CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 03/07/21

Georgia 4-H celebrates annual AmeriCorps week

By Cristina Luisa deRevere

From March 7 through March 13, Georgia 4-H joins thousands of 4-H Americans across the country to celebrate the valuable contributions of AmeriCorps members during AmeriCorps Week. AmeriCorps engages 270,000 Americans each year in sustained, results-driven service. AmeriCorps Week is a time to celebrate the impact of AmeriCorps programs and thank members for their service.

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and Georgia 4-H leverage the support of two AmeriCorps programs – AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and AmeriCorps State. Both programs strive to increase the capacity of Georgia 4-H and local 4-H programs.

“The goal of Georgia 4-H’s VISTA program is to eliminate poverty,” said Program Coordinator Keri Hobbs. “VISTAs build capacity within the 4-H program to reach marginalized youth via positive youth development experiences reversing negative statistical trends.”

“The goal of the AmeriCorps State program is to support the mission of Georgia 4-H through direct service by AmeriCorps State members (ACM) to reach more youth and expand educational opportunities,” said Program Coordinator Jennifer Cantwell. “ACMs focus their service on youth in school educational club meetings, 4-H Project Achievement and through developing new programs.”

Currently, Georgia 4-H has four VISTAs and 33 ACMs serving in 37 counties. Since 2010, at its inception, 69 Georgia 4-H VISTAs have raised more than $685,000 in resources, produced more than 1,500 marketing pieces and recruited and/or coordinated more than 3,250 volunteers. Since its inception in 2012, 205 full-time and 108 half-time ACMs have served more than 350,150 hours, reached more than 152,900 students through in-school programming, mentored 112,925 students through 4-H Project Achievement and recruited more than 1,900 volunteers who contributed more than 21,320 hours.

The AmeriCorps State program consistently exceeds grant performance measures. ACMs deliver surveys to youth to measure knowledge of content after in-school educational club meetings and increased capacity and confidence in public speaking after participation in 4-H Project Achievement. In the 2019-2020 program year, of youth surveyed after club meetings, 91% showed an increase in and/or demonstrated knowledge of the content presented. In the same program year, of students surveyed after participation in district 4-H Project Achievement, 87% demonstrated knowledge of best practices in public speaking and 87% indicated confidence in public speaking or showed an increase in public speaking.

During 2020, VISTAs and ACMs played a critical role in Georgia 4-H adaptive programming in response to COVID-19. VISTAs produced 14 videos to further the reach of programming that are now a sustainable resource and have reached more than 4,300 views. More than 225 youth were reached through the 4-H Youth Summer Health Squad virtual programming provided by summer VISTAs in five counties.

VISTA Summer Associates recruited additional volunteers to assist in their efforts in health programming, which included serving more than 6,500 pounds of food to more 2,500 individuals. In addition, Fulton County VISTA Mary Woo strengthened a local UGA Extension mobile market, “Fulton Fresh,” to serve more than 12,700 pounds of food to nearly 4,000 individuals in Metro Atlanta.

A growing body of research shows that service has an effect on more than just the communities served, but also on the members themselves. AmeriCorps alumni credit their year of service for developing leadership skills that bridges divides, solves problems and opens doors to opportunities that advance their careers and education. In addition, research shows that alumni gain skills and are exposed to experiences that communities and employers find valuable.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 190,000 people annually through the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities. For more information, visit georgia4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

Cristina deRevere is the public relations coordinator for Georgia 4-H.

Authors:
Cristina Luisa deRevere
Experts/Sources:
Keri Gandy Hobbs
Jennifer Cantwell
AmeriCorps engages 270,000 Americans each year in sustained, results-driven service.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
Seth McAllister and farmer Mark Daniel discuss crop production and agritourism. CAES News
UGA Extension supports agritourism through expert advice and collaboration 10/24/24 Emily Cabrera
On a sunny day with bright-blue skies, I arrive at Mark’s Melon Patch in Sasser, Georgia, and immediately spot the familiar white University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pickup truck, the Terrell County Extension logo prominently displayed on the door. Seth McAllister, the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Terrell County, greets me with a broad grin and a firm handshake. Terrell County alone has 60,000 acres of row crops, half in cotton. But what McAllister loves most about his role as an Extension agent is the diversity of his work.
Ropes course at Georgia 4-H camp CAES News
Campers create lasting memories of summer at Georgia's 4-H centers 10/07/24 Josie Smith
By the end of his first week at 4-H summer camp, fifth grader Cooper Hardy already had many memories of new and exciting experiences. “That was the first time I got in a canoe,” Hardy said. “It was a big deal for me.” Now, 10 years later, Hardy serves as a Georgia 4-H camp counselor at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia. It’s a dream he’s held since the first time he set foot on the sprawling, wooded 1,500-acre campus as a camper.
Caroline Hinton is the director of experiential learning for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. (Photo by Peter Frey/UGA) CAES News
Director of experiential learning herds students toward new fields of education 10/02/24 Averi Caldwell
Caroline Hinton wants to foster a love of learning for all students who walk through her door. As the director of experiential learning for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Hinton helps students connect with their fields of study outside of the classroom. “I find joy and excitement in getting to watch students experience different parts of agriculture and find a place in our state’s own agriculture industry,” she said.
The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel saw some damage from the winds and rain of Hurricane Helene. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA) CAES News
UGA weathers Hurricane Helene 09/27/24
The University of Georgia’s main campus was fortunate to emerge relatively unscathed after Hurricane Helene barreled through the state early Friday morning. However, the impact was more significant at our extended campus locations. While the UGA Griffin campus reported no major damage, UGA-Tifton was hit much harder, with dozens of downed trees and power outages, as well as flooding in several buildings. Damage to farm operations across south Georgia appears to be extensive.
Honorees at the 2024 State 4-H Congress included 4-H Green Jacket Award winner Jay Morgan, Master 4-H’er Vidhi Patel, Warnell Associate Dean for Outreach Nick Fuhrman for Warnell accepting the Friend of 4-H Award on behalf of the college, Georgia 4-H State President Kingston Ryals, William H. Booth Award winner Patrick Willis, and Ryles Rising Star Award Laura Mirarchi. CAES News
Outstanding youth, supportive adults celebrated at Georgia 4-H State Congress 08/14/24 Josie Smith
Accomplished 4-H youth and the adults who empower them gathered at the 81st Georgia 4-H State Congress in Atlanta July 23-26. The weeklong event for top 4-H’ers features state-level Project Achievement and Leadership in Action competitions and recognizes youth development professionals and community supporters contributing to the success of 4-H in Georgia. More than 200 youth delegates competed in 50 Project Achievement areas and eight youth delegates competed in the Leadership in Action contest during annual event.
Local 4-H students helped install more than 500 plants in the 400-square-foot plot below the mural. (Photo by Sara Ingram) CAES News
Public art helping to revive rural communities 07/26/24 Margaret Blanchard
In Buena Vista, a vibrant mural at the corner of North Broad Street and Fifth Avenue catches the eyes of passers-by with its bright blue border. Funded by Flint Energies, the mural tells the story of the longleaf pine forests that once dominated Marion County and the turpentine industry, flora and fauna that the trees supported — from gopher tortoises to bobwhite quail.