Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

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): 

• Project and research teams continue with 70% attendance on monthly calls and 90% attendance at yearly virtual meeting(s). 

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:

• To determine 4-H experiences that contribute to the development of youths' social capital. 
• 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 
• 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

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; 

• Team reports findings through white papers, reports to practitioners, and an article that has been submitted to the Journal of Youth Development. 
• Team identifies additional opportunities to conduct investigation with Cooperative Extension and other community and youth development practitioners and participants. 

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:

• Team continues data collection and continues to analyze data; 

• Team reports findings through white papers, reports to practitioners, and an article that has been submitted to the Journal of Youth Development. 
• Team identifies additional opportunities to conduct investigation with Cooperative Extension and other community and youth development practitioners and participants. 

Objective 4: 

To improve the quality of community youth development practice in the Extension system and beyond by:

• Disseminating research findings 
• Creating and delivering training modules on effective program practices.
• Developing Toolkits with practical tools for educators

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: 

• NAE4HA presentation accepted for 2020 
• National 4-H Conference Adult Chaperone presentation
• State professional development efforts: Wisconsin, Missouri, Maryland, New York, Oregon, California
• Statewide programs that include social capital principles:
• Maryland 4-H Issue Forum: Water Access & Quality (transitioned to a virtual platform)
• Wisconsin First Impressions
• Wisconsin’s Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership Conference participants tracked their relationship-building change during a conference weekend. 
• 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)
• Minnesota’s YELLO state leadership conference
• Minnesota’s Ambassador programs at the county, tribal, and state level
• Missouri Youth Civic Leaders Summit

Journal Articles

• 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.  LINK HERE

Curricula

• 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

Curricula in Progress

• Henness, S., Anderson, C., Nathaniel, K., Kantor, D., Baker, B., Toolkit 2.0

Book in Progress

• 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. 

Presentations

• Klemme, N., (2019). Do you Know Why Your Community is Awesome. Wisconsin 4-H Fall Forum, Green Lake, WI. 
• Klemme, N., (2019). Placemaking and Community Capitals. NICER, Northern Iron County Engaged Residents Workshop Meeting. Hurley, WI.
• Klemme, N., (2020). Social Capital and Positive Youth Development. Statewide Positive Youth Development Monthly Meeting. 
• Nathaniel, K. (2019). Using Social Capital For Your Academic Success:  The DNA of Social Capital. Southwest Community College, Los Angeles, CA.

Invited presentations

• 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). 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. & 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)
• Henness, S. & Gulick, S. (2019). Community capitals: assets and opportunities. Warsaw, MO. Carrollton, MO. Cape Girardeau, MO. (Invited by Missouri Training Institute)
• Henness, S. (2020). Youth engagement in your community: we’re better together!  Columbia (MO) Neighborhood Leadership Academy (Invited by the Academy program coordinator)

Upcoming presentations 

• NAE4HA 2020 - Steve, Chris, Keith, Debra
• Cancelled due to COVID19 - N4HC fall 2020 - Neil, Steve, Chris, Jacquie