December 15, 2020
Recognizing Stories Matter Community Partners and ICDD Facilitators
Submitted by Aliah Mestrovich Seay
Kansas 4-H has launched a program called Stories Matter developed from the Community Conversations Civic Engagement Series (https://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/personal-development/Stories-matter.html) to serve under-served audiences and increase leadership, communication, and civic engagement skills for youth across Kansas to promote opportunity for all. Jaryth Barten, 4-H Alum, has been working with the State 4-H Office in the capacity of Stories Matter Coordinator since July 2020. Community partners from Tribal Nations in Kansas, the K-State Beach Museum, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the K-State Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy (ICDD) have all played a part in making this program equitable and inclusive.
This is a time to recognize the purposeful citizenship work of many youth, agents, and volunteers who have been trained to facilitate civil and civic discourse across the state of Kansas. ICDD youth and adult facilitators come from all corners of Kansas: Barton, Butler, Central Kansas District, Chase, Decatur, Chisholm Trail District, Doniphan, Douglas, Ellis, Ellsworth, Kearney, Marshall, McPherson, Meade, Lyon, Riley, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wallace Counties and more. Please visit our recognition page to locate ICDD youth and adult facilitators in your area (https://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/personal-development/ICDD%20Facilitators.html).
Youth from diverse backgrounds are collaborating with caring adults to talk about societal issues facing the world today. Through this cutting edge experience, youth are empowered to be agents of change in their communities and world (https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2020/11/4h-stories-matter-and-civic-discourse.html). Looking to the future, the Community Conversations leadership team (https://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/personal-development/Team.html) is inviting you to participate in this civic engagement endeavor to create sustainable programs at the local level which are available for widespread use (https://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/personal-development/commconversation-series.html).