Michael Tillitt, of Callaway County, learned about political processes in the vibrant, living classroom of the nation's capital as part of Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF), an intensive 4-H civic engagement program for high school students held at the National 4-H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Tillittwas one of 44 Missouri 4-H'ers from across the state who attended CWF from June 11 to 16.
For more than 50 years, the National 4-H Conference Center has invited thousands of young people from across the country to travel to Washington, D.C., and participate in civic workshops, committees and field trips before returning home to make positive changes in their own communities. CWF not only strengthens young people's understanding of the government's civic process, it also boosts their leadership skills, communication skills and overall confidence.
During CWF, youth get a behind-the-scenes look at the nation's capital while meeting with members of Congress to learn more about how their government works. At the end of the program, youth draft step-by-step action plans to address important issues in their communities.
"CWF is a great opportunity for young people to come together, talk about the problems they see in their communities, and identify solutions to make their communities stronger," Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council, said. "The experiences these young people gain during CWF gives them the tools and confidence to grow and thrive as leaders."
During the week, Tillitt and other visited Mount Vernon, the National Cathedral, and many of the city's most famous monuments and memorials. They saw the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery and toured the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress, the White House, the National Archives, the Holocaust Museum and various Smithsonian museums. The 4-H'ers also visited Capitol Hill, where they met with Sen. Roy Blunt and Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer, Jason Smith, Vicky Hartzler and Sam Graves. For cultural heritage night, the group saw "The Sound of Music" at the Kennedy Center. Tillitt interacted with 4-H youth from nine states throughout the week. They also visited points of interest in Baltimore and New York City.