4-H a DEI Love Story: How Positive Youth Development Became a Battleground for Democracy - John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas
John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, PhD, MSW, SHRM-SCP Dr. John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, a war survivor from Guatemala, is a nationally recognized leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) who served as Iowa’s 4-H State Leader and Director, one of the oldest, largest, and most respected 4-H programs in the nation. His tenure marked a pivotal moment in the 4-H organization’s history. As the first statewide Latino leader in 4-H’s 124-year history. Dr Chaisson-Cardenas, who was not a “traditional” 4-Her, championed inclusive policies that welcomed LGBTQ+ youth into the fold—emphasizing that every young person deserves a place to belong and thrive. During the Trump administration, Dr. Chaisson-Cardenas stood firm against federal pressure to rescind Iowa 4-H’s policy affirming LGBTQIA+ youth. Despite receiving death threats and facing political backlash, he refused to compromise on equity and inclusion. His dismissal from Iowa State University’s Extension and Outreach sparked national attention and galvanized support from national and state legislators, as well as thousands of 4-H educators, advocates, and especially youth 4-H leaders, who praised his courage and integrity. He currently serves as Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Connecticut State Community College, where he provides strategic leadership to advance equity across the system. His work includes assessing political, social, and institutional environments to guide policy development and implementation that fosters inclusive excellence. Lisa Lauxman, PhD, MBA, MA Dr. Lisa Lauxman is an independent consultant, retired from U.S. federal service. She served most recently as an Institutional Service Contractor with Credence Management Solution, LLC and Environmental Incentives embedded within the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance’s Strategic Planning and Activity Design (SPAD) Team. She retired from federal service serving as the National Program Leader in the Center for International Programs (CIP) within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Previously, Dr. Lauxman served as the Director, 4-H National Headquarters, Division of Youth & 4-H from February 2010 to July 2018. Dr. Lauxman provided national programmatic leadership leveraging the land-grant universities’ resources of Cooperative Extension for international opportunities, emphasizing international positive youth development in agriculture. Her areas of expertise and research interest include positive youth development, non-formal learning, youth voice and advocacy, civic engagement, and youth and adult leadership along with strategic planning, program design and program evaluation. Dr. Laxman’s career spans over 40 years with the U.S. cooperative extension land-grant system serving in two different states’ counties, at the state and national and international level and was active in the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-H YDP) serving as President. She grew up on a dairy farm in Kansas. Dr. Lauxman earned her Doctorate in Educational Psychology with a minor in Psychology in Program Evaluation Research Methodology from the University of Arizona as well as an M.A. in Educational Psychology, an M.B.A from Emporia State University, and a B.S. in Home Economics Extension from Kansas State University.
GENRE: Non Fiction, Memoir, Current Events, Politics, Sociology
Blurb:
Two leaders. Two journeys. One shared promise to youth: belonging. Told in alternating voices, this intimate narrative follows Dr. Lisa Lauxman and Dr. John‑Paul Chaisson‑Cardenas as they build, defend, and reimagine youth programs across the 4-H and land‑grant university ecosystem both in the U.S. and abroad. Through county club nights and state fairs, listening circles, and brave meetings, quiet wins and public storms. Part braided memoir, part field manual, this is a candid conversation.
