Progress 07/01/11 to 06/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:High need, at-risk youth, ages 14-18 in Binghamton, Rochester and Syracuse, New York Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?All project staff and community partners have participated in trainings and professional development opportunities throughout the reporting period. These include the Youth Development Research Update at Cornell University; Youth Community Action (YCA) trainings; Cornell Cooperative Extension's Diversity Training; technology, social media and website development trainings; New York State 4-H Educators Conference; New York Association of Training and Employment Professional (NYATEP) Conference; Family Violence Prevention Council; PhotoVoice; 4-H Career Explorations; Choose Your Own Service Learning Adventure; and Model United Nations Conference at Cornell University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The CITIZEN U e-newsletter is published and distributed each month. The CITIZEN U e-Newsletter has a circulation over 425 and contains "Project Updates" from Cornell University as well as Broome, Monroe and Onondaga counties, "Youth Voice News," "Upcoming Events," "CYFAR and CYFERnet News," "Check This Out!" and "$$ Grant Opportunities $$" a feature aimed at fostering sustainability. Media releases are routinely sent to local media outlets in Binghamton, Rochester and Syracuse; newspaper and television coverage of the events has been very positive and has helped promote the success of the program and local/county partnerships. The community sites maintain Facebook sites for the CITIZEN U Teen Leaders to share information about their projects and promote the program. CITIZEN U's website is updated frequently. Twitter and Facebook are used, as appropriate, to promote various events in the counties. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The most significant accomplishment of CITIZEN U is that it has been fully sustained in Binghamton, Broome County and Rochester, Monroe County. In Binghamton, CITIZEN U is sustained through a grant from the City of Binghamton's Community Development Block Grant program. In addition, the CITIZEN U team in Broome County received a two-year grant from the United Way of Broome County and the Community Foundation for South Central New York to work intensively with targeted community agencies to develop their youth workers' skills in developing Youth Community Action (YCA) programs, promote interagency collaborations and utilize CYFAR principles for community-based programming. The Broome County Youth Collaborative has successfully sustained and institutionalized CITIZEN U's YCA program model in several Broome County youth-serving organizations (e.g., Boys and Girls Club of Western Broome, Binghamton YMCA Afterschool Program, OASIS Afterschool Program, Binghamton University's Liberty Partnership Program and the Binghamton Housing Authority's Gang Prevention Program. In Monroe County, the greatest success in terms of sustainability is that the City of Rochester has fully sustained the CITIZEN U program model. CITIZEN U's program model has been adopted by the City of Rochester, independent of CCE Monroe's involvement. In addition, CITIZEN U's model has been sustained and integrated into CCE Monroe's traditional 4-H Youth Development Program. Statistically significant results were shown for all Leadership Development variables. Nearly 91% feel equipped to create a plan addressing a community problem; 87.5% can identify individuals or groups who could help them address a community problem; 78.8% of the Teen Leaders can express their views in front of a group of people; 78.8% can get others to care about the community problem; 72.8% can organize and run a meeting; 78.7% can call someone they have never met to get help addressing a community problem; 66.6% can contact an elected official about a community problem; and 69.7% can organize a petition. In addition to the CYFAR Common Measures instrument, interviews were conducted with the teens. The interviews indicate strong gains in desire to pursue college and advanced degrees, connectedness to the community, self-esteem and self-confidence, as well as abilities to network with community leaders and government officials to accomplish community improvement projects. Paired t-tests were used to determine statistical significance between the pre- and posttests. Statistically significant results were shown for all civic engagement-related variables. Nearly 91% feel equipped to create a plan addressing a community problem; 87.5% can identify individuals or groups who could help them address a community problem; 78.8% of the Teen Leaders can express their views in front of a group of people; 78.8% can get others to care about the community problem; 72.8% can organize and run a meeting; 78.7% can call someone they have never met to get help addressing a community problem; 66.6% can contact an elected official about a community problem; and 69.7% can organize a petition. In addition to the CYFAR Common Measures instrument, interviews were conducted with the teens. The interviews indicate strong gains in desire to pursue college and advanced degrees, connectedness to the community, self-esteem and self-confidence, as well as abilities to network with community leaders and government officials to accomplish community improvement projects. Statistically significant results were shown for variables 1 "I contact experts and gather as much information as possible before making decisions about my education" (78.8% completely or mostly agreed); 4 "Once I have decided what kind of work I want to do, I know how to go about getting it" (84.4% completely or mostly agreed); 5 "I can compare and look carefully at the various ideas I develop (90.3% completely or mostly agreed); 7 "When it is time to make an important educational or occupational decision, I am able to develop an appropriate plan of action" (72.8% completely or mostly agreed); 8 "When it comes to solving a problem, I consider all of the things that are part of the problem before deciding what to do" (84.8% completely or mostly agreed); 10 "I can tell the differences between talk that is backed up by facts and talk that is not backed up by anything" (78.8% completely or mostly agreed); 11 "I use information I gather to help me develop several different ways to solve a problem" (90.9% completely or mostly agreed); 13 "I am able to solve problems through the use of logic" (81.3% completely or mostly agreed); 14 "I know how my actions and decisions will affect my occupational choice" (90.9% completely or mostly agreed); and 15 "In exploring the kind of work I might want to do, I get information about it, talk to people who work at it, and get a part-time job that is like the work I am considering" (78.8% completely or mostly agreed). In addition, the interview data showed positive growth among the Teen Leaders in terms of developing positive attitudes about their abilities to make contributions to their community and create sustainable positive changes. Through their paid summer employment and internships, all of the Teen Leaders reported increased sense of self-efficacy, self-confidence and desire to pursue college educations. In addition, the results of CITIZEN U's Summer 2015 Employment Survey indicated that a strong majority of the Teen Leaders learned or improved the skills that today's employers are looking for when they hire new employees. The top skills learned or improved in through CITIZEN U's summer employment were: planning skills (93.3%); money management/budgeting (93.3%); healthy living skills (93.3%); leadership skills (93.3%); how to work with young children (93.3%); nutrition education (86.7%); organization skills (80.0%); public speaking skills (80.0%); communication skills (80.0%); how to work with adults (80.0%); time management skills?(80.0%); community development (73.3%); problem-solving skills (66.7%); and decision-making skills (66.7%).
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Human Ecology Magazine: http://issuu.com/humec_comm/docs/hemag_fall2015?e=5110236/5957654#222222
The Power of You at Cornell Universitys Extension Reconsidered event. See recording: http://youtu.be/wPPn7OGF6us
New York Association of Training & Employment Professionals 2014 Summer Youth Profiles (Juwan): http://nyatep.wix.com/nysummeryouth#!Juwan,%2018/zoom/cfyq/image_yhb
New York Association of Training & Employment Professionals 2014 Summer Youth Profiles (Nosa): http://nyatep.wix.com/nysummeryouth#!Nosa,%2017/zoom/cfyq/image_1lvz
Nosas interview on NPR at WSKG Public Broadcasting: http://wskgnews.org/post/binghamton-student-honored-4-h-work
Children, Youth and Families Education and Research Networks (CYFERnet) spotlight feature and watch the video that Nosa submitted for the 4-H Youth in Action Award at: https://cyfernetsearch.org/share
CITIZEN U Teen Leaders at the 4-H Congressional Breakfast on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
http://www.4-h.org/4-H-Today/4-H-Celebrates-Youth-Empowerment-at-Congressional-Breakfast/
Food Dignity Tour
http://www.worldfoodprize.org/index.cfm?nodeID=25842&audienceID=1
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Green-Guerrillas-Youth-Media-Tech-Collective/315921807964
American Graduate Day
http://www.americangraduate.org/resources/upcoming-events-and-premieres/american-graduate-day-2015/
#RESPECT
http://vimeo.com/70126936
CITIZEN U Public Service Announcement
https://vimeo.com/39953855
Outta the Box Science that Rocks
https://vimeo.com/77916268
Underrepresented Youth See Science as Ticket Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ9NvdrxnIs
CITIZEN U at Work
http://vimeo.com/103382517
Why I Love Farming in Broome County
https://vimeo.com/103380146
CCE Broomes 4-H Summer Camps 2014
https://vimeo.com/103388549
|
Progress 07/01/14 to 06/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience: High need, at-risk youth, ages 14-18 in Binghamton and Rochester, New York Changes/Problems: A change in scope was requested and approved by NIFA due to CCE Monroe's decision to not continue with CITIZEN U (after the end of Year 4 which terms 6/30/2015). The request was contained in a letter dated 03/31/15 and approved on 04/07/15, Sondra Watkins, Authorized Departmental Officer, Kristin Abernathy, Administrative Point of Contact, and Bonita Williams, Program Point of Contact. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? All community partners have participated in trainings and professional development opportunities throughout the reporting period. These include the Youth Development Research Update at Cornell University; Youth Community Action (YCA) trainings; Cornell Cooperative Extension's Diversity Training; technology, social media and website development trainings; New York State 4-H Educators Conference; New York Association of Training and Employment Professional (NYATEP) Conference; Family Violence Prevention Council; PhotoVoice; 4-H Career Explorations; Choose Your Own Service Learning Adventure; and Model United Nations Conference at Cornell University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The CITIZEN U e-newsletter is published and distributed each month. The CITIZEN U e-Newsletter has a circulation over 425 and contains "Project Updates" from Cornell University as well as Broome and Monroe counties, "Youth Voice News," "Upcoming Events," "CYFAR and CYFERnet News," "Check This Out!" and "$$ Grant Opportunities $$" a feature aimed at fostering sustainability. Media releases are routinely sent to local media outlets in both Binghamton and Rochester; newspaper and television coverage of the events has been very positive and has helped promote the success of the program and partnerships in both Binghamton and Rochester. Both community sites (CCE Broome County and CCE Monroe County) maintain Facebook sites for the CITIZEN U Teen Leaders to share information about their projects and promote the program. CITIZEN U's website is updated frequently. Twitter and Facebook are used to promote various events in both counties. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The focus of Year 5 will shift to (a) statewide capacity building component to enhance CITIZEN U's overall sustainability goals through professional development, trainings and technical assistance statewide to the NYS/CCE 4-H educators; and (2) implementing a new community-based CITIZEN U project in the City of Syracuse by providing technical assistance, training and supports to CCE Onondaga 4-H educators and a new community partner, Mercy Works' Vision Center, Syracuse. A new CITIZEN U community-based, afterschool program will be established in one of Syracuse's poorest neighborhoods. Syracuse is the 23rd poorest city out of the 575 biggest cities in the U.S., according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Syracuse's poverty rate in 2013 was 33.2%. More than 48,000 people who live in Syracuse have incomes of less than $23,500 for a family of four. The experienced CITIZEN U project team from Broome County will mentor the new CCE Onondaga educators and provide technical assistance and professional development throughout Year 5 to ensure that CITIZEN U in Syracuse is successfully established. CCE Broome's CITIZEN U team has a well-established relationship with the Vision Center. Because of this relationship, the transition to working with the CCE Onondaga 4-H educators to implement CITIZEN U in Syracuse is expected to be smooth and without any delays normally caused by having to establish new partners and identify new program staff. CYFAR funding for CITIZEN U in Syracuse will be allocated through contracted services from the NYS 4-H Office to CCE Onondaga. During Year 5 of CITIZEN U, 7/1/2015 to 6/30/16, cohort 2, comprised of two primary, "high context" groups of teens (total of 25 to 30 teens in Broome County) will complete their second year in the project by participating in the 2015 summer employment component of CITIZEN U. During the school year, September 2015 through June 2016, cohort 2 will be complete their second year in the afterschool portion of the program. "Visiting professors" from Cornell University, local colleges/universities in Binghamton and Syracuse, as well as community experts from local organizations and businesses will conduct seminars for the Teen Leaders under CITIZEN U's six schools: Business & Entrepreneurship, Community Development, Environmental Studies, Food & Nutrition, Performing Arts, and Technology & Media Arts. CITIZEN U's "university" approach is expected to enhance teens' career and educational aspirations. To further strengthen county-campus connections and targeted program outcomes (e.g., citizenship, educational aspiration and workforce skills), Teen Leaders from the CITIZEN U projects in Binghamton and Syracuse will participate in the Food Dignity Tour and Hunger Banquet (to be held at Cornell University), 4-H Capital Days, New York State Fair and the State Teen Action Representative Retreat (STARR). County front-line staff and community partners will utilize resources and professional development opportunities from Cornell University's Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research and the New York State 4-H Youth Development Office. CITIZEN U project staff will participate in the CYFAR Professional Development Event 2016. The CCE Broome CITIZEN U staff will work closely with the 4-H educators from CCE Onondaga to replicate CITIZEN U's Youth Community Action (YCA) model program at the Vision Center in Syracuse. By actively engaging community partners in the delivery of the program and providing statewide professional development in CYFAR principles, efforts to sustain CITIZEN U will be enhanced. This sustainability approach is expected to have a multiplier effect throughout New York. In addition, the project team and Teen Leaders will work closely with the SCP Technology Specialist in the NYS 4-H State Office on the development and maintenance of the CITIZEN U website and assist the two community projects in Binghamton and Syracuse by working with county educators and community partner staff, enlisting involvement of youth in documenting their community needs, and representing the project at state and national meetings. The CITIZEN U project team from Broome County will focus its efforts on providing training and technical assistance to the project staff and youth in Onondaga County in order to ensure integration of CYFAR principles into their projects and work to ensure that statewide professional development trainings support capacity building and CITIZEN U's sustainability plans for Year 5.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the reporting period, CITIZEN U was honored as Exemplary CYFAR Project" by NIFA/USDA and as a Successful Urban 4-H Program by the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents. Year 3 of CITIZEN U was implemented successfully in Binghamton and Rochester, New York by CCE Broome County and CCE Monroe County. CCE Broome partnered with Binghamton University's Center for Civic Engagement, Boys and Girls Clubs of Binghamton, and Roberson Museum and Science Center. CCE Monroe partnered with City of Rochester, Vanguard Collegiate High School, Rochester Career Mentoring Charter School, Rochester Youth Year and the Rochester Center for Community Leadership (RCCL) at the University of Rochester. CITIZEN U focused on providing the opportunities and supports young people need in order to meet the challenges of growing up in poverty, graduate successfully from high school with increased education and career aspirations. CITIZEN U focused on sustainability efforts by building broad-based community involvement in the project, and providing a high quality, high context program experience for participants. Weekly afterschool seminars with visiting professors from local colleges, universities, businesses and community organizations began Fall 2013 and continued throughout the year. 100% of the young people who successfully completed their two-year commitment to CITIZEN U and graduated from high school are now in college. Numerous community improvement projects were completed during the reporting period. CITIZEN U Broome and Monroe lead a series of interactive stations based on the Choose Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness curriculum at the State Teen Action Representative Retreat (STARR), as part of its Eat4-Health project. Teen Leaders were employed through Community Development Block Grants from the City of Binghamton and City of Rochester and placed in summer internships or work experiences aligned with their CITIZEN U majors and college or career interests (June-September 2014). Community Integration: Using a system change approach (Jakes, 2004) in combination with strategic planning, public issues education, and opportunities for professional development, CITIZEN U focused on establishing sustainable systems changes in terms of organizational policies, infrastructure, resources, processes, and leadership structures. The projects in Broome and Monroe have worked to establish strong collaborations with local colleges and universities. Both projects have AmeriCorps volunteers and strong participation from a myriad of community agencies, businesses and industry leaders. Emphasis has focused on developing STEM projects aligned with nurturing career opportunities in STEM fields. Visiting professors from all these organizations conducted seminars during the afterschool portion of the project. Seminar topics were aligned with project goals and targeted community projects developed by the Teen Leaders. Civic engagement with local government leaders, the mayors in Binghamton and Rochester, and participation in 4-H Capital Days highlighted the Teen Leaders' commitment to becoming engaged, active community change agents. Technology Integration: Technology plays an integral role in CITIZEN U. CITIZEN U employs various tech tools in conducting community improvement projects, such as asset mapping, Photovoice, GIS/GPS, videography, website development, blogging and electronic reporting. Collaborations with local TV and radio stations are being used to promote sustainability of CITIZEN U and provide workforce development opportunities for the Teen Leaders. The SCP Technology Specialist is New York State 4-H YCA/Communications Coordinator in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, State 4-H Office. She has 15 years of experience planning, facilitating and coordinating programs focused on YCA, as well as website development and technology use. Web tools are being used to develop joint projects and promote multidisciplinary virtual seminars between county and campus. During the reporting period, the Tech Specialist conducted site visits and trainings for the project team in Broome and Monroe. The Tech Specialist worked with each of the Teen Leaders to help them develop resumes that they could use in applying for both colleges and afterschool jobs. Sustaining: Intentional efforts were made to integrate sustainability strategies throughout the reporting period. Staff are focused on establishing mechanisms and relationships to institutionalize the program into CCE 4-H and community sites through publications, community forums, statewide/regional teen summits, and participation in regional, state and national conferences. The CITIZEN U team in Broome County received a two-year grant from the United Way of Broome County and the Community Foundation for South Central New York to work intensively with five targeted community agencies to develop their youth workers' skills in developing Youth Community Action (YCA) programs, promote interagency collaborations and utilize CYFAR principles for community-based programming. The Broome County Youth Collaborative is expected to sustain and institutionalize CITIZEN U's YCA program model within Broome County and beyond through the support from the Community Foundation for South Central New York. In Monroe County, the greatest success in terms of sustainability is that the City of Rochester has fully sustained both project sites from Years 1 and 2 of CITIZEN U. The City of Rochester has hired AmeriCorps VISTA staff who were involved in CITIZEN U and trained in YCA to continue CITIZEN U. Evaluation findings are routinely shared with collaborators and used to pursue funding from new funding streams in both Broome and Monroe. Workforce skills learned by teens through their summer employment are expected to enhance both their education and career aspirations, as well as compliment community-wide sustainability efforts. The university model used by CITIZEN U is expected to improve the likelihood teens will graduate from high school and go to college. Graduation ceremonies were held in Binghamton and Rochester to celebrate the graduation of the second cadre of Teen Leaders 2012-2014. The celebrations were indeed warranted, as 100% of the CITIZEN U Teen Leaders who completed their two years in CITIZEN U and graduated successfully from high school were accepted to and have begun college, at a variety of two- and four-year institutions with full or partial scholarships. In addition, an unexpected outcome of the project's focus on civic engagement has been that many of the teens report wanting to stay in the community since becoming invested in their various community improvement projects. One of the original Teen Leaders in completed SCP (2006-2011) Community Improvement Through Youth (CITY) Project, was hired as a workforce development program educator at CCE Broome County in their Step-Up Program, an out-of-school workforce preparation program funded by Workforce New York. This points to CITIZEN U having a positive economic impact. Lastly, CITIZEN U initiated a new component focused on sustainability by hosting its first Alumni Café for graduates of the program now attending local colleges. The idea is to support these young people in making a successful transition from high school to college and beyond.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
#RESPECT
http://vimeo.com/70126936
CITIZEN U Public Service Announcement
https://vimeo.com/39953855
Outta the Box Science that Rocks
https://vimeo.com/77916268
Underrepresented Youth See Science as Ticket Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ9NvdrxnIs
CITIZEN U at Work
http://vimeo.com/103382517
Why I Love Farming in Broome County
https://vimeo.com/103380146
CCE Broomes 4-H Summer Camps 2014
https://vimeo.com/103388549
|
Progress 07/01/13 to 06/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: High need, at-risk youth, ages 14-18 in Binghamton and Rochester, New York Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? All community partners have participated in trainings and professional development opportunities throughout the reporting period. These include the Youth Development Research Update at Cornell University; Youth Community Action (YCA) trainings; Cornell Cooperative Extension's Diversity Training; technology, social media and website development trainings; New York State 4-H Educators Conference; New York Association of Training and Employment Professional (NYATEP) Conference;Family Violence Prevention Council; PhotoVoice; 4-HCareer Explorations;Choose Your Own Service Learning Adventure; andModel United Nations Conference at Cornell University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Media releases are routinely sent to local media outlets in both Binghamton and Rochester; newspaper and television coverage of the events has been very positive and has helped promote the success of the program and partnerships in both Binghamton and Rochester. Both community sites (CCE Broome County and CCE Monroe County) maintain Facebook sites for the CITIZEN U Teen Leaders to share information about their projects and promote the program. CITIZEN U's website is updated frequently. Twitter is used to promote various events in both counties. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? During Year 4 of CITIZEN U, 7/1/2014 to 6/30/15, cohort 2, comprised of two primary, “high context” groups of teens (two groups or a total of 25 to 30 teens in Broome County and two groups or a total of 25 to 30 teens in Monroe County), will complete their first year in the project by participating in the 2014 summer employment component of CITIZEN U. During the school year, September 2014 through June 2015, cohort 2 will be complete their second year in the afterschool portion of the program and prepare for summer employment and community projects during summer 2015. Cohort 2 in Broome County and Monroe County will complete their two-year commitment to CITIZEN U in fall 2015. "Visiting professors" from Cornell University, local colleges/universities in Broome and Monroe Counties, as well as community experts from local organizations and businesses will conduct seminars for the Teen Leaders under CITIZEN U’s six schools: Business & Entrepreneurship, Community Development, Environmental Studies, Food & Nutrition, Performing Arts, and Technology & Media Arts. CITIZEN U’s “university” approach is expected to enhance teens’ career and educational aspirations. To strengthen county-campus connections and targeted program outcomes (e.g., citizenship, educational aspiration and workforce skills), the Teen Leaders will become 4-H Club members, elect officers, and participate in 4-H Capital Days, 4-H Career Explorations, New York State Fair and the State Teen Action Representative Retreat (STARR). County front-line staff and community partners will utilize resources and professional development opportunities from Cornell University’s Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research and CYFERnet. Staff will participate in the CYFAR Professional Development Workshop. Teen Leaders will be encouraged to use CYFERnet resources to inform their community projects. CCE Broome staff will continue mentoring the CCE Monroe staff. By actively engaging community partners in the delivery of the program, efforts to sustain CITIZEN U will be enhanced in the partners’ organizations. This sustainability approach is expected to have a multiplier effect in the targeted communities. Throughout the project, the project team and Teen Leaders will work closely with the SCP Technology Specialist on the project website. To mirror the “university” environment of CITIZEN U, the website includes a “Yearbook” section (highlighting the teens’ post-high school graduation and career aspirations) and a “Portfolio” section which will house photos, videos and descriptions of completed community improvement projects for each of the Teen Leaders. The process of developing the Teen Leaders’ electronic portfolios is expected to enhance their technology, workforce readiness skills, career and college aspirations. 
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Year 2 of CITIZEN U was implemented successfully by CCE Broome County and CCE Monroe County. CCE Broome partnered with Binghamton Housing Authority, City of Binghamton and Binghamton University’s Center for Civic Engagement. CCE Monroe partnered with the City of Rochester, Southeast and Southwest Quadrant Neighborhood Service Centers. CITIZEN U focused on providing the opportunities and supports young people need in order to meet the challenges of growing up in poverty, graduate successfully from high school with increased education and career aspirations. Implementation focused on establishing the foundation for sustaining CITIZEN U through broad-based community involvement in the project, while simultaneously providing a high quality, high context program experience for participants. Weekly afterschool seminars with visiting professors from local colleges, universities, businesses and community organizations began in September 2012. In July 2013, the Teen Leaders were employed through Community Development Block Grants received from the City of Binghamton and City of Rochester and placed in summer internships or work experiences aligned with their CITIZEN U majors and college or career interests. In Broome County, several major projects, planned during the school year, were completed: Say Yes to Healthy Lifestyles” health fair at Theodore Roosevelt High School in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Eat4-Health grant and UnitedHealthcare; production of #RESPECT, a PSA on healthy relationships; “#RespectTheBlueBin” recycling project with All County Used Clothes; and “Outta the Box Science that Rocks” at the Roberson Museum and Science Center. In Monroe County, “Positive Tickets,” helped recognize both youth and adults for the good things they do to help their community. The other major community project was Cardboard City, a service-learning project designed to build awareness in the community about runaway and homeless issues. The CITIZEN U Teen Leaders worked with other youth-serving agencies to facilitate youth-led workshops designed to give participants a better understanding of the realities of runaway and homeless experiences. Community Integration: The projects in Broome and Monroe have established collaborations with local colleges and universities. Both projects have AmeriCorps volunteers and strong participation from a myriad of community agencies and business. Visiting professors from all these organizations conducted seminars during the afterschool portion of the project. Seminar topics were aligned with project goals and targeted community projects developed by the Teen Leaders. Civic engagement with local government leaders, the mayors in Binghamton and Rochester, and participation in 4-H Capital Days highlighted the Teen Leaders’ commitment to becoming engaged, active community change agents. Technology Integration: CITIZEN U employs various tech tools in conducting community improvement projects, such as asset mapping, Photovoice, GIS/GPS, videography, website development, blogging and electronic reporting. Collaborations with local TV and radio stations are being used to promote sustainability of CITIZEN U and provide workforce development opportunities for the Teen Leaders. The SCP Technology Specialist is New York State 4-H YCA/Communications Coordinator in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, State 4-H Office. Web tools are being used to develop joint projects and promote multidisciplinary virtual seminars between county and campus. The Tech Specialist worked with each of the Teen Leaders to help them develop resumes that they could use in applying for both colleges and afterschool jobs. Both sites are using videography to document their projects. A web-based reporting template is used monthly to collect information for the CITIZEN U e-newsletter, distributed to over 425 educators and partners throughout New York and nationally. Sustaining: Intentional efforts were made to integrate sustainability strategies throughout the reporting period. Staff are focused on establishing mechanisms and relationships to institutionalize the program into CCE 4-H and community sites through publications, community forums, statewide/regional teen summits, and participation in regional, state and national conferences. The CITIZEN U e-Newsletter has a circulation over 425 and contains "Project Updates" from Cornell University as well as Broome and Monroe counties, "Youth Voice News," "Upcoming Events," "CYFAR and CYFERnet News," "Check This Out!" and "$$ Grant Opportunities $$" a feature aimed at fostering sustainability. Recently the CITIZEN U team in Broome County received a two-year grant from the United Way of Broome County to work intensively with five targeted community agencies to develop their youth workers’ skills in developing YCA programs, promote interagency collaborations and utilize CYFAR principles for community-based programming. The Youth Collaborative is expected to sustain and institutionalize CITIZEN U’s YCA program model. Workforce skills learned by teens through their summer employment are expected to enhance both their education and career aspirations, as well as compliment community-wide sustainability efforts. The university model used by CITIZEN U is expected to improve the likelihood teens will graduate from high school and go to college. Graduation ceremonies were held to celebrate the graduation of the first cadre of Teen Leaders 2011-2013, and 100% of the CITIZEN U Teen Leaders who completed their two years in CITIZEN U and graduated successfully from high school were accepted to and have begun college, at a variety of two- and four-year institutions.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Boscia, T. (2013). "Serious About STEM". Human Ecology Magazine, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University. 41(2), 9-11.
|
Progress 07/01/12 to 06/30/13
Outputs
OUTPUTS: CITIZEN U was implemented successfully in Binghamton and Rochester, New York by Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Broome County and CCE Monroe County, respectively. CCE Broome partnered with Binghamton Housing Authority, City of Binghamton and Binghamton University's Center for Civic Engagement. CCE Monroe partnered with the City of Rochester, Southeast and Southwest Quadrant Neighborhood Service Centers. CITIZEN U focused on providing the opportunities and supports young people need in order to meet the challenges of growing up in poverty, graduate successfully from high school and go on to college and careers, equipped to be contributing members of the community. Implementation focused on establishing the foundation for sustaining CITIZEN U through broad-based community involvement in the project, while simultaneously providing a high quality, high context program experience for participants. Weekly afterschool seminars with visiting professors from local colleges, universities, businesses and community organizations were conducted. Numerous community improvement projects were conducted throughout the reporting period. The CITIZEN U Teen Leaders were employed during the summer of 2012 through Community Development Block Grants received from the City of Binghamton and City of Rochester. Summer employment projects in Binghamton included conducting a series of science, engineering and technology camps for disadvantaged youth living in two public housing complexes, building of a community park and completion of Teen Interactive Theater Education training. Summer employment in Rochester involved the targeted placement of each of the Teen Leaders in part-time jobs aligned with their CITIZEN U majors at various community agencies and businesses. CITIZEN U received a grant from Youth Services American and Global Youth Service Day 2013 to conduct projects in Broome and Monroe counties focused on healthy lifestyles and civic engagement, as well as a grant from National 4-H Council and United Healthcare to conduct nutrition education programming through Cornell University's Eat4-Health program and curricula. Civic engagement with local government leaders, the mayors in Binghamton and Rochester, and participation in 4-H Capital Days 2013 highlighted the Teen Leaders' commitment to becoming engaged, active community change agents. In Broome County, CITIZEN U has trained 24 teens in 4-H Public Adventures, established 20 community collaborations and completed 24 community projects. In Monroe County, CITIZEN U has trained 24 teens in 4-H Public Adventures, established 19 community collaborations and completed 23 community projects. PARTICIPANTS: June P. Mead, State Project Director & Evaluator, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Broome County Jamila Simon, Technology Coordinator, State 4-H Office, Cornell University Vicki Giarratano, Community Project Director, CCE Broome County Kelly Mabee, Community Project Coordinator, CCE Broome County Amie Matichak, Community Project Director, CCE Monroe County Keith James Alexander, Community Project Coordinator, CCE Monroe County TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
CITIZEN U was designated as a Successful Urban 4-H Program by the NAE4-HA Urban 4-H Programming Task Force, and featured at the NAE4-HA National Conference, October 2012. A logic model was developed to demonstrate how program resources and activities lead to desired results. Progress toward and accomplishment of these results is reported annually through the CYFAR Reporting System. CITIZEN U employs a participatory evaluation approach in that project staff and teens have a strong voice in instrument design, data collection, data analysis, and reporting. CITIZEN U Teen Leaders are actively engaged in the evaluation process and are learning research and evaluation skills through their community service projects. For example, CITIZEN U Teen Leaders have learned how to develop survey questions, have developed their own survey questionnaires, conducted needs assessment surveys, analyzed the data, and reported the results at various community forums and presentations. Giving youth responsible roles in evaluating the project is intentional, paralleling the project's overall goal of increasing youth voice, civic engagement and workforce preparation. On-site evaluation training, professional development and technical assistance are provided throughout the project by the project evaluator who works closely with the teens and staff. In addition, CITIZEN U Teen Leaders have developed their own project websites and have access to online evaluation reporting through the project's blog-style website. CITIZEN U evaluates the extent to which the project has been successful in increasing leadership and workforce readiness skills among the Teen Leaders by using vetted instruments from CYFERnet: SEARCH http://cyfernetsearch.org/ The CYFAR Common Measures for leadership skills and civic engagement are administered as a pre- and post-test. Paired t-tests showed statistically significant results for two of the Leadership Development variables (items 3, "Organize and run a meeting" and 9, "Organize a petition") and modest positive gains between the pre- and posttest means for each of the variables tested. Interviews indicate strong gains in self-efficacy, connectedness to the community, self-esteem and self-confidence, as well as ability to network with community leaders and government officials to accomplish community improvement projects.
Publications
- CYFERnet Parent/Family Editorial Board (2013). Hot topic: March is national nutrition month: Did you eat a rainbow today Retrieved at: http://www1.cyfernet.org/hotnew/03-13-rainbow.html
- Hopkins, E. S. (2013). Action Teens, apples and the spirit of democracy: Cornell's culture of public engagement expands the definition of land grant. Ezra, Cornell Quarterly Magazine, Vol. V, No. 2, Winter 2013, p. 7-9.
- Marquez, A. (2012). Did you eat a rainbow today Millennial Youth Magazine (November 3, 2012). Retrieved at: http://millennialyouth.com/health/did-you-eat-a-rainbow-today/
- Micale, J. (2012) Park mosaic created: Teens spruce up north side neighborhood. Press & Sun-Bulletin (August 3, 2012), p. A03.
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Progress 07/01/11 to 06/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The CITIZEN U Project established programming at two selected community sites, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), Broome County and CCE, Monroe and Wayne Counties. The projects focus on the Teen National Program Area and use CCE's Signature Program, Youth Community Action (YCA), as the program model. CITIZEN U stands for CITIZEN YOU and CITIZEN University. It is a metaphor for creating a university environment in which young people are empowered to become engaged citizens and active change agents in their communities. During the reporting period CITIZEN U focused on recruitment of the youth, establishment of the groups, training staff, and providing the opportunities and supports young people need in order to meet the challenges of growing up in poverty. Program implementation focused on establishing the groundwork for a successful community-based project. Efforts were concentrated on building a solid foundation for participation among the most vulnerable and ensure a strong community commitment to the project. Because of the reduced first year SCP funding level, full-scale implementation was intentionally postponed until the foundation of the project was successfully established (i.e., weekly meetings with and trainings began in October 2011). This groundwork included developing and executing the memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with community partners and the CITIZEN U teen contract with all participating youth. All teens interested in joining CITIZEN U and all adult staff were asked to co-sign the CITIZEN U Contract. The contract clearly outlines the expectations for participation in the project. It establishes rules for behavior, conduct, and participation and provides clear and consistent rules, expectations and consequences. The contract establishes standards of respect, trust, respect for ethnic and cultural differences, and provides clear guidelines on evaluation participation responsibilities. Emphasis was placed on establishing collaborative partnerships with the partnering agencies' staff and enhancing their ability, through professional development opportunities, to develop healthy, caring relationships with the target audience, a cornerstone of successful YCA programs. MOUs were signed with each of the partnering agencies. CCE Broome is partnered with Binghamton Housing Authority, City of Binghamton. CCE Monroe/Wayne is partnered with the Southeast and Southwest Quadrant Neighborhood Service Centers, City of Rochester. MOUs clearly define expectations, time commitments, and programming responsibilities for partner involvement in CITIZEN U. PARTICIPANTS: We conducted the Youth Community Action (YCA) training for the entire CITIZEN U project team. Staff learned how to integrate technology into CITIZEN U throughout the Public Adventures curriculum. For example, both community sites have begun using videography to document their projects. A web-based reporting template was adapted for use with CITIZEN U and the project team uses this template monthly to report progress with project implementation. The CITIZEN U teams are being encouraged to use CYFERnet resources to inform their Public Adventures community improvement projects. The CITIZEN U Teen Leaders received training to use GPS/GIS and other technological tools for community asset mapping (e.g., digital cameras, videography, and photography). In addition, CITIZEN U made professional development opportunities offered through CYFERnet (e.g., webinars and web conferences) available to all staff, partners and collaborators. Technology plays an integral role to CITIZEN U. CITIZEN U is using community mapping, Photovoice, GIS/GPS, videography, website development, blogging, electronic reporting. Staff also learned how to collaborate with local TV and radio stations to promote their community improvement projects and develop summer job skill training and employment experiences for the teen participants in CITIZEN U. The entire CITIZEN U project team also received Advancing Youth Development (AYD) training to improve their skills as effective youth workers and community collaborators. TARGET AUDIENCES: Teens participated weekly after school seminars, one to two times per week for at least two hours each, and learned to implement community improvement projects aligned with NIFA's priority areas. As seminars and trainings are completed, teens spend three to four hours per week conducting community improvement projects and/or participating in civic governance-related activities. Teens who participate in the program will increase leadership skills, gain knowledge of civic engagement, develop positive attitudes about their ability to create community improvements, and increase workforce/job readiness skills. During the summer, those teens who successfully complete the afterschool program will be hired for summer jobs. These teens will gain job skills as they carry out carefully planned projects addressing NIFA priority areas. CITIZEN U's university approach is expected to enhance career and education aspirations. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Teens participated weekly after school seminars, one to two times per week for at least two hours each, and learned to implement community improvement projects aligned with NIFA's priority areas. As seminars and trainings are completed, teens spend three to four hours per week conducting community improvement projects and/or participating in civic governance-related activities. Teens choose their Citizen U majors and enroll in courses on food security, climate change, sustainable energy and the prevention of childhood obesity, aligned with their interests and community projects. During summers, Citizen U teens will be employed for 20-30 hour per week for six to eight weeks at minimum wage as they conduct community improvement projects. This two-year high context exposure will allow teens to explore potential career paths and academic pursuits. Teens who participate in the program will increase leadership skills, gain knowledge of civic engagement, develop positive attitudes about their ability to create community improvements, and increase workforce/job readiness skills. After completing the Public Adventures curriculum, teens began planning and conducting projects focused on NIFA priority areas such as food security, climate change, sustainable energy and childhood obesity. Project staff worked with community partners to leverage additional funding for a paid summer work experience. During the summer, those teens who successfully complete the afterschool program will be hired for summer jobs. These teens will gain job skills as they carry out carefully planned projects addressing NIFA priority areas. CITIZEN U's university approach is expected to enhance career and education aspirations. CITIZEN U will be sustained through intentional planning and partnerships with community organizations, as well as local government and small businesses.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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