Williams County 4-H    
Conversation on Youth Development
for the 21st Century

Williams County held it Conversation on Youth Development for the 21st Century on Tuesday, November 20, 2001.  From the conversation these five topics came forward as the most important issues to address in our county:

1. Promote healthy teen relationships.
2. Help people develop healthy self-esteem by promoting bodily and mental health and well-being.
3. Work with media to recognize youth for outstanding accomplishments and community activities.
4. Teach respect, tolerance and understanding. Allow mistakes, offer forgiveness for mistakes.
5.  Implement community service projects in the schools so all are involved.

Other important issues that surfaced at the conversations were:
1. Create teen centers for high school students.
2. Create programs youth can provide for the elderly to get everyone involved.
3.  Choose youth to attend the state legislature, when they are in session.
4. Teach parents better ways to talk to their children, play games, or help with homework.
5. Hold community activities.
6. Train youth about troubles in the world so that they can teach others.
7.  Learn how to listen.  Teach how to talk.
8.  Establish a center in which to acknowledge and train students for activities in their future.
9.  Mentor to kids with problems at home or left out at school.

Many thanks to those who served as facilitators for the evening and a special thank you to all the participants who took the time to share their ideas!