4-H Conversations
4-H teen leaders from Buffalo and Lackawanna are dedicated to improving their communities. One way they believe our communities can improve is by talking about experiences of discrimination and social injustice.
4-H teens in partnership with adult leaders developed videos to engage in important, and sometimes challenging, conversations around various forms of discrimination.
If interested in seeing any of the videos, please contact Sara Jablonski at sej57@cornell.edu.
Who We Are: Youth Perspectives on Modern Discrimination
The 4-H Youth Community Action Network (Youth CAN) team leadership group at Global Concepts Charter High School created this documentary to share perspectives of young people who experience discrimination and offer solutions for how we can all work to overcome stereotyping.
Conversations on Black Lives Matter
This series of videos, "Conversations on Black Lives Matter", was created by teen leaders during the summer of 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. The teens used the LARA (Listen, Affirm, Respond, Add) method to develop the scripts in a way that aimed to create space for having a respectful dialogue.
Discussing “All Lives Matter”
This skit is about people disagreeing about the statement "Black Lives Matter" in comparison to "All Lives Matter". In the end, the person who initially disagreed comes to a point where he agrees that, yes, black lives matter.
Responding to someone saying “Black Lives Matter” shouldn’t exist
This video is two people having a discussion about violence that happens in the black community and violence from the police. These two are not the same.
How to respond to “Why are so many Black people looting?”
This is a conversation between two individuals with different perspectives about the Black Lives Matter movement. The purpose of the conversation is to tackle the misconception of associating the Black Lives Matter movement and looting as one universal picture. Though the conversations was engaging, there is still a division between both perspectives.
How to respond to “The protestors deserved to get arrested”
This video is a conversation between a Black Lives Matter protester and a bystander, while another Black Lives Matter protester is getting arrested. The bystander wants the protesting to stop in his neighborhood.
Last updated July 18, 2025
Within NY State 4-H, we prioritize creating a safe, inclusive space for learning, sharing , and collaboration.This space is welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.
Diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, color, religion, political beliefs, national or ethnic origin, immigration status, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, transgender status, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, educational level, learning style, socioeconomic status, physical appearance, body size, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
The NY State 4-H Safer Space logo is a sign of our commitment to ensuring we do what we can towards creating safer environments for all participants in the NY State 4-H Program. While we won't always get it right, we will do our best to learn from mistakes and use those as teachable moments. You may see it throughout the fair and around the state at many different 4-H programs.
If you want to learn more about creating safer and inclusive spaces for youth, we would encourage you to speak with our 4-H advisors, extension educators, or state staff members who will be happy to direct you to further resources and training.