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With all the negatives society has been offering youth in the past decade,
Juan Gonzales decided it was time for a change.
Gonzales has mixed together Hispanic and Caucasian youth and their families,
sprinkled in program and grant support from Nebraska Network 21, the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the community of Norfolk, and in the process is touching
the lives of as many as 50 youth and their families.
The "Give Youth a Chance" project, a multicultural 4-H Club, began in June at
Lincoln Elementary School in Norfolk.
Originally intended for Hispanic youth from 5 to 14 years old, Gonzales and
co-founder Lidia Acosta of Norfolk found that many non-Hispanic children
also wanted to join. This resulted in teaching in both Spanish and English
during the four-hour Saturday meetings. During the school year, the program
meets monthly, rather than weekly.
"We need this program," said Gonzales, who is coordinator for Diversity
Recruitment and Retention for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural
Resources, and coordinator for Diversity Education and Recruitment for
Nebraska 4-H Youth Development.
Many youth today are facing violence, drugs, and family problems, with no
structured programs to support them, and "Give Youth a Chance" can help combat
some of these societal issues while promoting a positive family environment
that values both family and youth and fosters nurturing relationships, he said.
"Give Youth a Chance" goals are:
Leadership development training for youth and parents
Development of positive and long-lasting relationships with families in
the community and schools
Lasting impact on education and character
Emphasis on cultural differences and understanding
Promotion of community-oriented
activities and opportunities for youth and families.
To avoid reinventing the wheel, club leaders use and adapt many existing resources
from UNL and other institutions, such as "Many Faces, One People," "4-H Cares
Substance-Abuse Prevention Program," "Family 4-H," and "Character Counts."
"Character Counts" was developed by the Josephson Institute of Ethics, and is
being taught by Cooperative Extension staff across Nebraska.
The "Character Counts" program:
Emphasizes the need for character
Supports character development activities
Creates an atmosphere that encourages good character
Encourages ethical decision-making
Teaches the six pillars of character (trustworthiness, respect, caring,
fairness, responsibility, and citizenship)
Encourages accountability.
Before beginning the club, Gonzales met with and received the backing of
community members. He is seeking support from Norfolk-area businesses and
from the community for supplies and volunteers.
"We are already seeing many positive things," said Gonzales. "Parents are
happy this is happening and the word is beginning to spread." "Give Youth
a Chance" is a pilot, he said. Its success is vital to promote opportunities
for additional funding needed to expand it to other areas.
NN21 supports this demonstration project with a grant of $5,000.
- Pamela Ury Schmidt
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