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More than 1,300 U.S. teens are headed to Atlanta for the 79th
National 4-H Congress.
“‘Make the Difference,’ the theme of this year’s Congress (Nov.
24-28), tells the story for these young people,” said Susan
Stewart, National 4-H Congress director.
“Chosen from their history of leadership in communities in 48
states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, each of these
young people comes to Atlanta with a desire to increase their
ability to lead,” she said.
The youths, ages 14-19, will attend educational programs and
cultural events. They will hear from Miss America 2001 Angela
Baraquio, Paralympic gold medalist and author Scot Hollonbeck,
Kennesaw State University President Betty Siegel and Atlantan
Milton Creagh.
18 Educational Programs
The delegates will choose from more than 18 educational programs.
The topics will range from colorization of America and cultural
diversity to the future of agriculture, stress management and
teen violence.
“Congress delegates will return home better able to ‘Make a
Difference’ in their own communities,” Stewart said. “The
knowledge gained during their stay in Atlanta will be used to
make positive changes in communities across the nation. Atlanta
provides an excellent backdrop for the diversity of cultural
experience National 4-H Congress offers.”
Community Service, Too
Delegates will learn community service, too, from a hands-on
point of view. They will make more than 200 coats for Atlanta
homeless children. Along with Miss America, delegates will also
work at Art of the Season, a fund-raising event for Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta, leading children in making crafts.
“Each delegate will also bring a book to donate to Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta’s ‘Reach Out & Read’ program,” Stewart
said. “Since National 4-H Congress came to Atlanta in 1998,
delegates have annually spread across Atlanta and participated in
a wide variety of projects. They are encouraged to start similar
community service projects when they return to their own
communities.”
On the last day of Congress, the delegates will have a youth
issues discussion reflecting what they learned during the
week.
