On the state level, it was seen that public libraries and extension offices were often targeting the same groups of people with little collaboration. An initiative was taken for pubic libraries with teen librarians and extension offices with teen leadership to work together and identify teens participating in both programs. The identified teen would then be sent to the 4-H Teen Issues Conference. At this conference, the teens would learn to identify issues in their community and then learn how to work with local stake holders to solve those issues. 

The Pike County Extension office and the Pike County Public Library came together and chose one teen who we felt could excel with this opportunity. This teen is a local sophomore who has been participating in 4-H for years while also leading in the library's teen programs. 

This local teen attended the Teen Issues Conference where she was able to identify problems in our community, while learning how to work with others to solve said problems. She was able to learn from various extension professionals and prepared materials to be brought back to the county. She then presented her materials to me, her local extension agent and our teen librarian. 

Once this teen returned to Pike County and shared her findings and ideas with myself and the teen librarian, she was able to work with both of us to address an issue that she believed to be important to the youth of Pike County. She worked with us to plan a program that would help combat the environmental crisis on a local level. She has worked with us to help apply for grant funding to make her project a reality. This has been a great experience where she has been able to learn new skills, apply those skills, and then see results once we are able to receive and implement funding that will make her dream a reality.