National 4-H Council and United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Form Alliance to Reach Young Americans with Positive Youth Development Programs

PHOTO: National 4-H Council President & CEO Jennifer Sirangelo and United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President & CEO and 4-H alumnus Javier Palomarez announce new partnership during signing ceremony.

"As a proud alum of 4-H, I am thankful for the critical role this institution has played in my past," said Javier Palomarez, President and CEO, USHCC. (Photo: Business Wire)

CHEVY CHASE, Md.--()--Yesterday, leaders of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) and National 4-H Council (Council) announced the formation of a new partnership during a special luncheon and signing of a memorandum of understanding at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center.

“This is an exciting moment in the history and future of 4-H given our commitment and the need to reach more kids with the power of a 4-H experience,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president & CEO, National 4-H Council. “USHCC is an important partner in National 4-H Council’s growth plan to provide more young people with access to 4-H,” added Sirangelo.

“In order to grow, 4-H must reflect the changing demographics and diversity of America’s youth," added Sirangelo. In rural communities, for example, where half of 4-H’ers live, the number of Hispanic youth increased 45 percent from 2000-2010, according to U.S. Census figures.

4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization provides more than six million young people in every county in America with hands-on learning and opportunities in science, healthy living, food security and citizenship. The USHCC partnership gives 4-H an opportunity to accelerate innovative, university-backed Cooperative Extension 4-H programs reaching new audiences that are already underway in several states.

The USHHC represents the interests of our nation's more than three million Hispanic-owned businesses, 230 major U.S. corporations, and more than 200 local Hispanic chambers and business associations across the country.

"The USHCC is proud to join forces with 4-H, and we’re excited about leveraging our respective strengths and networks to provide more youth with valuable learning experiences,” said USHCC President & CEO Javier Palomarez. “By working together, our organizations will engage more young Americans to participate in 4-H programming that will prepare them for lifelong success. As a proud alum of 4-H, I am thankful for the critical role this institution has played in my past, and am excited about its collaboration with the USHCC. We look forward to benefitting from the thought leadership of 4-H, and to the transformative work that will emerge out of our alliance.”

National 4-H Council has already begun to partner with the USHCC Foundation and its BizFest program, an innovative entrepreneurship program that empowers youth with knowledge and insight into the world of business.

About USHCC

Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of our nation's entrepreneurs. The USHCC advocates on behalf of nearly 3.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses, that together contribute in excess of $468 billion to the American economy, each year. As the leading organization of its kind, the USHCC serves as an umbrella to more than 200 local chambers and business associations across the nation, and partners with more than 230 major corporations.

For more information, visit www.ushcc.com, follow us on Twitter @USHCC

About 4-H

4-H, the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident kids who tackle the issues that matter most in their communities right now. In the United States, 4-H programs empower six million young people through the 109 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension in more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country. Outside the United States, independent, country-led 4-H organizations empower one million young people in more than 50 countries. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/4H.

Contacts

National 4-H Council
Kate Caskin, 240-454-4025 (mobile)
KCaskin@4-H.org
or
United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Ammar Campa-Najjar, 619-721-5148 (mobile)
ANajjar@ushcc.com

Release Summary

USHCC and 4-H form Partnership

Contacts

National 4-H Council
Kate Caskin, 240-454-4025 (mobile)
KCaskin@4-H.org
or
United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Ammar Campa-Najjar, 619-721-5148 (mobile)
ANajjar@ushcc.com