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April 05, 2007
WVU Extension Service Launches First Hispanic 4-H Club in W.V.
West Virginia University Extension Service recently launched a new Hispanic 4-H club - the first in the state - to answer the needs of the growing Hispanic population in eastern West Virginia. The state’s overall Hispanic population increased by nearly 18 percent between 2000 and 2004, with 45 out of the 55 counties in the state seeing an increase in Hispanics in their communities, according to the WVU Bureau for Business and Economic Research.
Richard L Fleisher, WVU Extension specialist and associate professor, said the Hispanic 4-H club is one of several ways Extension is responding to the growing population. “Our work in 4-H complements and reinforces similar efforts in the school system and in the community. It has served as a successful bridge across cultures in numerous states with significant Hispanic populations, such as Texas, California and Arizona.”
Fleisher represents the Extension Service as a member of the Eastern Panhandle Hispanic Advocacy Coalition (EPHAC) and teaches a WVU Extended Learning graduate class for educators in the Eastern region called “Engaging the Hispanic students in your classroom.” He said because of his work with 4-H and interaction in these two networks, he recognized the potential value of creating this club.
The first meeting of the club occurred in January with 28 children attending with their parents. More than 80 families showed interest in the club, which would put the size to more than 200 – making more Hispanic clubs in the future a definite possibility.
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A new Hispanic 4-H club has been formed by WVU's Extension Service in the eastern panhandle. It's one of the ways Extension is responding to the growing Hispanic population in that area.
Posted in category 4-H Stories at 09:01 PM