The Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference is a multi-state leadership conference that was created to bring together youth from across the southern region. (https://4-h.ca.uky.edu/SRTLC)   In February of 2022, we held the first ever Winter SRTLC.  Bringing on a myriad of challenges due to the weather, youth sprang into action developing plans for a somewhat normal conference.  

Of survey respondents, 72% of youth indicated this was their first time attending the Southern Regional Teen Leadership Conference.  78% of teens indicated they felt supported by other teens and 75% indicated they felt like they mattered.   When asked, “The most useful thing I learned at 4-H SRTLC was…,” one youth exclaimed, “I learned that someone, somewhere is looking up to me so it’s important that I not only show up for myself but for all those people that aspire to do the things I do!”  Respondents were asked, “why programs like SRTLC should be supported,” and one youth said, “You should support 4-H programs like SRTLC because it allows youth to meet, discuss, and work through issues facing the world today.”

Ultimately, the Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference was designed to give youth a voice, a seat at the table, to help build a meaningful conference.  This conference allows youth and adults from across the southern region to interact and build those strong youth-adult partnerships to promote positive change in the everyday lives of youth.  Winter SRTLC 2022 not only accomplished that, but so much more.