages youth to engage in hands-on activities and opportunities that encourage the development of life skills. is experiential learning helps build leadership skills, including public speaking, personal development, decisionmaking, self-management, and citizenship. In return, youth who participate in 4-H nd a supportive and inclusive environment led by caring adults dedicated to providing 4-H youth with positive experiences they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Lesliemar Sanchez is a member of the 4-H UNITY (Urban Neighborhoods Improved rough Youth) program with Ibero-American Action League’s ASPIRA Mentoring Program. Lesliemar is a consistent participant who uses her voice to advocate for others. She has helped planting owers and gardening at her school. During the holiday season, the group purchased and packaged groceries and cleaning products to support a local family. Lesliemar was also engaged in creating buttons and t-shirts to support a school positivity project. She is a student who leads by example and supports others.

Madina Rahim is a teen leader with the Cultivating Community Program with 4-H and the City of Rochester. Madina joined the team in June of 2022 to run a pilot summer program. Madina is thoughtful, caring, and responsible. She is the person who seeks out quieter peers and engages them in conversation. Madina supported more than half a dozen community gardens and park spaces in Rochester last summer. rough the school year Madina was a leader in creating an anti-littering campaign and neighborhood cleanups. Madina has developed skills for working with younger teens and is a wonderful possibility model with her calm demeanor and cheerful disposition. e Monroe County 4-H Program is o ered through Cornell Cooperative Extension to the youth of Monroe County. 4-H is a worldwide youth development program open to all youth aged 5-to-19, who want to have fun, learn new skills, and explore the world. In return, youth who participate in 4-H nd a supportive environment and opportunities for hands-on or “experiential” learning about things that interest them.

4-H UNITY is part of the Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Program. e project is supported by Smith Lever funds, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, New York State 4-H, and Cornell University. 4-H UNITY is conducted in Endicott and Rochester by the Cornell Cooperative Extensions (CCE) of Broome County and CCE of Monroe County in close partnership with New York State 4-H and Cornell University.

Learn more about 4-H at http://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/4-hyouth-development.

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