Many Latino youth in Kentucky face significant educational challenges due to the immigrant and socioeconomic status of their parents. According to the National Research Council's report, “Hispanics and the Future of America,” many Latino children start school without the same social and economic resources as their peers. Inadequate school resources and low trust between students and staff exacerbate these disadvantages. The need to support and build community for these young people is evident across the state.

Kentucky has the 7th fastest-growing Latino community in the country, with a 222.8% increase in the school-aged population from 2000-2014. According to Kentucky Youth Advocates, only one in five Latino fourth graders are at grade level in reading and math, and only 25% of Latino adults over the age of 25 have a degree higher than a high school diploma. Despite the Latino community's strong belief in the importance of education for a successful future, many face barriers that prevent them from achieving this goal.

In response to the growing number of Latino youth and the need to support their educational journey, Kentucky 4-H implemented the Juntos 4-H Program. This wraparound program engages the youth's support system to build capacity within the community through family workshops, Juntos 4-H Clubs, community nights, and a State Juntos 4-H Academy.

Youth participating in community service at the Juntos 4-H Summer Academy 

The State Juntos 4-H Academy was a three-day event at the University of Kentucky’s campus, a collaboration between the State 4-H Office and the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment's Office of Diversity. Participants engaged in community service projects, campus tours, networking, and one-on-one or small group sessions with representatives from various university departments, including Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid, Residential Life, Gatton College of Business and Economics, and the Entomology Department.

After participating in the Juntos 4-H Program, 93% of young people reported they often work as a team to accomplish a common goal, 85% said they can often identify leaders in their community, 79% identified attending a four-year institution as their post-high school goal, and 71% said they often used the information gained in Juntos to communicate with others.

References:

Kentucky Youth Advocates. (2024, January 10). While Improving, Kentucky Children of Color Still Face Disparate Outcomes that Jeopardize Their Well-Being into Adulthood. Retrieved from Kentucky Youth Advocates.

National Research Council. (2006). Hispanics and the Future of America. National Academies Press. Retrieved from National Academies Press.

Excelencia in Education. (n.d.). Kentucky. Retrieved from Excelencia in Education.