NCERA_old215: Contribution of 4-H Participation to the Development of Social Capital Within Communities

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[08/03/2020] [08/23/2020] [12/12/2022] [12/15/2023] [08/01/2024]

Date of Annual Report: 08/03/2020

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/02/2020 - 06/04/2020
Period the Report Covers: 07/01/2019 - 06/30/2020

Participants

Anderson, Chris (canders2@umd.edu) - University of Maryland; Baker, Barbara (barbara.baker@maine.edu) - University of Maine/Retired; Calvert, Matt (matthew.calvert@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; Emery, Mary* (mary.emery@sdstate.edu) - South Dakota State University; Fields, Nia* (nfields@umd.edu) - University of Maryland; Henness, Steve* (hennesss@missouri.edu) - University of Missouri; Kantor, Debra (debra.kantor@maine.edu) - University of Maine; Klemme, Neil* (neil.klemme@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; Lonning, Jacquie* (jlonning@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Nathaniel, Keith (kcnathaniel@ucanr.edu) - University of California; Scott, Denis (denis.scott@mail.wvu.edu) - West Virginia University;
*Also included in NIMSS

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

2020 Annual Meeting Agenda & Minutes.pdf

Accomplishments

Objective 1:  To convene researchers, Extension educators, and faculty whose research, teaching and/or practice involves youth and community development in order to foster interdisciplinary work on social capital and community youth development. Accomplishments: A large number of team members have been involved in publishing results in peer-reviewed publications and delivering scholarly presentations and professional development sessions. The range of states and disciplines involved has increased the reach of these presentations to include youth development, evaluation, community development, and education. Outputs: Monthly social capital research team meetings and an annual face to face meeting. The team split into two working groups to continue work on a second toolkit to provide practitioners with specific examples and applications of social capital into their work. A second team was formed to develop an illustration that illustrates the overlap of various youth development and community development models.  Milestones(s):  <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Project and research teams continue with 70% attendance on monthly calls and 90% attendance at yearly virtual meeting(s). </li> </ul> Short-term Outcomes: As examples of the current and continuing multi-state and interdisciplinary engagement, the team has increased research collaboration through Maine and expanded participation from MO at our annual meeting. Gerardo Martinez - Missouri - Institute for Human Development, Kathleen Lodl - Nebraska/Liaison, Lupita Fabregas - Missouri - State 4-H Leader, Bonita Williams - NIFA. The team includes youth development and community development educators and experts.    Objective 2:  To fund and implement a major national research project utilizing the tools already piloted and validated by this project to explore how the 4-H Program contributes to the development of social capital within communities. Specifically: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">To determine 4-H experiences that contribute to the development of youths' social capital. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">To identify and analyze how the quantity and quality of the 4-H Program's community involvement impacts the level of social capital among youth and adult volunteers </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">To identify and analyze how the quantity and quality of the 4-H Program's community involvement impacts the development of social capital within the community</li> </ul> Accomplishments and Short term outcome: A qualitative research project is ongoing and collecting data from states choosing to participate. To date, four states have contributed data. We are currently discussing continuing this effort.  Outputs: The toolkit has been accepted through the National 4-H peer review system. We are currently looking to post this on the eXtension website to be shared with others across the United States. Milestones: Team continues data collection and continues to analyze data;  <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Team reports findings through white papers, reports to practitioners, and an article that has been submitted to the Journal of Youth Development. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Team identifies additional opportunities to conduct investigation with Cooperative Extension and other community and youth development practitioners and participants. </li> </ul>   Objective 3:  To refine existing and develop new measurement tools to identify and analyze how the 4-H Program impacts the level of the various capitals (as identified in the Community Capital Framework) within the community. Accomplishments and Current Activities: Over the course of this program year, Maine and West Virginia implemented the survey data collection in their respective states. There are currently 495 participants in the study. Milestones: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Team continues data collection and continues to analyze data; </li> </ul> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Team reports findings through white papers, reports to practitioners, and an article that has been submitted to the Journal of Youth Development. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Team identifies additional opportunities to conduct investigation with Cooperative Extension and other community and youth development practitioners and participants. </li> </ul>   Objective 4:  To improve the quality of community youth development practice in the Extension system and beyond by: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Disseminating research findings </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Creating and delivering training modules on effective program practices.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Developing Toolkits with practical tools for educators</li> </ul> Accomplishments and Current Activities: Research findings and effective practices have been disseminated through national organizations such as the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP), and the National 4-H Program Leaders Working Group (PLWG).  Findings from current research and practice have led to the development & publication of Toolkit 1.0 which focused on project/program examples and developing an overall understanding of social capital. We are nearing completion of Toolkit 2.0 which will be a practitioner’s guide to implementation.  Other extension program improvement and professional development activities include:  <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">NAE4HA presentation accepted for 2020 </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">National 4-H Conference Adult Chaperone presentation</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">State professional development efforts: Wisconsin, Missouri, Maryland, New York, Oregon, California</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Statewide programs that include social capital principles:</li> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Maryland 4-H Issue Forum: Water Access & Quality (transitioned to a virtual platform)</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Wisconsin First Impressions</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Wisconsin’s Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership Conference participants tracked their relationship-building change during a conference weekend. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">4-H Tech Changemakers utilized Ripple Effect Mapping tool to document community impacts, with a focus on social capital developed through intentional community stakeholder engagement. (WA, ND, WI, MI, ME, VA)</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Minnesota’s YELLO state leadership conference</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Minnesota’s Ambassador programs at the county, tribal, and state level</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Missouri Youth Civic Leaders Summit</li> </ul> </ul>

Publications

<h3>Journal Articles</h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Haskell, J. E., Baker, B. A., Olfert, M. D., Colby, S. E., Franzen-Castle, L. D., Kattlemann, K. K., & White, A. A. (2019). Using ripple effects maps to identify story threads: A framework to link private to public value. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 7(3), 1-23. <a href="https://www.jhseonline.com/article/download/899/749"> LINK HERE</a></li> </ul> <h3>Curricula</h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Anderson, C., Baker, B., Brown, M., Calvert, M., Fields, N., Henness, S., et. al. (2019). Contribution of 4-H Participation to the Development of Social Capital within Communities: Toolkit. Chevy Chase, MD: National 4-H Curriculum</li> </ul> <h4>Curricula in Progress</h4> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Henness, S., Anderson, C., Nathaniel, K., Kantor, D., Baker, B., Toolkit 2.0</li> </ul> <h3>Book in Progress</h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Fields, N., Chan, A., Gonzalez, M., Green, E., Massey, K., Moncloa, F. & Nathaniel, K. (in development). True Leaders: Culture, power and justice. A youth development approach to social justice. </li> </ul> <h3>Presentations</h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Klemme, N., (2019). Do you Know Why Your Community is Awesome. Wisconsin 4-H Fall Forum, Green Lake, WI. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Klemme, N., (2019). Placemaking and Community Capitals. NICER, Northern Iron County Engaged Residents Workshop Meeting. Hurley, WI.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Klemme, N., (2020). Social Capital and Positive Youth Development. Statewide Positive Youth Development Monthly Meeting. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Nathaniel, K. (2019). Using Social Capital For Your Academic Success:  The DNA of Social Capital. Southwest Community College, Los Angeles, CA.</li> </ul> <h4>Invited presentations</h4> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Fields, N. (2020). Our role and responsibility for thriving & equity. New York State 4-H In-service Keynote. (Invited by the New York 4-H Program Leader). </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Fields, N. (2020). Nurturing the spark: Thriving youth and thriving communities. New York State 4-H In-Service Workshop. (Invited by the New York 4-H Program Leader).</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Fields, N. & Calvert, M. (2020). Social Capital Team Updates and Future Plans. National 4-H Program Leaders Meeting. St. Petersburg, FL. (Invited by the 4-H PLWG)</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Henness, S. & Gulick, S. (2019). Community capitals: assets and opportunities. Warsaw, MO. Carrollton, MO. Cape Girardeau, MO. (Invited by Missouri Training Institute)</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Henness, S. (2020). Youth engagement in your community: we’re better together!  Columbia (MO) Neighborhood Leadership Academy (Invited by the Academy program coordinator)</li> </ul> <h4>Upcoming presentations </h4> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">NAE4HA 2020 - Steve, Chris, Keith, Debra</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Cancelled due to COVID19 - N4HC fall 2020 - Neil, Steve, Chris, Jacquie</li> </ul>

Impact Statements

Engaging Multiple Cooperative Extension Program Areas The Cooperative Extension system has increased its focus on the intersection of community and youth development. Two examples from the North Central region are Wisconsin’s Interdisciplinary Team Engaging Young People in Sustaining Communities, Families, and Farms and Nebraska’s focus on community development through the Rural Futures Institute. The team is an excellent venue to convene people to focus on related research and extension questions once we have implemented our current research program. We intend to convene team members and others to address questions such as: How can each of the program areas in Extension implement the identified social capital-building practices in their work with youth and communities? What are the applications of this work with 4-H youth to other under-served age groups, such as those aged 20-29?

Date of Annual Report: 08/23/2020

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/01/2021 - 06/02/2021
Period the Report Covers: 06/01/2020 - 05/31/2021

Participants

Anderson, Chris (canders2@umd.edu) - University of Maryland; Baker, Barbara (barbara.baker@maine.edu) - University of Maine/Retired; Calvert, Matt (matthew.calvert@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin;
Emery, Mary* (mary.emery@sdstate.edu) - South Dakota State University; Fields, Nia* (nfields@umd.edu) - University of Maryland;
Henness, Steve* (hennesss@missouri.edu) - University of Missouri;
Kantor, Debra (debra.kantor@maine.edu) - University of Maine; Klemme, Neil* (neil.klemme@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; Lonning, Jacquie* (jlonning@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Nathaniel, Keith (kcnathaniel@ucanr.edu) - University of California; Scott, Denis (denis.scott@mail.wvu.edu) - West Virginia University;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Monutes from the June 1-2, 2021 annual meeting are attached.

Minutes Attachment:

2021 Annual Meeting Agenda & Minutes.pdf

Accomplishments

<h2>Accomplishments </h2> Currently, our team consists of researchers from 9 states: California, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin. We have several projects in progress that involve assortments of the team, and some projects that involve all team members. Individuals from additional states have had periodic attendance, and we regularly receive inquiries from individuals interested in attending after we present at conferences and other events.  Short term outcomes We facilitate monthly meetings of our group in an effort to build relationships among team members, broaden our understanding of social capital, and to work on our project deliverables. In an effort to expand the reach and membership of our team, we’ve developed a form to capture interest following presentations and nearly 20 individuals have indicated interest in joining our project. Each month, a current member or guest presents their work related to social capital. These presentations have highlighted best practices and/or introduced new research methods to incorporate into our projects. Topics have included: Using Social Network Analysis, 1619 Project use in Iowa for addressing social inequities, and how social capital connects to the 4-H Thrive Model. Our team developed a research project and submitted it for funding through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program of USDA/NIFA. Notification of status is still pending, however, we anticipate carrying out parts of the proposed study regardless of funding. The research project would be conducted in rural areas of Wisconsin, West Virginia, South Dakota, and Minnesota to build an evidence and practice base for program approaches that strengthen social capital and social networks. This project would provide further evidence of the impact of activities in our toolkits. We are nearing completion of our second toolkit that will provide Extension professionals and volunteers with resources to implement high-quality programming that builds social capital for youth. The toolkit includes an integrated community and youth development approach which considers current research related to social capital and the overlap of youth development and community development approaches to building thriving, and vibrant communities.  Outputs <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">A new website to share and promote our team’s work - <a href="https://4-h.socialcapital.extension.org">https://4-h.socialcapital.extension.org</a></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Nearing completion of a second toolkit: Building Social Capital on Purpose: A Toolkit for Youth and Community Development Professionals</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">A grant application pending: Spiraling up: Integrating youth and community development to build resilient communities</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Various presentations and invited speaking engagements (see attached list)</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Various presentations and workshops for youth, professionals, and policymakers (see attached list)</li> </ul> Activities Data collection through a quantitative social capital survey that assesses social capital stocks to determine the level of social capital, both at the individual level and in the community has been ongoing for several years. Collection was paused this year due to the resounding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are attempting to re-route the IRB approval to collect data virtually. Milestones The completion of our second toolkit was delayed due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our member’s availability, as well as some staff transitions. Additionally, data collection in our ongoing study was paused as in-person 4-H programming was moved to virtual experiences. We are anticipating receiving IRB approval to collect data virtually in the future.

Publications

<h2>Publications</h2> Fields, N. (2020). Exploring the 4-H thriving model: A commentary through an equity lens. Journal of Youth Development, Journal of Youth Development, 15(6), <a href="https://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/2020-15-6-FOR-3">https://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/2020-15-6-FOR-3</a> Fields, N., Chan, A., Gonzlaez, M., Green, E., Moncloa, F., Massey, K. & Nathaniel, K. (2021). True Leaders: Culture, Power and Justice- A Youth Development Approach to Social Justice. Chevy Chase, MD: National 4-H Curriculum Sero, R., Hansen, D., Chazdon, S., Bohen, L., Higgins, L., &  Emery, M. (forthcoming). Ripple Effects Mapping: A Participatory Strategy for Measuring Program Impacts.” Burns, D.; Howard, J. and Ospina, S.M. (eds) (2021-forthcoming) The SAGE Handbook of Participatory Research and Enquiry, 55 City Road, London: SAGE Publications Ltd.   Presentations Emery, M., Klemme, N., Baker, B., and Lonning, J. (2021). “NCERA 215: Integrating youth and community development to create social capital.” Federal Interagency Work Group on Youth Development. Fields, N. (2021). Positive Youth Development in the Virtual World. Maryland Youth Works In-Service. Invited by Maryland-out-of-School Time Director. Fields, N., Stevens, A., Gibson, T., & Kryst, C. (2021). The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity. National Conversations: Race, Relationship and Resources. Fields, N. (2020). Nurturing the Spark: Thriving Youth and Thriving Communities. New York State 4-H In-Service Workshop. (Invited by the New York 4-H Program Leader). Fields, N. (2020). Social Justice Youth Development. Pennsylvania 4-H Lunch and Learn. (Invited by the Pennsylvania 4-H Program Leader). Fields, N. (2020). Positive Youth Development in the Virtual World. Maryland Youth Works In-Service. Invited by Maryland-out-of-School Time Director. Fields, N. (2020). Our Role and Responsibility for Thriving & Equity. New York State 4-H In-service Keynote. (Invited by the New York 4-H Program Leader). Fields, N. (2020). National 4-H True Leaders in Equity Keynote. National 4-H True Leaders in Equity Institute. (Invited by National 4-H Council). Fields, N. (2020). Purpose and Passion: Social Justice Youth Development. Virginia 4-H Teen Summit on Advocacy and Social Justice. (Invited by Virginia 4-H Program Leader). Fields, N. (2021). Social Justice Youth Development: Putting it into Practice. Civil Air Patrol Cadet National Conference. (Invited by the CAP Director) Fields, N. (2021). Opportunity for All: Increasing Cultural Awareness & Equity in 4-H. Nebraska 4-H In-Service Keynote. (Invited by Nebraska 4-H In-Service Committee) Haas, K., Klemme, N., Solomon, V. (2021). Youth In Governance Programming: A Youth and Community Development Effort. Wisconsin Joint Council of Extension Professionals. Henness, S., Klemme, N., Anderson, C., Lonning, J. (2021). Social capital: Relationships for building success & creating change. Klemme, N., Van Treek, C., (2021). Youth Engagement in Community Development. Wisconsin Economic Summit.

Impact Statements

Engaging Multiple Cooperative Extension Program Areas The team is comprised of Extension professionals and other interested individuals from both youth and community development. In addition to inviting speakers in to share and discuss information with our group, we have been intentional about attending and presenting at professional association meetings for both community and youth development, presenting at the NAE4HYDP conference, and the Community Development Society. Our pending AFRI Grant convened individuals from both community and youth development to design a research project that will hopefully be funded. However, regardless of funding, we hope to carry out elements of the proposed project.

Date of Annual Report: 12/12/2022

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/13/2022 - 10/15/2022
Period the Report Covers: 07/01/2021 - 10/01/2022

Participants

Anderson, Chris (canders2@umd.edu) - University of Maryland; Baker, Barbara (barbara.baker@maine.edu) - University of Maine/Retired; Calvert, Matt (matthew.calvert@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; Emery, Mary* (memery2@unl.edu) - University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Fields, Nia* (nfields@umd.edu) - University of Maryland; Henness, Steve* (hennesss@missouri.edu) - University of Missouri; Klemme, Neil* (neil.klemme@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; Lonning, Jacquie* (jlonning@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Nathaniel, Keith (kcnathaniel@ucanr.edu) - University of California; Scott, Denis (denis.scott@mail.wvu.edu) - West Virginia University

Brief Summary of Minutes

See notes available here

The majority of the discussion focused on next steps for the group to pursue. A major activity of the past 1+ years has been the development of a social capital toolkit that we now plan to disseminate to practitioners for both implementation and to gather evidence of practices that incorporate social capital development in their programming and evaluation practices. Additionally, we discussed new and continued research opportunities.

Accomplishments

Currently, our team consists of 7 states: California, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, West Virginia, Wisconsin, as well as some individuals retired from their positions, but still interested in the work.  Short-term Outcomes: Our team continues to share our work locally in an effort to spread knowledge of promising program practices across the state lines. Two of our members have been elevated to leadership roles in their states and in national committees which provides an opportunity for them to continue promoting the opportunities for social capital development in youth and community development work.  Our group recently completed our second toolkit: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Building youth social capital on purpose: A toolkit for youth and community development professionals. Henness, S., Anderson, C., Eds. - Currently submitted for 4-H Peer Review process.</li> </ul> Our group has continued to have presentations accepted at national conferences: <ul> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Building youth and community social capital on purpose: A toolkit for youth and community development professionals. Accepted workshop at the 2021 National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, November 2021. Anderson, C., Henness, S., Klemme, N., Nathaniel, K., Lonning, J.</li> </ul> </ul>   <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Bridging youth and community development work: An introduction to the building social capital on purpose toolkit. Accepted poster at the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 2022. Emery, M., Klemme, N., Scott, D.</li> </ul> And individually, many of our group members have had publications and presentations within their states (see below). Outputs: Since our last report, the group has maintained a public website to disseminate our project and share relevant resources - <a href="https://4h-social-capital.extension.org/">https://4h-social-capital.extension.org/</a> . We are planning to collect stories of featured projects to showcase on the website.  Spearheaded by a few members of our group, the team developed our second toolkit, now complete and headed for peer review through National 4-H Curriculum Review. Many team members contributed as authors, editors, or ideators. We have presented about the progress of the toolkit in past conferences and now with a completed package, our focus will shift to dissemination of the toolkit and collection of data related to implementation.  Activities: Data collection on a youth social capital survey was paused during the pandemic and has continued to be paused during periods of staff transitions amongst team members. The group anticipates relaunching this survey in the coming year once IRB approval is received - the hope is to be able to collect data online as well as in person, from interested states. We also plan to connect with the Common Measures and Thrive teams to review their data collection instruments and determine if some of the questions line up with social capital measurements that we could use for secondary analysis.

Publications

In addition to the presentations listed above, the following publications and presentations have involved one or more members of our group: Calvert, M., Nathaniel, K., Brown, M. (2022). Developing Social Capital as a Conduit to Social Justice Fields, in N. I., & Shaffer, T. J. (Eds.). Grassroots Engagement and Social Justice through Cooperative Extension. MSU Press. Liphart, D., Klemme, N., Meeker, I., (2022) Civic Engagement and Advocacy in Rural Wisconsin: Youth Development Through Legislative Forums, Journal of Youth Development,  Vol. 17 Issue 3 DOI 10.5195/jyd.2022.1194

Impact Statements

With the pause of our data collection efforts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, current collected impacts are anecdotal, but important. We conducted an appreciative inquiry analysis and noted the impacts we had seen over the course of our team’s collaborative work. Our team members have been positioned well to keep social capital at the forefront of national decision making as we’ve intentionally developed connections with Dr. Mary Arnold who is heading up the 4-H Thrive framework utilization for National 4-H, and two of our team members are in state 4-H leader positions which has led to their passion for social capital to be inserted into the meetings they attend. At the 2022 National 4-H Conference, NIFA officials, including Dr. Shannon Horrillo, the Division Director, frequently mentioned the importance of social capital building through youth’s 4-H involvement, showing that these outcomes continue to be sought after through 4-H involvement. Our group has also been sought after to provide insight on social capital development within 4-H. Three of our group members participated in a nation-wide focus group with the SEARCH Institute. In 2021, our group had the opportunity to present to the Federal Interagency Work Group on Youth Development. Since that meeting, a member of our group has continued to have follow-up conversations sharing resources on promising program practices.

Date of Annual Report: 12/15/2023

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/16/2023 - 10/17/2023
Period the Report Covers: 10/14/2022 - 10/17/2023

Participants

Anderson, Chris (canders2@umd.edu) - University of Maryland; Calvert, Matt (matthew.calvert@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; Emery, Mary* (memery2@unl.edu) - University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Fields, Nia* (nfields@umd.edu) - University of Maryland; Henness, Steve* (hennesss@missouri.edu) - University of Missouri; Klemme, Neil* (neil.klemme@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; Lonning, Jacquie* (jlonning@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Nathaniel, Keith (kcnathaniel@ucanr.edu) - University of California; Scott, Denis (denis.scott@mail.wvu.edu) - West Virginia University; Johnson, Todd - University of Wisconsin

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

2023 Meeting minutes.docx

Accomplishments

Currently, our team consists of 7 states: California, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, West Virginia, Wisconsin, as well as some individuals retired from their positions, but still interested in the work.    Short-term Outcomes: Our team continues to share our work locally in an effort to spread knowledge of promising program practices across the state lines. Two of our members have been elevated to leadership roles in their states and in national committees which provides an opportunity for them to continue promoting the opportunities for social capital development in youth and community development work.  Our group recently completed our second toolkit, which also went through a National 4-H Peer Review: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Henness, S. & Anderson, C. (Eds.) (2023). Building social capital on purpose: A toolkit for youth and community development professionals. North Central Extension & Research Activity (NCERA) 215: Contribution of 4-H Participation to the Development of Social Capital Within Communities. </li> </ul> Our group has continued to have presentations accepted at national conferences: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Klemme, N., Anderson, C., Nathaniel, K., (2023). Building youth and community social capital on purpose: A toolkit for youth and community development professionals. National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4HYDP). Pittsburgh, PA.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Emery, M., Klemme, N.,Henness, S., & Anderson, C. (2023). “Spiraling up” together: Youth and community development. National Association of Community and Economic Development Professionals (NACDEP). Coeur d’Alene, ID.</li> </ul> And individually, many of our group members have had publications and presentations within their states (see below). Outputs:  We continue to maintain a public website to disseminate our project and share relevant resources - <a href="https://4h-social-capital.extension.org/">https://4h-social-capital.extension.org/</a>.  Spearheaded by a few members of our group, the team developed our second toolkit, which has completed the National 4-H Curriculum Review process. Many team members contributed as authors, editors, or ideators. We have presented about the progress of the toolkit in past conferences and now with a completed package, our focus is shifting to dissemination of the toolkit and collection of data related to implementation. Our second toolkit was posted on October 5, 2023, and has been downloaded 43 times as of December 11.  (The first toolkit has also been downloaded 11 times as of December 11).  A LinkedIn post about the second toolkit in November 2023 received nearly 70 likes and 7 reposts from University and Extension administrators, 4-H and community development specialists, youth development organization executives, agency and foundation representatives, leadership and educational consultants, career & technical educators, diversity equity and inclusion professionals, and international scholars.  Activities: Data collection on a youth social capital survey was paused during the pandemic and has continued to be paused during periods of staff transitions amongst team members. The group anticipates relaunching this survey in the coming year once IRB approval is received - the hope is to be able to collect data online as well as in person, from interested states. We also plan to connect with the Common Measures and Thrive teams to review their data collection instruments and determine if some of the questions line up with social capital measurements that we could use for secondary analysis.

Publications

Calvert, M. & Klemme, N. (2023). Engaging and Connecting Young People to Sustain and Build Communities. Wisconsin Rural Funders Roundtable, September 20, 2023. Klemme, N. (2023). Engaging Youth to Build Vibrant Communities. UW Badger Talk, Wisconsin Parks and Recreation Association Annual Meeting, September 21, 2023. Henness, S., Dougherty, L., Drew, A., King, W., Pettijohn, L. & Turgeon, A. (2022).  K-16 Ecosystem Builders: Communities Engaging Entrepreneurial Youth.  Missouri Creating Entrepreneurial Communities Conference. Hermann, MO. Henness, S. & Anderson, C. (Eds.) (2023). Building social capital on purpose: A toolkit for youth and community development professionals. North Central Extension & Research Activity (NCERA) 215: Contribution of 4-H Participation to the Development of Social Capital Within Communities. Klemme, N., Anderson, C., Nathaniel, K., (2023). Building youth and community social capital on purpose: A toolkit for youth and community development professionals. National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4HYDP). Pittsburgh, PA. Emery, M., Klemme, N., (2023). “Spiraling up” together: Youth and community development. National Association of Community and Economic Development Professionals (NACDEP). Coeur d’Alene, ID.

Impact Statements

Our group has also been sought after to provide insight on social capital development within 4-H. Three of our group members participated in a nation-wide focus group with the SEARCH Institute. In 2021, our group had the opportunity to present to the Federal Interagency Work Group on Youth Development. Since that meeting, a member of our group has continued to have follow-up conversations sharing resources on promising program practices.

Date of Annual Report: 08/01/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/03/2024 - 06/04/2024
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2023 - 01/04/2024

Participants

Chris Anderson-canders2@umd.edu
Jacquie Lonning-jlonning@umn.edu
Keith Nathaniel-kcnathaniel@ucanr.edu
Mary Emery-memery2@unl.edu
Matt Calvert-matt.calvert@wisc.edu
Steve Henness-henness@Missouri.edu
Todd Johnson-todd.johnson@wisc.edu

Brief Summary of Minutes

See notes available here

The 2023-2024 annual meeting was held virtually. During the meeting we discussed the recent news of our renewal for another 5 years on this project. Discussions centered around new directions for the team and establishing work teams to focus the creation of tools and development of instruments to measure the development of Social Capital. One of the main topics centered around the need to create evaluation tools that can be utilized by colleagues looking to measure their programs impact on social capital development. Some examples that were discussed included Ripple Effect Mapping, training for youth as evaluators and materials for program extenders like volunteers and partners.

The team also discussed dividing into two sub-teams to tackle projects that interest individual members. This was an approach we used a few years ago and provided the team an opportunity to address multiple projects and allowed members to work on projects that were aligned with individual interests. The teams will report back at scheduled monthly meetings. One team will focus on tools for practitioners for implementation and evaluation and another team will explore grant funding opportunities to expand the research to programming happening around the country.

Accomplishments

Currently, our team consists of 6 states: California, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, as well as some individuals retired from their positions, but still interested in the work. We have developed a list of contacts through our presentations that we will use in the future to expand the reach of our team's research.  Short-term Outcomes: The team finalized the publication and release of Building Social Capital on Purpose: A Toolkit for Youth and Community Development Professionals.  The Toolkit was reviewed and approved as a supplementary resource through the National 4-H Peer Review process.  It has been subsequently set up as a free digital download on the shop4-H.org site: <a href="https://shop4-h.org/products/building-social-capital-on-purpose-a-toolkit-for-youth-and-community-development-professionals?srsltid=AfmBOorFtqQt0HW80DI304JJTUw90ui1Aig8EQO12pkWj3UIewXd1ssH">https://shop4-h.org/products/building-social-capital-on-purpose-a-toolkit-for-youth-and-community-development-professionals</a>. In January 2024, two team members presented a National 4-H Meet the Authors webinar, introducing the resource to a national audience of youth development professionals.  Over 110 pre-registered for the session and more than 30 attended live: <a href="https://shop4-h.org/pages/meet-the-author-webinars">https://shop4-h.org/pages/meet-the-author-webinars</a>  Our group has continued to have presentations accepted at national conferences. Our team continues to share our work locally, within our states and nationally in an effort to spread knowledge of promising program practices. The focus of our presentations over the past year at the NAE4-HYDP National Conference in Pittsburgh (2023) and again at the Community Development Society Conference in Omaha (2024) centered around the second toolkit that our team published last year on how to intentionally incorporate practices into 4-H programming that help youth develop social capital. Some of our team members have had publications and presentations within their states (see below).  Some of these presentations have allowed us to expand the audience into other fields. For example, Klemme and Johnson presented their work this past year to the Wisconsin Association of Parks and Recreation Department. This is a group that traditionally programs for youth and was interested more in the concept of engaging youth in program plan and park design.  For the CDS session in Omaha, four team members related an integrated youth/community development model and other Toolkit topics to their programming in areas of youth in governance, rural community development, community design/place-making, and community entrepreneurial ecosystems. Among the 10 session attendees were a mayor, a U.S. Census state data center director, a national community program coach/trainer, and an international community development practitioner.  These presentations have allowed us to connect with colleagues from around the country and even internationally in both the youth development and community development arenas. We hope to engage this network in the next 5 years to pilot programming, evaluation and collect case studies. Anderson, C., Nathaniel, K., & Klemme, N. (2023). Building Youth and Community Social Capital on Purpose: A Toolkit for Youth and Community Development Professionals. National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals. Pittsburgh, PA. Henness, S. (MO), and Anderson, C. (MD) (2024). Building Social Capital on Purpose: A Toolkit for Youth and Community Development Professionals. Meet the Author(s) Webinar. National 4-H Council. Henness, S. (MO), Calvert, M. (WI), Emery, M. (NE), & Johnson, T. (WI) (2024). Building Social Capital on Purpose: A Toolkit for Youth and Community Development Professionals. Community Development Society, Omaha NE. Outputs:  We continue to maintain a public website to disseminate our project and share relevant resources - <a href="https://4h-social-capital.extension.org/">https://4h-social-capital.extension.org/</a>. This website underwent an overhaul in the past year. All links were updated and recent team publications and presentations were added to the site.  The site includes a link to a Google form where 4-H and CD Extension professionals and other potential collaborators can express interest and learn how to become involved in NCERA 215 meetings and activities. A program planning/reporting template from the Building Social Capital on Purpose Toolkit (Section 9) was set up as a survey form in Qualtrics. The template provides a tool for practitioners to integrate social capital into new or existing programs, and as a resource for use in program planning, development, evaluation and reporting. The template can facilitate NCERA 215 team members and others in sharing program examples and starting to build a collection of social capital cases. Activities:  NCERA 215 members from WI completed a grant application in 2024 entitled Rural Youth Community Corps, that would have created a model for programming that intentionally builds opportunities for social capital development for youth in communities around WI. The program proposal implemented aspects of a program that would develop youth social capital through building connections to places and the people in those places. Although we didn’t receive the funding this application created the groundwork for the NCERA 215 team to use in the future as we look to apply for other funding in the next 5 years of our project to evaluate the aspects of programming that helps youth develop their own social capital. This will be the focus of one of our team's subgroups moving forward. One team member is working with colleagues to evaluate civic engagement programming. Using Restorative Justice program and Youth in Governance program participants as subjects, focus group interviews were conducted and results were coded to determine emergent themes. Responses in this study included results coded as social capital and a paper is being written to report the results of the study.

Publications

In addition to the presentations listed above, the following publications and presentations have involved one or more members of our group: Klemme, N. (2023). Empowering Youth to Transform Communities. Lake Mills Recreation Department, Badger Talks, Lake Mills, WI. Klemme, N. (2023). Building Social Capital Through 4-H Programming. Lakeview Community Center, Badger Talk, Random Lake, WI. Klemme N., Johnson, T. (2023) Empowering Youth in Community Design. 2023 All-Colleague Conference. Madison, WI. Klemme N., Johnson, T. (2024) Engaging Youth to Transform Communities. 2024 Wisconsin Parks and Recreation Department Association Conference. Lacrosse, W Henness, S. (2023). Real-World Learning, Entrepreneurial Mindset,,,, and Yotuh Social Capital: A CEO Program Case Study. Community Development Society. Portland, OR.

Impact Statements

In 2023 team members were asked to present on their work with youth engagement in community design and the impact these programs have on the development of youth social capital. Empowering youth to Transform Communities was given at a regional parks and recreation department meeting. The talk focused on the impact his program has on building connections between youth and adult leaders in the community. As a result of that presentation, he was invited with a second member of NCERA 215 to share their work with youth engagement in community design at the statewide Wisconsin Association of Parks and Recreation Department Conference. These sessions were attended by more than 40 parks and recreations professionals from around the state of WI. An NCERA 215 team member’s post on LinkedIn about the release of the Building Social Capital on Purpose Toolkit yielded over 2,200 impressions, 69 reactions, 17 comments, and 7 reposts from followers. The breadth of response from university extension faculty, higher education administrators, career & technical education leaders, youth development organizations, government agency representatives, educators, community and economic developers, consultants, and evaluators confirmed the relevance and timeliness of the Toolkit topics for professionals working on youth and community outcomes in various sectors. 4-H Social Capital website (extension.org) analytics included 55 Toolkit downloads in the first month of release. Total downloads of Toolkit 1 over the past year were 16, and the total downloads for toolkit 2 were 86. The website analytics showed that we had the following visits and views over the past 4 years: 2021 - 216 views, 62 visitors 2022 - 243 views, 95 visitors 2023 - 1683 views, 431 visitors 2024 - 833 views, 464 visitors