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4-H HOSTS HANDS AROUND THE CAPITOL
AND PRESS CONFERENCE TUESDAY MORNING
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By: Ami
Neiberger-Miller, Kristin
Guira
(352) 846-0996 ext. 237, cellular
(352)278-0807
Source: Marilyn
Norman
(863)206-1654
April 13, 2003
TALLAHASSEE-More than 175 4-H
members carrying banners will converge on the state capitol
Tuesday to celebrate youth involvement in community service. They
will hold a press conference and encircle the old capitol to honor
youth service to communities throughout the year.
A morning press conference on
Tuesday at 11am will include: Dr. Joe Joyce, executive associate
vice president for agriculture and natural resources at the
University of Florida’s IFAS; Natalie Cheng, State 4-H Council
President and a high school senior from West Palm Beach; and
Senator Larcenia Bullard, from Miami-Dade County. Cheng will
mention the “Tales From Teens: a 4-H Literacy Initiative”
which has launched reading and literacy awareness projects
throughout Florida with the help of funds raised by young people.
“The purpose of hands around the
capitol is to celebrate the community service achievements made by
thousands of young people who help their communities every day,”
said Marilyn Norman, assistant dean for 4-H programs at the
University of Florida’s IFAS. “As adults we sometimes don’t
realize the powerful impact that young people can make.”
The event also concludes National
Youth Service Day this past weekend, which saw thousands of young
people help their communities. 4-H clubs in Okaloosa county held a
clean-up at the Timpoochee 4-H Center in Niceville as part of the
event, while 4-H members from a housing project in Panama City
Beach ran a booth at KidsFest.
4-H members participate in service
activities year-round. The idea for Hands Around the Capitol
originated with the 4-H pledge. When they recite the 4-H pledge,
members “pledge their hands to larger service.”
Service learning helps young people
appreciate diversity and understand each other, say organizers.
“Shared experiences in service and learning draw youth together
and help them see past their differences to what they have in
common,” said Norman. “It also helps young people realize that
they are not powerless and that their actions matter.”
Youth attendees will be from:
Alachua, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Duval, Escambia, Levy, Liberty,
Orange, Palm Beach, Polk, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Taylor, Volusia,
Walton, Washington counties. Interviews will be available.
4-H is sponsored by the University
of Florida’s IFAS, and the 4-H event coincides with UF’s
annual Gator Day extravaganza at the state capitol. Gator Day
activities, a talent show and luncheon will take place at
11:30a.m.
Founded in 1902 as an outreach to
rural youth, 4-H has 60 million alumni and involves 28 percent of
youth in America, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
4-H worked with more than 271,000 youth ages 5-18 last year in
Florida and is active in all 67 counties. For more information
about Florida 4-H, visit www.florida4h.org
<http://www.florida4h.org>.
** MEDIA
COVERAGE INVITED **
The Visual:
175+ adorable 4-H members holding signs, cheering and circling the
old capitol to celebrate youth involvement in community service.
When: Tuesday,
April 15, 2003
Time:
Press Conference at 11:00a.m.
Hands Around the Capitol at 11:15a.m. Gator Day Events
11:30a.m.
Location:
Steps of the Old Capitol Facing the
New Capitol in Tallahassee
Contact:
Ami Neiberger/Kristin Guira,
(352)846-0996 ext. 237, cellular (352)278-0807
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