Raleigh, N.C. —North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives have invited 4-H youth leaders from across the state to an innovative Citizenship North Carolina Focus Conference at the State Capital, June 11-13. More than 100 youth leaders from all across the state will arrive in Raleigh on Sunday to discuss local and state issues in workshops, participate in a live taping of NC Spin, a public affairs television show broadcast across the state, and to meet with NC legislators on Wednesday morning at a breakfast sponsored by North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives.
“The Capital Experience is an opportunity for young people to learn the importance of becoming active, knowledgeable and part of their state’s legislative process. It’s also an opportunity for state leaders to hear first hand the thoughts and concerns of the next generation of North Carolina’s leadership,” said Nelle Hotchkiss, senior vice president for North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives.
Some of the topics the youth delegates will cover at the conference are “Meeting Donors and Elected Officials,” “Are you Down With Your Town: Local Government,” “So, Who Runs this Place: Legislative Basics” and “You Be the Judge: The Judicial System.”
On Tuesday morning, legislators from across the state will meet with the 4-H youth delegates over breakfast to discuss issues that are important to high school and college-age students. Youth delegates will then make calls on legislators from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
Hotchkiss added that commitment to community is one of the core values of North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives, particularly when it comes to the education of this state’s youth. For this reason, the state’s cooperatives are to sponsor the 4-H’s Capital Experience Conference.
North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives serve the electric and energy needs of 2.4 million people in 93 of the state’s 100 counties.