About Us
Founded in 2001 by youth activist Jason L. Reimer, the YMCA DC Youth & Government Program
is an initiative of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. Since its inception, the YMCA DC
Youth & Government program has held more than a dozen student leadership events, working with
more than 1,000 students throughout the District.
The YMCA DC Youth & Government program empowers youth to become critical ethical leaders and responsible citizens through training in the theory and practice of making public policy. Over the course of a school year, more than 180 student participants from across the city learn invaluable skills that they can use for years to come to improve their communities. Acting as a mayor, council members, committee members, the press and Board of Education, students debate and pass laws that they think can solve the District’s problems.
All program activities lead to the YMCA DC Youth & Government Legislative Weekend, where students participate in a two-day working simulation of the DC government.
Program Components
Civic Education Program: Throughout the year, school teachers and college student volunteers collaborate to teach local high school students about government and civic engagement. These delegation advisers help students learn parliamentary procedure, improve their speaking skills, and develop their own solutions to community challenges. Students research and write bills on issues that they are concerned with to be presented during Legislative Weekend.
Youth Summit: Each fall, our students come together to debate and discuss an issue they have selected. They meet with community leaders – including elected officials – to discuss the issues and to learn about having a career in public service.
Legislative Weekend: All of the work done by our students will culminate in this capstone event. Students participate in a simulation of DC government, with an elected Youth major, city council and agencies. Bills are drafted and debated, and some are passed into “law.” Participants then send these laws to the DC mayor and City Council for review. In our short history, one bill from our Legislative Weekend has been passed into law by the real DC government (the DC Council Youth Internship Program)!
YMCA’s Youth Conference on National Affairs: Program participants have an opportunity to attend CONA, a youth leadership forum that convenes every July at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC. The conference is attended by Youth & Government delegates from across the country. CONA offers unusual opportunities for a young person to do research in the area of national and international concerns, to organize this information into a document proposal, to engage in intensive discussion, and to debate these proposals with outstanding young people from other states.
YMCA of Metropolitan Washington - Mission Statement
The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington fosters the spiritual, metal and physical development of individuals, families and communities according to the ideals of inclusiveness, equality and mutual respect for all.
Return to TopYMCA DC Youth & Government - Mission Statement
YMCA DC Youth & Government empowers youth to become ethical leaders and responsible citizens.
Return to TopBoard of Advisors
The YMCA DC Youth & Government program is governed by a volunteer advisory board, which serves at the discretion of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington.
Jason L. Reimer, Esq. |
Julie Harris |
YMCA Core Values
Caring – is red for the heart
Honesty – is blue for true blue
Responsibility – is green for mother earth
Respect – is yellow (gold) for the golden rule