4‑H launches Opportunity4All to eliminate the opportunity gap
By AgDaily
As the impact of COVID-19 continues to scale, widening education, economic, and health gaps are threatening to leave millions of kids behind. 4‑H is taking a stand with its belief that opportunity should not be pre-determined by any person’s zip code, ethnicity, skin color, or income with the announcement of Opportunity4All, a new campaign to eliminate the opportunity gap and create better, brighter futures for all kids today.
Fifty-five million kids face this widening opportunity gap in America hindering them from having equal access to opportunities to reach their full potential. In addition, 12 million kids lack access to reliable broadband internet resources putting them in a position to fall even further behind as many schools move to virtual learning during the pandemic.
Despite these challenges, 4‑H believes young people can play a key role in creating a more promising and equitable future for youth, families, and communities across the country, if given the opportunity. And in a recent round of surveys to gain insight on youth perspectives, 4‑H found that young people desire to be part of the conversation.
“We believe youth perspectives are so important and a solution to eliminating the opportunity gap because young people come with new ideas and new ways of seeing the world,” says Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of National 4‑H Council. “We often look at things through a narrow lens, but for them it’s all new and that newness is a gift that leads to innovation and thinking outside of the box. We have to welcome and encourage them to be engaged and be involved because these issues impact their daily lives. They need to have a seat at the table.”