2020 was a year that saw a substantial upheaval in our country and state. The COVID-19 pandemic ravaged our state and forced a shutdown of many of our traditional programs. It forced the 4-H program to reevaluate the delivery models of many of its programs as face-to-face delivery was no longer an option. During this same time period, the murder of Briana Taylor and George Floyd Sparked a renewed call for racial justice and social equality. During this critical time in which social unrest and racial trauma collided, it was also impossible for young people to gather togehter and process what was going on in the world because of COVID-19 restricitons. 

This unique moment called for unique action. The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program worked with the College of Agriculutre Food and Enviroment Office of Diversity partnered together to create the program called Critical Conversations. With the specifice intention of providing a space for young poeple to engage in conversations around race and racisim. One that provided the opportinity to engage in meningful diologe accross multiple sprecrims. As this program continued to develop and the reality of the ungoing pandimic began to sink in the group involved in the partnership explored potiental next steps for sustainaibility. Using the virtual club platform that was lanched by the Kentucky 4-H Youth Development program a state wide Virtural Jr. Minorities in Agriculutre, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences program was developed that would incorporate the key elements of the Critical Conversations program. 

Over the course of the 2020-2021 program year this Jr. MANRRS club would meet monthly exploring topics related to careers, colleges, intrests, equity in agriculutre and more. 92% of the young people invlolved in these two programs have reported feeling a sence of beloning and a feeling of empowerment to make their communities a better place. As the 2020-2021 program year came to a close the young people involved in these programs expressed an intrest in continued involvemnt and work. With the support of the Office of Diversity and the 4-H Youth Development Program these two programs became what is now the 4-H Social Justice Leadership Board which lanched at the start of the 2021-2022 program year.