This is a work in progress. Thank you for joining our group on our journey.
How did 4-H leaders in the mid-1980s- mid-1990s utilize care as an approach to youth work? What impact did this have on the youth and their sense of belonging and empowerment (leadership) within their communities and beyond?
These were the questions I was curious to know the answers to from my 4-H youth cohort. Many of us were connected to 4-H by our mothers, aunties, and community leaders in our own backyards or city blocks- who lead and organized 4-H programs- arranging safe spaces for us to meet.
My own mother was a state 4-H Agent- and was in charge of training
4-H leaders, implementing 4-H contests, fairs, and 4-H State Teen (and local) Councils.
When you are “in” and “of” a youth organization-it can make you acutely aware
of your privilege- and make you wonder if your rosy outlook of the
organization, it’s leaders and projects were viewed through a privileged gaze. Was the care and support you felt from 4-H Leaders felt by others?
Aside from my mother- the impact of the other community leaders (who helped run the programs in which I took part) changed my life. They helped me to reach the goals I set for myself and supported me like second family. Many of us had “4-H” moms- who were leaders who added a caring approach to how they implemented programs. Much of this caring approach came through in how they modeled for us “giving back” to our community- which is strongly rooted in positive youth development and social justice.
There is research out there tying 4-H to Positive Youth development- but what about the subtle-but-intentional focus on social justice and empowering youth to change their communities, country, and world for the better?
“These programs take place in schools, organizations, peer groups, and families in a manner that is productive and constructive; recognizes, utilizes, and enhances youth's strengths; and promotes positive outcomes for young people by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and furnishing the support needed to build on their leadership strengths.
The 4-H Youth Development Program is the youth outreach program from the land-grant institutions’ cooperative extension services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 4-H serves as a model program for the practice of positive youth development by creating positive learning experiences; positive relationships for and between youth and adults; positive, safe environments; and opportunities for positive risk taking.” (NIFA, 2023)
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To determine how positive youth development and social
justice were entwined or entangled in 4-H youths’ experience from the mid-1980s-1990s-
I began with a small group of six individuals- of whom 4 were able to complete
the process thus far. (We have future plans to interview our 4-H leaders in Part 2- All Hands to Larger Service.)
The four interviewees (five if you include my comments) intentionally represented urban, rural and suburban youth and were united by their work in 4-H Teen Leadership programs like 4-H Teen Council, 4-H Teen Conferences (RI, MA, New England, and National 4-H Teen Conference and Congress) and most of us have a first-degree relative who was involved in 4-H.
The themes that appear in the interviews are clear and moving. Many of us speak about how the leaders cared enough to let the youth plan and lead events- and youth were given gentle pushes and encouragement to try new things and take on leadership roles.
Interviewees shared about how the lessons and caring approach to leadership has impacted who they are in their adulthood and in their professions.
Lastly, we see the thread of community building- across rural, urban and suburban teens. We were all learning to work and lead along with people who were from different backgrounds, ethnicities, identities, and socioeconomic conditions in an exchange of cultural literacy and changing our communities through the programs we put into action.
Much Thanks and Appreciation to the Interviewees:
Lauren Nance Case
Barbara Lemaire Conners
Darryl Marsh
Amy Pennington
Interviewer- Sara Hutchings Schwartz
"Glossary" of List of 4-H Leaders Mentioned in the Interviews
Mr. Whitney Bancroft (State 4-H Agent- URI- Southern RI)
Ms. Claudia (Name redacted- 4-H Community Club, Providence County, RI)
Mrs. Shirley Hutchings (State 4-H Agent – URI- Northern RI)
Mrs. Jo-Ann Lemaire (4-H Parent- Blueberry Patchers- “South” County RI)
Ms. Connie Nance (4-H Community Club, Providence County, RI)
Ms. Pat Nance (4-H Community Club, Providence County, RI)
Ms. Francis Marsh (4-H Community Club, Providence County, RI)
Ms. Linda Mclintock (Blueberry Patchers, “South” County, RI)
Enclosed here are also the questions I’ve used to investigate this larger question, some of which are purposefully “redundant” or have overlap- to ask a question different way.
1. Please share a little bit about yourself, and a little bit about how you first became involved with 4-H programs.
2. What was it that made you choose to be involved in 4-H as a youth or stay involved with 4-H?
3. Some young people have experience in youth organizations where the youth had no active leadership role and leaders lacked a caring approach. In your experience, was 4-H like that, or was it different?
4. 4-H youth in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s in Rhode Island came from rural, urban and suburban communities.
Though youth were from different places and backgrounds- do you feel that 4-H
leaders and programs fostered a sense of belonging for all 4-Hers? If so- how?
If not- can you share an example?
5a. Thinking back to that time, are there any moments in your 4-H experience in which you felt listened to, supported, or felt seen by an adult leader that stand out in your memory?
5b. How did 4-H leaders work with youth to help empower them to reach their goals?
5c. In your experience, was leading and working with youth unique to 4-H?
6. In your experience, how did RI 4-H include youth in planning and implementing programs? Would you share a favorite example of something you helped to plan, or a youth planned event that you attended?
7. In the 4-H Pledge, it speaks to clearer thinking, greater loyalty, larger service and better living as goals or gifts to bring to our club, community, country and world and their motto includes the ideal of “making your best better.” In your experience, how/did these 4-H programs you experienced foster or support these goals?
8. Describe how your involvement in 4-H as a youth has impacted who you are as an adult today. What is one skill or lesson you learned that has stayed with you?
9. Is there anything else you’d like to share?
With Gratitude,
S.E. Hutchings Schwartz - May 7, 2023
1. National Institute of Food and Agriculture (2023). 4-H and Positive Youth Development. https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/4-h-positive-youth-development
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