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About Y&G
Answers to all your FAQs
Since 1948, the YMCA’s Youth & Government (Y&G) program has provided an unmatched experiential learning opportunity for high school students. By modeling California’s legislature and courts, participants can build skills such as critical thinking, persuasive speech and writing, project management, and collaboration. Our program is rooted in the YMCA’s core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility, and believes in the importance of servant leadership and media literacy to a healthy democracy.
Our goal is to grow the next generation of civically engaged Californians. Civically engaged Californians recognize the importance of:
- Civic Knowledge: They understand the structure and function of government.
- Civic Awareness: They can identify the major issues facing their communities.
- Civic Action: They are equipped with the tools they’ll need to make change in their community.
Delegates will focus on one of several program areas that model California state government and which are designed to equip them with the tools they need to become and remain civically engaged throughout life and to advocate for themselves and their communities. Delegates will learn about trending policy topics in subject areas like education, the environment, public safety, and more. They'll learn how legislation is made as they act as Legislators, Advocates, or Analysts. A court program will teach participants about the impact of lawsuits and legal decisions on public policy. Delegates can even modeljournalists and learn how to produce news articles and videos.
We have 3 delegations meeting in midtown Sacramento, El Dorado Hills, and Grass Valley.
We welcome high school students from any school.
If you've found our website from a google search and are looking for a delegation outside of the greater Sacramento area, there are over 65 across California. Visit the CalY&G website to learn more.
In the greater Sacramento area and onterested in starting a delegation closer to home? Contact us for more information.
We currently have students from the following schools and we welcome delegates from all schools, public or private, and homeschools:
- Capital Christian
- Christan Brothers
- CK McClatchy
- Cordova High
- Davis High School
- El Dorado
- Folsom High School
- Inderkum
- Jesuit High School
- Mira Loma
- Natomas Charter School
- NP3
- Oak Ridge High School
- Rio Americano
- Sacramento Country Day School
- St Francis High School
- The Met
- West Campus
- Western Sierra Collegiate Academy
The program year runs from August through March. We currently have delegations based in Sacramento, El Dorado Hills, and western Nevada County.
The Sacramento Central Delegation meets on Wednesdays from 6:30p-8:00p.
The El Dorado Delegation meet on Thursdays from 6:30-8:00p.
The Gold Country Delegation meet on Thursdays from 6:345-8:15p.
Delegation meetings are led by the student officer team. During meetings, delegates have the chance to get to know one another, learn about the basic structures of government, hear from guest speakers, and hear about program leadership opportunities. They’ll also practice their public speaking skills during frequent debates and discussions about today’s top issues.
- Sunday, October 13, 2024, Capitol Coalition Day, Sacramento-area location TBA
- Friday, November 8 – Monday, November 11, 2024, Camp Roberts, San Miguel, CA (transportation provided)
- Friday, February 14 – Monday, February 17, 2025, California State Capitol, Sacramento, CA
Delegates attend a local coalition conference and two in-person statewide conferences where they will interact with other Delegates from around California. At statewide conferences, Delegates will hear from keynote speakers, run for elected officer positions, receive training on their program areas, and put into practice everything they have learned throughout the program year.
Participation in Youth & Government programming constitutes an excused absence under the California Education Code. Delegates must attend conferences in full (no in-and-outprivileges).
Our program fee for the 2024-25 year is $1600. Financial assistance is available.
We are committed to equal program access for all and are dedicated to ensuring the benefits of Y&G are available to every student in our community without regard to financial need. No delegate should ever drop out or refrain from joining because of financial concerns. If you want to do this program, we want you to do this program!
At a minimum, delegates are expected to attend weekly meetings (1.5 hours), read the weekly bulletin (10 minutes), and attend the local conference, training conference, and full Model Legislature & Court.
Several program areas within Y&G also required delegates to prepare written proposals in advance of conferences. Delegates will also occassionally be asked to spend some time outside of meetings researching for their student-authored legislation.
Beyond that, Y&G is what you make of it. Delegates interested in pursuing elected or appointed office within the delegation or at the statewide level will be expected to attend additional meetings (mostly before delegation meetings or via zoom for statewide offices) and may put additional time into preparing speeches, campaigning, or engaging with other delegations.
Y&G teaches real-world advocacy skills and life skills like public speaking, research and writing, time management, project management, networking, and interviewing.
Colleges are familiar wtih Y&G and our program is highly regarded.
Y&G delegates report decreased apathy and increased interest in current events, civic affairs, and leadership.
Participation in Y&G may increase incidents of informed debate, informed voting, and the urge to join community organizations or to volunteer to improve your neighborhood, city, state, or country.
Y&G delegates also report higher than average rates of voter registration and turnout.
Occassional use of spirit fingers during classroom activities or non-Y&G meetings has also been reported.
There is no known cure for these side effects.
First off, we all wear nametags at meetings and conferences, so quite literally, no one is anonymous in Y&G.
But more to the point: #notanonymous is our Capitol Coalition philosophy reminding us that, despite what the internet age would have us believe, none of us is anonymous. The things that we say and do matter - for better or for worse. Each of our actions impacts the world around us. WE matter and our presence matters to the world. We are each important and valuable and we each bring an imporant perspective to the world.
Our delegates adopted its REDPIE values in 2021.
- Respect
- Empathy
- Dedication
- Purpose
- Integrity
- Encouragement
We strive to be caught living these values and improving our communities through our actions.
These Coalition values augment the YMCA values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility that are in the heart of everything that we do.
We're so glad you asked! As a program of the YMCA, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), we gratefully accept donations that help us keep delegate fees low and maintain our commitment to ensuring that opportunity is a right and not a privilege.
Please visit the main YMCA website to learn more about our many programs that serve kids, families, seniors, and more.
A program of the YMCA of Superior California.
Learn more about our programs for healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility here.
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