Iowa teens emerge as change agents following Citizenship Washington Focus
The Iowa 4-H delegation visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.
By Sydney Peterson and Gail Castill | Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Twenty-seven Iowa 4-H youth joined young people across the United States in Washington, D.C., June 15-22 to get hands-on experience exploring citizenship and social responsibility in our nation’s capital.
4-H Citizenship Washington Focus is held every summer in the Washington, D.C., area. Through a series of speakers, committee work, field trips and social events, youth can explore, develop and refine skills needed to share their voice on issues they care about.
The Iowa 4-H delegation poses with Senator Chuck Grassley after having an encouraging discussion with him.
“The experiences and connections I have made on this trip will have a positive impact on me throughout my entire life,” Ella Johnson said.
“4-H Citizenship Washington Focus brings youth together to develop the skills and confidence to make a positive difference in the world,” said Gail Castillo, CWF coordinator with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “While exploring and learning about our nation’s history, the participants engaged in activities that challenged them to think collaboratively, working together to consider how to positively shape the world around them and hold civil conversations with those who hold different beliefs from themselves.”
The Iowa delegation spent seven days in Washington, D.C., learning our nation’s history and developing the civic engagement skills they need to be community leaders.
During their time in Washington, D.C., the high school students toured the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Supreme Court and Arlington National Cemetery. They explored national monuments and memorials, including the Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., World War I, World War II, Air Force, Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.
“Throughout the Citizen Washington Focus trip, I learned many things about our country’s present and past through the monuments, memorials and museums,” said Rylee Robson. “Visiting these sights gave me a deeper understanding of our country’s history and what we had to go through in order to gain our independence and to build our country into what it is today.”
The delegation also engaged in historical education at several museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Postal Museum and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Youth also visited Mount Vernon, National 4-H Council offices and the National Mall.
“Visiting the national museums helped give me a wonderful perspective on how our country has evolved throughout history,” Aiden Anderson said.
During a day on Capitol Hill, the group met with Sen. Chuck Grassley before his remarks on the Senate floor. Grassley encouraged the young people to get involved and make their voices heard. Youth engaged in educational, interactive workshops and assemblies to motivate an increase in youths’ commitment to citizen involvement. Workshop topics were leadership and civic engagement, local government, advocacy, active listening, civil discourse, media literacy, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and petitions.
Youth reported enjoying hearing and learning from speakers Tori Taylor, director of political outreach at the White House, and Mari Copeny, youth activist and philanthropist who is best known for raising awareness about the Flint, Michigan, water crisis and helping kids to embrace their power through equal opportunity. They also heard from a journalism panel that included Maria Nicole Davis, editor-in-chief of The Liberty Champion; Peter Sloniewsky, senior opinion editor at The Hoya; Abigail Turner, editor-in-chief of The Eagle; and Mike Webb, senior vice president of communications at the News Literacy Project.
“I learned the importance a youth voice has in shaping the future,” said Robson. “I saw how some young people are already actively engaged in sharing their voice about what they think is right and the opinion or idea they stand for. This showed me how the impact of younger generations’ voices can be impactful and inspiring.”
The delegation engaged in town hall meetings, discussions around perspective and viewing complex issues through someone else’s eyes and learning how to build connections when conversations are difficult. Participants enjoyed participating in Operation Gratitude, an activity where they wrote letters and created care packages to be delivered to service personnel.
“I was able to gain valuable experience in communicating with others from different backgrounds from around the country that I never would have gotten at the same level here at home,” Anderson said.
“One thing I have learned to take home and implement into my life in Iowa is the importance of civic engagement and staying informed about what is happening in the world, locally and nationally,” Robson added. “Taking this home and making it a habit to stay informed and participate in the community, I have found, is a good way to stay connected and make a positive impact in my community!”
“The transformative conference gave the youth a newfound sense of energy, confidence and purpose to be able to make local change,” Castillo said.
Coordinated by the National 4-H Council, 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus is a national program designed as the premier leadership and civic engagement event for 4-H members in grades 9-12. Weeklong sessions are offered through June each summer. For more information about Iowa 4-H or Citizenship Washington Focus, please contact your ISU Extension and Outreach county office or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/4h.
