Middle School Students attending the 4-H goLEAD Youth Leadership Institute.
4-H members representing eight counties took part in the New Jersey 4-H goLEAD Youth Leadership Institute held in June at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
goLEAD (generation-on Leadership, Education, and Development) is an innovative approach to equip middle and high school aged youth with invaluable 21st century skills that will allow them to change themselves and the world through service and is a program of Generation On, a global youth service movement igniting the power of all kids to make their mark on the world.
The NJ 4-H goLEAD Youth Leadership Institute provides an opportunity for middle school age youth to develop leadership and community service knowledge and skills. During the two-day program, the workshops and guest speakers focused on the topics of local government, leadership, and service learning.
Five teen 4-H members who have attended the goLEAD Youth Leadership Institute in the past are part of the Youth Planning Team and assisted 4-H staff in planning and implementing the event. The team members included: Brittney Albarran, Savannah Brannan, Scarlett Kinsey, Cavin Saravanan, and Sara Weist.
4-H members attending the Youth Leadership Institute included: Burlington County – Leela Colley, Jonathan Francis, and Zachary Lewis; Camden County – Charlie Perez, Emily Perez, and Kenikki Thompson; Hunterdon County – Mackenzie Snyder and Paige Spinelli; Middlesex County – Ryen Ramos, Annabella Sefa, Kathryn Williams; Monmouth County – Mary Bryant; Morris County – Sierra Durham, Arushi Ghayalod, and Mahi Gupta; Somerset County – Kelson Lowrie, Scout Lowrie, Andrew Van Langen, and Allison Yin; and Sussex County – Kelly Ann Nelson and Will Teitsma.
“Citizenship is one of the 4-H Mission Mandates so community service is an integral part of every 4-H member’s experience. The goLEAD curriculum enhances 4-H members’ knowledge about how to go about planning and conducting service projects in their own communities, as well as reflect on the impact they are having on their community.” says Jeannette Rea Keywood, 4-H agent, Department of 4-H Youth Development.
The 4-H Youth Development Program, part of Rutgers, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station – Cooperative Extension, offers educational programs to all youth, grades K-13, on an age-appropriate basis. For more information about the New Jersey 4-H Youth Development Program visit their website.
