Global Civic Engagement

4-H GROWS CONFIDENT KIDS WHO TACKLE THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

Today's 4-H members are tomorrow's leaders! TJ Fossmeyer of McHenry County poses for a picture after an impromptu meeting with Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. 4-H youth are connecting, learning, engaging, leading, and impacting. Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Rep. Chris Welch listens to members of the Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team.

Photo credit: John Berry, Illinois House of Representatives

Youth Changemakers are ready to create positive change in their communities.

Youth Changemakers is a new initiative that helps youth find their voice, interpret data, and develop an understanding of civil discourse and how to interact with those that have different opinions.

In their local communities, teens conduct a local needs assessment as the first step of Changemakers. This might mean talking to key community stakeholders and other teens, or looking at local data about their community to help them decide what project or initiative would be the most impactful. Youth then figure out the best audience to reach to make change happen – such as local leadership, business leaders, boards, or community members. They then determine the best messaging to reach their audience in the most impactful way to start making a direct impact in their communities through positive, youth-led change!