Posted on March 16, 2023 at 2:48 PM by Erica Cline
Good changes are coming to Jefferson County with the Jefferson County 4-H Tech Changemakers program! The National 4-H Council summarizes this program by stating," 4-H Tech Changemakers (TCM) is a unique, community-centered program that puts youth into positions of leadership by empowering them to teach digital skills to members of underserved communities across the country. More than 20 million people in the U.S. lack broadband internet access, creating what is known as the digital divide; this combination of inequitable internet access, along with a lack of digital skills, is contributing to a growing opportunity gap, particularly for members of rural communities and communities of color. 4-H Tech Changemakers gives teens the tools and support that they need to become true agents of change by teaching digital skill-building workshops to adults." Our Jefferson County 4-H TCM recently attended TCM training at the State Capitol alongside Jefferson County's Extension Office Educators and 4-H Youth Development Leaders, Jessica Martini, and Britt Copeland. The Jefferson County Broadband Task Force, with the approval of the Jefferson County Commissioners, was able to fund the student's participation fee. Jessica and Britt say that the program has a lot of future plans for educating Jefferson County residents on digital literacy. Email etiquette, creating a resume, conducting zoom meetings, and more are some of the skills that the teens will be teaching. Jefferson County's TCM plan to work with La Casa Amiga, the Town of Hanover, and local Assisted Living Facilities this year. A huge thank you to Jessica, Britt, and these smart young adults for creating positive change in our community! For more questions or how to get involved contact the Jefferson County Extension Office at (812) 265-8919.