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4-H Youth, Then and Now.              Top photo: Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Darryl Marsh, Matt - Front:Kristina Horan, Lauren Nance Case , Sara Hutchings Schwartz, Barbara Lemaire Conners 

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4-H Youth, Then and Now.              Top photo: Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Darryl Marsh, Matt - Front:Kristina Horan, Lauren Nance Case , Sara Hutchings Schwartz, Barbara Lemaire Conners 

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Middle photos- current 4-H youth at South County Fair, Sara HS, Callie, Shirley Hutchings, 360 Students at JA in a Day at RI State House, Barbara Lemaire Conners- Volunteering with Girl Scouts, Bottom- Darryl Marsh, Nadine Simmons Marsh, Lauren Nance Case (modern day), Connie Nance, Mayor Brett Smiley, Lauren Nance Case, Sara HS, Amy Pennington

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Both cohorts have inspired me to pivot from an Administration focus in YDEV to a Social Justice Focus- walking the footsteps of the leaders from my youth.

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Both cohorts have inspired me to pivot from an Administration focus in YDEV to a Social Justice Focus- walking the footsteps of the leaders from my youth.

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 (Kristina, Lauren and I at the National History Museum, Washington, DC- circa 1996)

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It has become very clear that the inspiration, care and support received during my years in 4-H, church, and civic youth groups fuels who I've become as a Community Leader.  (Kristina, Lauren and I at the National History Museum, Washington, DC- circa 1996)

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It has become very clear that the inspiration, care and support received during my years in 4-H, church, and civic youth groups fuels who I've become as a Community Leader.  (Kristina, Lauren and I at the National History Museum, Washington, DC- circa 1996)

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Continuing to inspire youth as adults-leading-with-youth and community leaders now- I wanted to reconnect how my cohort of 4-H youth felt about their experiences in the Mid 1980s-Mid 1990s.

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Continuing to inspire youth as adults-leading-with-youth and community leaders now- I wanted to reconnect how my cohort of 4-H youth felt about their experiences in the Mid 1980s-Mid 1990s.

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Misleading titles- but timely subjects. 4-H youth worked with Community Leaders to plan a conference centered around topics close to us. LGBTQA+ Rights, Support for those living with HIV and AIDS and prevention, Advocacy for Pregnant and Parenting Teens- all youth planned and designed. I was on this committee. Circa 1993

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Misleading titles- but timely subjects. 4-H youth worked with Community Leaders to plan a conference centered around topics close to us. LGBTQA+ Rights, Support for those living with HIV and AIDS and prevention, Advocacy for Pregnant and Parenting Teens- all youth planned and designed. I was on this committee. Circa 1993

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Screenshot 2023-05-07 at 17-48-01 On Tuesday JA and our... - Junior Achievement of Rhode Island

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Youth have and will continue to build programs that meet their interests and needs when given the chance to lead. (4-H Focus on Sexuality Conference- circa 1993)

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Youth have and will continue to build programs that meet their interests and needs when given the chance to lead. (4-H Focus on Sexuality Conference- circa 1993)

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Preserving the stories from our youth- curating stories of youth and the leaders that changed their lives is key- remembering where we came from and how we got to where we are is important. We can't let bigots and the far right rewrite the progressive, positive youth development that 4-H exemplified in our youth. 

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Preserving the stories from our youth- curating stories of youth and the leaders that changed their lives is key- remembering where we came from and how we got to where we are is important. We can't let bigots and the far right rewrite the progressive, positive youth development that 4-H exemplified in our youth. 

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The article below exemplifies why progressive 4-H youth stories need to be preserved. Trigger warning- this article in the text below contains thoughts and opinions NOT supported by this author. This article posted not long after 4-H sent shared this image for Pride Month, is filled with far-right propaganda- and an author who supposes to write on behalf of all the pearl-clutching 4-H alumni who must be aghast at 4-H showing support for their LGBTQA+ members. The reality is, progressive 4-H has existed as long as progressives have been part of 4-H.

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During my YDEV journey-I've seen and continue to see the erasure of youth spaces, lack of funding for youth spaces- and a glimmer of hope at the creation of thriving shared spaces with some growing pains along the way.

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During my YDEV journey-I've seen and continue to see the erasure of youth spaces, lack of funding for youth spaces- and a glimmer of hope at the creation of thriving shared spaces with some growing pains along the way.

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The National 4-H Council's Chevy Chase campus is set to be redeveloped into a senior living community now that a sale of the property has officially closed.

Atlanta-based senior home developer Galerie Living and D.C.'s Community Three Development announced Monday they've finalized their purchase of the 12-acre conference center site for $40 million - roughly double its assessed value of $19.9 million. The team has been under contract with the 4-H since late August, after CBRE helped the nonprofit arrange a sale.

The developers are still in the process of hashing out a vision for the Maryland site, bringing on Torti Gallas + Partners as architect and Soltesz as engineer. They plan to present preliminary details to the town of Chevy Chase and Montgomery County in the first quarter of 2022.

"We're not some developer coming in fast and furious and trying to throw something together," Tim Gary, Galerie's founder and CEO, said in an interview. "We're going to do it right and be patient."

The 4-H Council first decided to explore a sale of the property, located at 7100 Connecticut Ave., in March after the pandemic forced the cancellation of most large events and hammered the group's revenues. Gary said his firm heard about the opportunity soon afterward, considering that he'd long been looking for the chance to expand into the D.C. market - Galerie currently operates four communities throughout Georgia.

He believes the conference center site, which the 4-H has owned since 1951, amounts to a "natural fit" for his firm's model. Galerie constructs multibuilding senior living communities with an array of dining facilities and "hospitality components" for visitors, and Gary expects that this site will be well-suited for that purpose.

He said he's not sure yet whether the development team will be able to reuse any of the existing 228,000-square-foot conference center, which has played host to youth events for decades. Gary said the developers will explore that option, though their "primary focus is the impacts of the building on residents."

Gary also hopes to consider how to "build to the architecture of the community," and said the team has begun discussions with Chevy Chase officials about their plans for the property - the buyers first began holding meetings with the town back in September. The 4-H Council's decision to sell has attracted intense interest from neighbors, prompting some to call for the town to try and purchase the property, with fears of a large residential development overwhelming the community.

However, Gary said all of his communications with residents have been generally positive thus far, considering that a senior living community is a far cry from a more traditional apartment project.

"People want it to be part of the community," Gary said. "They want it to look and feel like part of it, which is a focus for us."

Gary hopes that Community Three will be a big part of assisting in that process, given their experience locally. The firm has generally focused on medium-sized residential projects with its past work, including the overhaul of the former Grimke School on D.C.'s U Street NW corridor and the residential conversion of three office buildings near Alexandria's Tide Lock Park.

Montgomery County planners will be the main authority for reviewing the team's development proposal, though Gary said he expects to work closely with the town as well (as the small locality has some review powers over select elements of the project). Chevy Chase Mayor Barney Rush sent a letter to the developers Sept. 30 laying out his priorities for the development, requesting the protection of the property's tree canopy and the inclusion of some shared park space there.

Meanwhile, the 4-H Council, the nonprofit partner of the national Cooperative Extension System and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, has pledged to remain active in the D.C. region despite the sale. The group works with more than 100 universities across the country to manage youth development programs focusing on agricultural, leadership and other issues.

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Chevy Chase's 4-H conference center has sold. Here's a look at what comes next. - Washington Business Journal

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The National 4-H Council's Chevy Chase campus is set to be redeveloped into a senior living community now that a sale of the property has officially closed. Atlanta-based senior home developer Galerie Living and D.C.'s Community Three Development announced Monday they've finalized their purchase of the 12-acre conference center site for $40 million - roughly double its assessed value of $19.9 million.

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Being a Youth Leader in 1980s to Mid 1990s opened doors and made connections that gave me privilege that now helps open doors for others. 

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Being a Youth Leader in 1980s to Mid 1990s opened doors and made connections that gave me privilege that now helps open doors for others. 

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Sen. Jack Reed and myself in 1996- Washington DC- 4-H National Teen Conference

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More than one government leader that supported me as a youth- have turned up-showed up, and sometimes even advocated for the youth I work with today.

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More than one government leader that supported me as a youth- have turned up-showed up, and sometimes even advocated for the youth I work with today.

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Sen. Reed supports Junior Achievement of Rhode Island, 2023.

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Screenshot 2023-05-07 at 17-04-08 On Tuesday JA and our... - Junior Achievement of Rhode Island

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Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, Sabina Matos and youth from 360 High School- Spring 2023.

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In my work with youth, it has been important to see adults who reflect the community/represent the community in power making and holding space for our PVD area youth. This was more than just a photo op. - what you don't see is the discussion about RI Youth's future, educational and economic- with folks empowered to empower youth. 

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In my work with youth, it has been important to see adults who reflect the community/represent the community in power making and holding space for our PVD area youth. This was more than just a photo op. - what you don't see is the discussion about RI Youth's future, educational and economic- with folks empowered to empower youth. 