October 16, 2024
Beyond Ready – Are YOU Ready for this Nationwide Movement?
Beyond Ready – Are YOU Ready for this Nationwide Movement?
By now everyone has heard the new 4-H catchphrase, “Beyond Ready”. You probably are wondering what this is and what does it mean for you and the local program you serve. What you need to know is you are not behind, nor did you miss anything. This article will be the first of several opportunities to learn all about this national movement.
For the last two years or so, the Extension leadership across the country (Extension Directors & 4-H Program Leaders) have been developing a collective, collaborative effort to connect us all across the country with the Beyond Ready movement. Can you imagine the synergy the 4-H program will have knowing that every state in the nation and U.S. territories will be working towards the same BOLD goal of reaching 10 million youth with the 4-H program by 2030? This means we are preparing young people for healthy, productive, and engaged lives. And our youth want to be ready for life and for work!
I’m sure you are asking yourself, what will this look like? What is my place in this? Why don’t I know more? The answer is simple. We are currently laying the groundwork for this movement. This programming year your State 4-H Team is developing a plan of action for Kansas. The Youth Development Program Focus Team, the Kansas Association of Extension 4-H Agents, and all of YOU are going to play key roles in making this bold goal a reality! I look at this movement of Beyond Ready as a piece that coincides alongside the Kansas State University NextGen plan.
Today, youth need us more than ever. Did you know 85% of jobs that will be available in 2030 have not yet been invented? Seventy-seven percent of employers are focusing less on traditional school subjects and more on real-world skills. The core skills of analytical thinking, creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, and adaptability are going to be key. We do this in our program each and every day, but how intentional are we?
This is just a brief introduction to what I know at this time. As always, my door is always open to having conversations including brainstorming and collaborative efforts. My door is open to listen to all the things, good and bad. Reach out and share your thoughts on this as I want to know how you see it fitting within your local programming efforts. I want to ensure that we are all ready to help our youth be Beyond Ready for the life ahead of them and there is only one way to make this a successful movement – that we are in it and move together!