A CASE FOR INVESTMENT:
4-H Youth Development at Historically Black Colleges & Universities
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Foundational to our nation’s identity is the notion that if you work hard, a better economic future awaits. Unfortunately, this is now more an aspiration than a reality for most young people across America. Teens are facing unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 shutdowns. And racial injustices have risen to the forefront of the national conversation like never before, driving home the profound gaps in our country. According to researchers led by the economist Raj Chetty, upward economic mobility — the possibility that children will grow up to earn more than their parents — has been declining. In 1970, 30-year-olds had a 90 percent chance — almost a certainty — of earning more than their parents did at the same age, while by 2014, those odds had dropped to around 50 percent.1
Those born into America’s lowest income levels are now likely to stay there.
These outcomes are distributed unevenly and are a testament to the deep-seated barriers and structural racism in this country. COVID-19 and the urgent discussion on systemic racism has not only put a glaring spotlight on these gaps, but the lack of access to positive relationships and a sense of belonging kids need to thrive beyond challenge.
1. Chetty, R., Grusky, D., Hell, M., Hendren, N., Manduca, R. & Narang, J. (2017). The Fading American Dream: Trends in Absolute Income Mobility since 1940. Retrieved from: nber.org/papers/w22910
Making greater and more effective investments in children and youth will be the best way to improve social mobility throughout the nation.2 4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization supporting six million kids in every county and parish is the US, is one of the most effective partners to grow the next generation of community leaders and unlock the potential of a generation. For more than a century, 4-H has been empowering kids to overcome the disparities they face in life and is poised to amplify that impact in a world marked by growing opportunity gaps. Our country has never needed this more.
Our Impact: Longitudinal 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development
2X
2X
4X
MORE LIKELY TO MAKE HEALTHIER CHOICES
MORE LIKELY TO GO ON TO COURSES & CAREERS IN STEM
MORE LIKELY TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES
Watch the Opportunity4All PSA
2. Katz, B. & Tilchin, R. (2016) Investing in the Next Generation: A Bottom-Up Approach to Creating Better Outcomes for Children and Youth. Brookings Institution.
SERVING COMMUNITIES WITH THE MOST NEED The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) of the nation’s land-grant university system have expertise in building effective public and private partnerships to deliver the most impactful 4-H experiential learning opportunities directly to the underserved youth in the communities, wherever they may be. As our system is innovating to meet kids where they are—at home, online, in school and afterschool—these institutions in particular are often serving as a conduit to navigating challenges and creating opportunities.
Land-Grant Colleges and Universities
LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY (LGU) HBCU TRIBAL COLLEGE
Of the 19 counties that our 1890s call home, • Eight are non-urban (population under 50,000) • Fourteen have populations with greater than 20 percent people of color • Fourteen have individuals living below the poverty line at rates greater than the national average (>13%) • Six face below-national average high school graduation rates (<85%) • Nine have above-average crime rates, one is highest in its state and three are among highest in the nation
This constellation of factors is among those that the CDC has identified as Adverse Childhood Experiences, or potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17 years). These experiences, often resulting from systemic racism or the impacts of poverty, include abuse, loss of a loved one through death or incarceration, witnessing or experiencing violence and racism. Brain development can change as a result of this toxic stress and affect attention, decision-making, learning and response to stress. Combined with the lack of connectivity and the learning loss brought on by a COVID-19 world and the stress of witnessing on national television â&#x20AC;&#x201C;and often in their own backyards - the murder of black people and police brutality, these mental health challenges and childhood trauma will go far beyond today if unaddressed.
Children growing up with toxic stress may have difficulty forming healthy and stable relationships, resulting in unstable work histories as adults and struggles with finances, jobs and depression throughout life. On average, economically distressed students achieve at lower levels than their peers on fourth and eighth grade state exam and black and Hispanic students achieve at lower levels than their white peers on eighth grade exams, making the prospects of a college degree e ven lower. COVID-19 shutdown related learning losses are widening the gap: the average student could fall seven months behind academically, while Latino youth could lose nine months and Black students could experience even greater learning losses at 10 months. Nearly 60 percent of jobs in the US require higher education, as compared to less than 30 percent in 1970, while the wage gap between people who have bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees and people with only a high school diploma has nearly doubled.
OUR IMPACT The HBCU’s 4-H programs are impacting approximately 75,000 of the most underserved youth each year. These are youth who face extreme challenges and rely on the support of their 4-H educators to help carve a better path. 4-H educators are delivering outcomes and behavior changes they need to increase their long-term economic and social mobility for strong, healthy futures that will help close the opportunity gap.
94% are comfortable being a leader*
97% learn why it’s important to eat a healthy diet* 95% keep trying until they reach their goals* 43% (almost half) eat a meal with their family most days or every day**
Watch Janya Green’s Youth in Action Video
*data from Alcorn State University, Southern University and A&M College, North Carolina State A&T University, West Virginia State University **data from Alcorn State University, Southern University and A&M College, North Carolina State A&T University, Fort Valley State University, Prairie View A&M University
CLOSING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP FOR 1 MILLION YOUTH Growing Together: 4-H is committed to help youth and communities overcome barriers to economic growth through investments in two core systemic issues that will determine futures: Workforce Development and Health Equity. The relationship between 4-H and the HBCUs is essential for the development of our young people. Investment in youth development at the nation’s HBCUs is creating life-changing learning opportunities for more underserved youth—those facing generational poverty and systemic racism and the related opportunity gaps. These universities support and connect youth in the most important years of their lives, working together to ensure that as many as possible can reach their full potential, regardless of their background or socio-economic status.
Our bold vision is to expand the reach of the HBCU 4-H programs to one million youth with greater opportunity through investments in the capacity and programming to drive impact: • Youth-adult scholarships to national educational programs and leadership opportunities • Health and nutrition programs • STEM skills development through broader participation in the 4-H STEM Challenge • The National Mentoring program which connects youth, particularly youth of color statistically overrepresented in the juvenile justice system, with adult mentors to create positive relationships • Ag literacy and community gardening education, guidance and resources • 4-H workforce development and high school and college preparedness programs and mentorship • Community and police relations support • General capacity building to reach more youth with culturally relevant programming, equity and access resources and professional development for educators
Increased investment in land-grant HBCU capacity and staffing to deliver 4-H opens the door for all youth to thrive by growing more: • Youth graduating from high school • Youth enrolling in further education—post-secondary or certification/credential programs • Youth reporting they have more positive attitudes about school, community and their future and a plan for their lives • Youth leading in school or community • Youth increasing their abilities to communicate, lead and manage conflict • Families engaging with their youth in projects at home, school or community
Addressing the historical inequities in America will not be easy and we know we cannot do it alone. The engagement of stakeholders within our Historically Black Colleges and Universities, community partners and investors are amplifying the power of 4-H. We know that closing the opportunity gap for all children has never been more important. We hope that you will join us.
National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the United States Department of Agriculture. Learn more at www.4-H.org © 1902-2020 4-H All Rights Reserved - The 4-H Name and Emblem are protected by 18 USC 707 www.4-H.org is maintained by National 4-H Council. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA.