UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- On Jan. 19, young people, state officials and community leaders from across Pennsylvania will come together to mark the 100th anniversary of 4-H and to set strategies to guide development of youth programs into the future.

The group will meet for the Pennsylvania State Conversation on Youth Development, a component of the national celebration of the 4-H centennial. The meeting will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel at Penn State's University Park campus.

Adult and youth delegates, including 4-H'ers from each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, have been selected to attend the meeting. Penn State President Graham Spanier will make opening remarks, and dignitaries such as Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Samuel Hayes, state representatives and civic leaders have been invited to attend.

The event is sponsored by Penn State Cooperative Extension, which administers Pennsylvania's 4-H program. Throughout the state, more than 125,000 youth and 10,000 volunteer leaders are involved in 4-H programs.

The state conversation meeting is the second of three components of the National Conversation on Youth Development in the 21st Century. The conversation process began at the local level. Each of the nation's 3,067 counties held a local conversation; more than 100,000 young people participated nationally.

Recommendations from the county conversations are discussed at the state conversations. Then Feb. 28-March 3, 1,600 delegates from every state, territory and the District of Columbia are invited to convene in Washington, D.C., to shape a national report that will be presented to President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress.

Marilyn Corbin, Penn State Cooperative Extension state program leader for children, youth and families, said important themes surfaced in Pennsylvania's county conversations, including the need for increased respect and tolerance, more after-school programs and opportunities for young people to have a greater voice in the decision-making process.

"While the original purpose of these conversations has not changed, the events of Sept. 11 have greatly enhanced the need for youth and adults to come together and talk about needs in their communities," Corbin said. "These conversations bring together young people and adults of all ages and backgrounds to create a positive action plan that provides solutions to local, state and national issues that affect youth."

The conversation project is to be funded through both public and private contributions. Major sponsors are Allegheny Power, New Holland North America, Doebler's Hybrids and Forever Broadcasting in Johnstown. Additional support has been provided by Moyer Packing Co. of Montgomery County.

Those participating in the conversations also will be asked to take part in "The Power of YOUth Pledge Campaign" by making a pledge to volunteer time in their individual communities. 4-H anticipates the campaign will generate pledges totaling more than 1 million hours of community service in Pennsylvania alone.

"Our centennial celebration -- the conversations and the Power of YOUth Pledge specifically -- support 4-H's longstanding commitment to empower youth to make the most of their individual strengths and to reach their full potential through responsibility and community involvement," Corbin said. "We're really excited about the upcoming events and the impact they can have on our future."

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EDITORS: Contact Marilyn Corbin at 814-863-6109 or MCorbin@psu.edu.

Contact:

Jennifer MacIsaac jlm19@psu.edu 814-865-3636 814-865-1068 fax