Please pass this to our youth.
Evelyn Garrison
Registration Open for the 2016 Culturally-based Youth Leadership Accelerators, Ujima and Maize
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H is excited to offer two Culturally-based Youth Leadership Accelerators (CYLA) for all Iowa youth in grades 8-11. True to the quote, “Often it is not about teaching youth something new, but about connecting youth to something ancient – their roots”, these accelerators are designed to provide all youth with an opportunity to utilize cultural history and achievements as a gateway to learning more about 4-H along with facilitating aspirations for higher education. Two 3-day retreats will be offered this year, Maize and Ujima. Maize which means corn and has its origins in Mesoamerica, now in its second year, will be held April 22-24 and is conducted through a Latin@ / Native American narrative. The Ujima Retreat which means “collective work and responsibility” in Swahili, is a new accelerator offered this year and will be conducted through an African / African-American narrative. Ujima will be held April 15th – 17th.
The objective of the accelerators is to provide an ongoing hands-on educational learning experience and culturally rich environment for youth to:
- Lead their own education and learning
- Learn more about their rich cultural history
- See themselves as academic leaders in Iowa
- See value in being contributing citizens in their local communities
- Develop lifelong interests and pursuits of higher education in the fields of STEM, Citizenship and Leadership, Healthy Living, and Communication and the Arts.
The retreats will begin on the Iowa State University campus in Ames where youth will meet with Iowa State University colleges and departments to learn more about potential majors and career opportunities, in addition to touring campus. Youth will then participate in camping experiences, culturally-based workshops that focus on the 4-H priority topics of Healthy Living, STEM, Citizenship and Leadership, Communication and the Arts for the remainder of the retreat at the Iowa 4-H Center in Madrid. In fact there will be 20 workshops offered for youth to choose from the Saturday of each retreat. These workshops will include a combination of the following: Break Dancing 101, Animal Ecology and Small Mammal Trapping, African Dance, Aztec Dance, Liberian History and it’s Connection to America, History of the Aztec Sun Stone / Calendar, Aztec story-telling, African Drumming, Precolonial Architecture, Leadership 101, Rock Wall Climbing, Archery, Ancestors and Activism, Afro-Latina/o Music Influences, Manipuliscious: Targeted Populations, and many more! The retreat will conclude on the Iowa State University campus with a closing reception.
These retreats are being held in partnership with various community organizations such as Al Exito, Genesis Inc., Najah Tutoring Services, Omeyocan Dance Company, Gateway Dance Theater, among many more.
In addition to opening registration for all youth, the Iowa 4-H Youth Development program is looking for volunteers and workshops facilitators to support both the Ujima and Maize Retreats.
Finally, we are still looking for youth to enroll. Please help us promote and spread the word about both these exciting retreats! I have attached marketing materials, however additional registration information and promotional resources can be found on the Culturally-based Youth Leadership Accelerators webpage: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/page/events/maize-retreat. The retreat is free for youth who enroll in 4-H as part of their registrations but is $350 for non-registered 4-H participants. Transportation will be provided. Please contact Frank Dunn-Young with any questions or assistance in getting youth registered at fad...@iastate.edu or 515-635-4334.
Frank Dunn-Young, M.C.R.P.|
Polk County 4-H Youth Development Field Specialist II
Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
Polk County Extension
1625 Adventureland Drive, Ste. A
Altoona, Iowa 50009
fadunn @iastate.edu
Serving Region 13: Polk County
Cynthia Hunafa
Greetings,
This is an excellent for youth in grades 8 – 11 . Please pass on this info and encourage participation. Thanks!
Cynthia Hunafa | Chief Operations Officer (COO)
Creative Visions
1343 13th Street | Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 244-4003 x117 | (515) 323-3310 [fax]