More than 1,700 students from throughout California are expected to participate in this year’s YMCA Model Legislature & Court in Sacramento.
Program lets youth experience government in action
October 30, 2023
Organization: YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
Award: Partners in Educational Excellence Award
The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles is launching future leaders with an experiential learning program that gives high school students the opportunity to demonstrate civic knowledge, awareness and action.
Youth & Government is a national YMCA program that empowers students to experience government firsthand through a state-organized Model Legislature & Court program. For more than 75 years, California’s YMCA Model Legislature & Court has brought youth delegates from throughout the state to Sacramento to make new friends, gain critical thinking skills and learn how our government works. Through hands-on and student-led programming, young leaders are not only learning valuable life skills but driving innovation with their own ideas on how our state government can work best for them. More than 1,700 students from 60 delegations are expected to participate in this year’s event in February.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles makes participating in this event a reality for hundreds of students from the Los Angeles area each year. In collaboration with Los Angeles USD, Los Angeles City Council, California State Legislature, UCLA and ACSA, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles provides curriculum, trained and caring adult staff, and volunteer advisers who mentor teens at weekly delegation meetings. The YMCA also provides financial aid to subsidize students’ participation costs, making this opportunity accessible to all students who are interested. Thanks to a robust financial aid and scholarship program, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles does not turn away anyone for the inability to pay. The YMCA receives funding support from individual donors, foundations and sponsors including Schools First and California Credit Union, as well as from official partners Delta Airlines, the LA Galaxy, LA Kings and LA Clippers.
For over six months, students research, write, debate and practice for their role at the Model Legislature & Court. Teachers, administrators and community leaders often participate in local Bill Hearing Nights, where students prepare for their statewide presentation.
When they arrive in Sacramento for the much-anticipated conference, students put that training into action by debating legislation, deciding court cases and running for an array of prestigious elected positions, including the office of Youth Governor, the program’s highest leadership position. State and elected leaders often visit the conference, including most recently Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Gov. Gavin Newsom, as was highlighted in the 2022 documentary “The Youth Governor.”
“We are desperate for leaders,” Newsom told students in the film, which has been shown at the Cleveland International Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival and the Milwaukee Film Festival.
The program’s goal is to nurture future leaders and civically engaged Californians that understand the legislative process, can identify major issues facing their community and are equipped with the skills needed to create change.
Through their participation, students gain problem-solving skills and how to resolve conflicts respectfully. They also show more engagement in school activities, such as student government and service clubs. According to YMCA data, more than 88 percent of Y&G alumni over the age of 25 have received a bachelor’s degree and Y&G alumni are 30 percent more likely to vote in upcoming elections.
“Youth & Government has provided me with skills, passions and connections that extend far beyond the program itself,” said Katherine Beck, 75th Chief Justice, ’23. “Without Y&G, I would not have discovered my love of speech writing, nor would I have gained the skills and confidence necessary to potentially turn that into a career. The program truly does have a lifelong positive impact.”
In addition, Y&G students provide service in their communities through Feed LA, and work with local officials to host community outreach and advocacy events. Y&G also drives voter education and engagement through their initiative, “Y We Vote.”
“I am most impressed with the YMCA Youth & Government Program which teaches the value of democracy by developing citizen leaders from a cross section of our local high school population,” said LAUSD Board Vice President Scott M. Schmerelson. “I know of no other organization that is such a true partner that provides this educational experience for our youth.”
For more information on CA YMCA Youth & Government, contact Executive Director Mari Bassel at maribassel@ymcala.org.
Youth & Government is a national YMCA program that empowers students to experience government firsthand through a state-organized Model Legislature & Court program.
At the conference in Sacramento, participants campaign for an array of prestigious elected positions, including the office of Youth Governor, the program’s highest leadership position.
When they arrive in Sacramento for the much-anticipated conference, students put their training into action by debating legislation, deciding court cases and running for an array of elected positions.