According to the Hult International School of Business, diverse and culturally competent teams are more productive and achieve more objective success (Reynolds, 2016). During the Kentucky 4-H Leadership and International Program partnership with the Upward Bound Program program participants explored other cultures and the global competencies needed to become a successful leader. The activities were geared toward instilling in our participants the characteristics that will prepare them to be more culturally knowledgeable and aware individuals. According to the United States Department of Education, the Upward Bound Program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their precollege performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. Upward Bound serves: high school students from low-income families; and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree (U.S. Department of Education, 2019).

56 program participants completed the evaluation that gauged their learning outcomes related global competencies. As a result of the program, 82% of the youth agreed that they see the value of other cultures. 82% agreed they could work with people who are different from them. 93% of the youth understand that culture can cause miscommunication if we do not listen or observe; 98% evaluated themselves as good listeners. 

Through the program students had the chance to explore other cultures. Each student created a mask symbolizing their cultural heritage, and all youth stated they learned something new about a culture different from their own. Other activities include tasting food from other countries and learning other culinary customs. Participants also participated in activities that built trust and focused on cross-cultural communication and understanding inclusiveness.

Providing youth opportunities to see similarities across cultures narrows the divided and reduces the miscommunication that leads to anger, hatred and mistrust. Seeing each others as humans is a skill global leaders must be able to create in our global society (Browaeys & Price, 2011). Through Kentucky 4-H young people have the opportunity to expand their global competencies.