4-H Recognized at National Mentoring Summit

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- First Lady Michelle Obama invited 4-H to participate at the National Mentoring Summit in Washington, D.C., today and showcase its successful mentoring programs. 4-H'er Jose Cazares and his mentor and 4-H program director Octaviano Merecias-Cuevas from Portland, Oregon, attended the Summit as representatives of 4-H mentoring programs taking place throughout the country.

Hosted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Corporation for National and Community Service and Harvard School of Public Health, the National Mentoring Summit invites representatives of key mentoring programs to discuss their successes and challenges, and to chart the future of the mentoring field.

"We are honored that 4-H was invited to take part in this important event," said Donald T. Floyd Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO. "The National Mentoring Summit is an incredible opportunity for 4-H to present our nationally acclaimed mentoring programs to the world. These evidence-based 4-H mentoring programs allow for youth in all 50 states to connect with a caring adult, and as a result prepare these young people to step up to the challenges of today's complex world."

OJJDP recently awarded National 4-H Council a $5 million grant in support of the 4-H National Mentoring program, allowing state 4-H programs to select from three of Cooperative Extension's successful mentoring programs to implement in their local communities: 4-H Mentoring: Youth & Families with Promise, created by Utah State University; 4-H Tech Wizards, created by Oregon State University; and 4-H Life, created by the University of Missouri.  

Octaviano Merecias-Cuevas is the director of the 4-H Tech Wizards – a service-learning and mentorship program that allows 4-H'ers to teach computer skills to adults and youth in their communities. He was also a member of the first cohort of 4-H Tech Wizards during the pilot program in the Metropolitan Area of Portland, Oregon. Last year, 4-H National Headquarters selected the 4-H Tech Wizards program to be replicated in 21 states, and Merecias was asked to lead the effort.

Jose Cazares joined the 4-H Tech Wizards as a high school freshman, inspired by other Tech Wizards who had increased their GPAs, learned valuable technology skills and engaged in community-service activities. Cazares credits his mentor, Merecias, with giving him the opportunity to be a part of Tech Wizards, and teaching him the value of community service.

"4-H gives me confidence and knowledge," said Cazares. "I know that I am not alone and that if we want to be a better community, state and country we have to work together."

In addition to the invitation to attend the National Mentoring Summit, Cazares is one of the 4-H youth selected to be featured in the launch of National 4-H Council's new brand campaign, Join the Revolution of Responsibility. To learn more about Join the Revolution of Responsibility, visit www.4-h.org/revolution.

About 4-H

4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters at the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA. 4-H programs are implemented by 109 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices in every county across the country.  Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org.

SOURCE National 4-H Council