FIVE of the six CNMI youth delegates to the National 4-H Conference held in Arlington, Virginia last month conducted a press conference on Thursday, May 9, to discuss the impact of their participation on the national organization and the local 4-H chapter.
Hosting the press conference were Joseph Santos Jr., Jedric Aniciete, Clarize Rodriguez, Rownel Jody Coloma and Jane Mozunder. The sixth delegate, Rosabelle Surla, is an Oregon State University student and former 4-H Camp Maga’lahi overall lead camp counselor.
The national conference gathered 4-H youth delegates from all the states and U.S. territories between the ages of 15 and 19. They facilitated peer discussions and engaged “in personal development experiences that increase their knowledge, resources, and skills while discussing topics affecting the youth and 4‑H programming nationwide,” the 4-H website stated. The youth delegates then shared their findings with federal officials in Washington D.C. According to the website, a “key component” of the conference was “amplifying youth voice.”
Clarize Rodriguez, right, a Tinian High School student and president of the CNMI 4-H chapter, participates in the National 4-H Conference as one of six high school students from across the nation who comprise the Youth Leadership Team. She is photographed on stage next to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Joseph Santos Jr. recites the 4-H pledge in Chamorro during the conference opening ceremony.
Coloma facilitated the “Climate Change, Preparedness, Community Resilience” roundtable that presented its findings to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Coloma attended the conference as a “collegiate facilitator,” one of 21 selected from across the nation.
Santos was a roundtable participant in the “Ensuring Access and Success in Career Pathways” discussion and helped create presentations for the U.S. Department of Education. He was also selected to participate in the opening ceremony by reciting the 4-H pledge in Chamorro.
Aniciete participated in the “Messaging the Clean Energy Transition” roundtable, which made a presentation to the U.S. Department of Energy. He composed one of the questions directed to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack when he was interviewed at the conference.
Mozunder participated in the roundtable on “National Service” and made a presentation to AmeriCorps.
Surla facilitated the “Sustaining an Intergenerational Environmental Justice Movement” roundtable, which made a presentation to the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
As for Rodriguez, she was one of six high school students from across the nation who comprised the Youth Leadership Team, which coordinated the conference.
At the press conference on Thursday, the CNMI 4-H members said their participation helped share the islands’ perspective with their peers in the states and with federal officials.
Rodriguez found out how important representation can be.
“Just being there and attending the conference shows that voices from the territories matter,” she said.
Coloma agreed.
“I think it’s just been really momentous on the part of 4-H Marianas to send youth delegates and provide perspectives unique to our region at the national level, considering that many of the delegates had not even heard of the CNMI,” he said.
Santos said he was honored to be able to speak Chamorro at the event.
“It was certainly a remarkable experience being able to represent the CNMI as a whole and really just to showcase part of our culture on a global scale,” he said.
Tayna Camacho, the territory program leader of NMC-CREES’ Family, Community, and Youth Development program, said the CNMI has been participating in the 4-H national conference since 2019. She said the conference helps build the local youth’s leadership capacity.
“One of the great benefits that we’ve been able to witness from the program is watching phenomenal young leaders develop,” Camacho said. “They put a lot of work in locally through their [4-H Marianas] programs and these young delegates go to the national conference and share their perspective on issues. More importantly when they come back, the skills and knowledge they gained are passed forward by building the capacity for their peers.”
She said the CNMI representatives conducted a professional development session for their peers upon their return.
Rosabelle Surla speaks during a roundtable at the National 4-H Conference in Arlington, Virginia last month. Seated next to her is Rownel Jody Coloma.
From left, Jane Mozunder, Jedric Aniciete, Joseph Santos Jr. and Clarize Rodriguez pose for a photo with the CNMI flag.