September 8, 2025 | Washington County, Minnesota
For my fourth and final county presentation, I got to bring the Metropolitan Council 4-H Climate Action Project back home to Washington County.
This time, I presented solo at the Washington County Extension Committee meeting. After presenting in Carver, Ramsey, and Anoka Counties, I had already received a lot of useful feedback, so I revised the slides again and tightened how I explained the project, our community interview findings, and the recommendations that came out of the work.
What felt most different was my confidence.
Earlier in the project, I had practiced closely with people like Gillian, Lucy, Leah, Bri and Anne and was always grateful to have someone there supporting me in the room. By the time I reached this presentation, I felt comfortable walking in on my own, setting everything up, and presenting the full project without needing that extra reassurance.
Presenting in my home county also made the experience feel more personal. I shared how youth across the metro had interviewed community members, analyzed patterns in their responses, and learned how factors such as cost, access, education, and community involvement affect whether people feel able to take environmental action.
After the presentation, I had the chance to hear feedback from county commissioners, Extension committee members, and public health officials. Those conversations helped me see the project from yet another perspective and gave me more ideas about how youth-led environmental work can connect with local government and public health.
A big thank-you to Tammy for inviting me to present in Washington County and for supporting me throughout this project. I’m also very grateful to the county commissioners, public health officials, and Extension Committee members for taking the time to listen and share their feedback.
This presentation wrapped up the series of county presentations I gave through the project. Looking back from the first presentation in Carver County to standing on my own in Washington County, I could see how much I had grown, not only in public speaking, but also in learning how to listen to feedback, revise my message, and communicate community research to very different audiences.
Bringing the project home felt like a fitting way to finish.
