Welcoming GRIIDD’s New 4-H Program Coordinator
Emma Hughes
Gila River Indian News
Liane Iglesias is the newest addition to Gila River Indian Irrigation Drainage District’s (GRIIDD) 4-H Youth Development program, serving as the Program Coordinator.
With a passion for youth development and community engagement, Iglesias brings a fresh perspective and boundless enthusiasm to the 4-H program.
Raised in Maricopa, Iglesias has always been familiar with farming. She shared that her grandfather worked on cotton farms, and she grew up around livestock. She was also in a 4-H club when she was younger.
Iglesias has a proven track record of fostering positive relationships within the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) and empowering young minds to reach their full potential. She was previously with the Community’s youth program for Employment and Training, working with youth 14 to 24 years old.
“There’s a lot of young adults here in the community, and I just met a lot of great kids through that program,” said Iglesias. “They had their goals, they were ready to decide on a career, and I was looking for more opportunities to reach the younger youth.”
Before working with GRIC, she was employed with Ak-Chin Indian Community’s Education Department. Under Iglesias’ leadership, Community members can expect to see an array of exciting initiatives and programming to provide GRIC youth with opportunities for personal and professional development.
She says the 4-H program, which stands for head, heart, hands, and health, brings together the fourpillars of agriculture, healthy living, civic engagement, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) for youth to learn and develop with hands-on activities.
“There’s so many projects that can be under one of those pillars,” said Iglesias. “One of my goals is to teach the younger youth and spark that interest in something agriculture-related because that is a big part of Gila River.”
The 4-H club is open to GRIC youth and residents ages 5-18, and the program is also looking for adults (21 years and older) to become certified volunteers, actively sharing their skills and guidance with youth in the Community.
“We want to teach these youth and be able to help them gain leadership skills and expose them to careers that they may like to pursue, and that’s something that 4-H can provide,” Iglesias said.
Enrollment for the program will begin in August, and official club activities will launch in the fall at least once a month. For more information about the GRIC 4-H Club, contact Liane Iglesias at (520) 610-7240 or email gric4H@griidd.com