successes and challenges in recruitment and retention of urban youth development volunteers rutgers...
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Successes and challenges in recruitment and retention of urban
youth development volunteers
Rutgers University
Rebecca Kalenak, Essex County 4-H Agent
Laura Bovitz, Middlesex County 4-H Agent
Marissa Blodnik, Essex County 4-H Program Associate
Shane Pierre, Middlesex County 4-H Program Associate
Niños Fuertes, Communidades Mas Fuertes (Strong Kids, Stronger Communities)
Essex County, Newark, New Jersey• Rebecca Kalenak, County Agent;
• Marissa Blodnik, Program Associate; [email protected]
• http://essex.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h
Middlesex County, New Brunswick, New Jersey• Laura Bovitz, County Agent; [email protected]
• Shane Pierre, Program Associate; [email protected]
• http://middlesex.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h
•
agenda
Introduction of Niños Fuertes, Communidades Mas Fuertes (Strong Kids, Stronger Communities) (5 minutes)
Challenges and Opportunities of Urban Youth Development Programs (40 minutes)
Resource Development (20 minutes)
Plan of Action (20 minutes)
Question and Answer Time (5 minutes)
History
Niños Fuertes, Communidades Mas Fuertes (Strong Kids, Stronger Communities)
Traditional 4-H in Non-Traditional Settings, building 4-H Club Program in an urban environments traditionally lacking in 4-H programs and clubs.
Funded through a Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Grant
Focus on the Latino centers of population in New Brunswick and the north ward of Newark, NJ
Program objectives
Provide a positive youth development experience for underserved Latino youth
Provide leadership opportunities for youth and adults in the communities of New Brunswick and Newark
Provide an opportunity for youth develop and maintain community and cultural connections
Develop and maintain connections with Rutgers University
Assist youth with development of career goals.
A whole new world
The Balance of 4-H membership has shifted since the program’s inception more than 100 years ago, when 4-H served primarily Urban Youth (Enfield, 2001).
Today, more than 30% of 4-H members in the United States live in cities or suburbs of cities with populations of 50,000 or more (USDA, 2010)
Changing demographics present new challenges for youth development professionals
A new shift in 4-H membership also means a shift in volunteers available to work with those youth
What are we working with?
Who are your current volunteers
What are your current volunteer resources (training/recruitment…)
Challenges and obstacles of recruitment and retention
Current successes and positive opportunities
What Works?Current Volunteers
Due to limited ability to recruit parent and community adults as leaders, the following groups have been recruited to serve as club or resource leaders:
AmeriCorps volunteersRutgers University student internsRutgers University student organizationsSchool teachers/after-school providersPartnerships with local organization leaders to assist with 4-H clubs
Resources…
Partnerships that flourish
Community collaborations have also allowed us to recruit volunteers who would generally not be exposed to 4-H programming, but lead to successes with recruiting and retaining leaders.
Local Latino organizations
Boys and Girls Clubs and United Way
After-School and Charter School Programs
Local cultural and art organizations
Local schools and libraries
YMCA and Teen Centers
Where have all the volunteers gone?
Parents without the ability to volunteer time/resources
Lack of community based adult volunteers
Isolated communities with little or no knowledge of or trust in 4-H
Lack of cooperation from public schools
Language barriers and transportation
Securing club meeting and event locations
Retention of youth and consistency of attendance at club meetings
Successes and positive
opportunities
Partnering with city and county wide initiatives that impact urban citizens
Community gardening
Climate science
Gang prevention
Library and summer programs
Partnering with city and county wide initiatives that impact urban citizens
STEM programs and clubs
Alternative Club StructuresSPIN (Special Interest Clubs
School Based Clubs
Resources available
Rutgers University, New Jersey translated resources; Latino4h.pbworks.com
Oregon State University; Latino Outreach Project
University of Wisconsin; Latino Resources
4-H Science in Urban Communities
Break the language barrier
A plan of action
references
Enfield, R. P. (2001). Connections between 4-H and John Dewey's Philosophy of Education. FOCUS. Davis: 4-H Center for Youth Development, University of California, Winter.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). (2010). Annual 4-H Youth Development Enrollment Report.Retrieved May 15, 2013 from http://www.reeis.usda.gov/
Niños Fuertes, Communidades Mas Fuertes (Strong Kids, Stronger Communities)
Essex County, Newark, New Jersey• Rebecca Kalenak, County Agent;
• Marissa Blodnik, Program Associate; [email protected]
• http://essex.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h
Middlesex County, New Brunswick, New Jersey• Laura Bovitz, County Agent; [email protected]
• Shane Pierre, Program Associate; [email protected]
• http://middlesex.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h
•