Durham works with 'junior' leaders

By Peggy Kernodle
Junior Leadership Durham 4-H

Junior Leadership Durham 4H (JLD-4H) is designed to provide high school sophomores with in-depth knowledge of the Durham community, and to promote active civic engagement through stimulating leadership and volunteer opportunities. The special interest club is intended to also support many N.C. Department of Public Instruction Civics curriculum objectives through the activities and scenarios JLD-4H youth are involved in throughout the eight planned experiential sessions.

General JLD-4H Club goals include:

• developing citizenship and leadership skills to serve and lead others;
• increasing volunteerism among high school students;
• fostering more involvement in teens through leadership by promoting communication between students from different high schools in Durham;
• increasing youths' awareness of diverse community needs and resources; and
• exposing youths to various careers and volunteer leadership opportunities.

This valuable experience empowers teens to find and to nurture their leadership skills while increasing their confidence by applying leadership in Durham. The Government and Citizenship session particularly focuses on participation in government. Durham county and city governments support the effort and alternate hosting the event.

"Durham County Government continues to be an ardent supporter of Junior Leadership Durham as leaders work to provide critical leadership development and civic education for our local students," said Deborah Craig-Ray, assistant county manager for communications. "It is a premier program for young people in our community."

Students receive an overview of city and county governments by the city and county managers. Students then shadow a department head to understand that department's mission and report their experiences to the other students. Participants inquire how a chosen problem might affect each department; this year, students brainstormed adaptations to decreased departmental budgets.

The students also participate in a mock city-county meeting to address a community concern. This year, the concern was environmentally based: "Should plastic shopping bags be banned?" Research was done prior to the session, and students were given a presentation by the city-county sustainability director. Students are assigned roles such as staff, city council members, county commissioners and citizens (pro and con). Available elected officials attend to encourage students and to guide the mock process.

Students who participate in this and the other JLD-4H sessions and outreach projects will gain a fundamental understanding of the politics and workings of Durham and what the important issues are. They will get to meet, ask questions of, and interact with Durham's leadership. They will also have the opportunity to develop friendships across Durham with students in different high schools and from different socio-economic, ethnic and philosophical backgrounds.

Building diverse relationships and learning about others will enrich each individual and promote growth. In order to receive the full benefit of the program, students must prepare for sessions and actively participate. Students are required to complete a community service project, and can apply their individual focus to a 4-H project or presentation. Small groups of four choose projects specific to session topics.