They are going to push hard across the state school systemtobring in Junior Achievement as a core part of school programming. Put it right in classrooms. Have businesspeople right there during the school day. They are going to do it gradually but start right here. They figure the LGU is here and the business school could be a great partner. Betty and I think there is an opportunity there. Junior Achievement has the business programming, but we really have complementaryprogramming in youth community engagement. I saywe focus on that. One thing – partnershipwith JA – and one element of programming, civic engagement. Hey, Clare adds, and we can make our numbers! We can count as 4-H every single body in those classrooms because JAhas them there! Win-win!! We count their kids! And the bonus is that we get to count all the minority kids as well. We let Al have his clubs. Heck, there are only 30 left in the state. We put our resources into this partnership. Look, Clare says, I won’t be making the next monthly meeting of th e group. I want you both toexplain the approach to everyone. Bring me the feedback.
A month later a meeting of Betty, Clare andHernando Ortiz of JAdoes not go as planned.
Clare and Bettymake the pitch for 4-H.
Well, Ortiz says, I love that you are at the LGU. We really want an entry into the business school, get them energized. Perfect feeder of our kids into that school, ultimately. So, your connections could be a fast-track for us, right? But on that civic side, well, we actuallydo a good bit of civic engagement education just in the normal course of our work. You know, business has changed. If you want tobe successful as a company, you have to have community engagement, you have to have a cause, andyou have to be authentic about it. We teach that now as part of JA. It’s not just a better widget and a profitable financial model. It is all about community. And when the kids are doing their business projects, they need to build those types of things in, really show they know how to understand their communities. That’s beena big change for us. Took a lot of effort and we really had to overcome some of our traditionalists. But, wemanagedand now everyone is on board.
So, I don’t know. I don’t really see the value here to us.
Of course, one of the things we really are interested in is getting our poorer and minority kids into the business mind-set. That is really, really important. And it is not easy, believe you me. Takes understanding of culture. Takes language. Takes working with families, not just the kids. Tough, tough space. How is 4-H doing on this, Ortiz asks. Maybe that is a spacewe can work on together, help us play off our strength. Why don’t we focus on that? We’re a bit weak on that. Youhave agents across the state, soyou can help us reach into those communities. How does that sound? You know, Clare says, we really do have that as a national priority. We are going to grow by reaching these new communities and their young people. That would be a great partnership.
16 | P a g e
Powered by FlippingBook