What We Do
Despite the negative headlines about troubled neighborhoods in Washington, DC, there is a forgotten story; one about how young people dream that their neighborhoods can be better places to live. Every year this hope and optimism is channeled in the YMCA DC Youth & Government program, which empowers youth to become ethical leaders and responsible citizens through training in the theory and practice of making public policy.
Overview
Over the course of the year, more than 200 student participants from across the city learn valuable skills that they use to improve their communities for years to come. The program, founded by youth advocate Jason L. Reimer, has several aspects:
- Club Program: College students work with teachers to deliver a curriculum for high school students centered on civic education.
- Youth Summit: In late fall, students gather for a one-day “summit” to discus issues selected by their peers. They also have an opportunity to meet community leaders and elect the student leadership for the Legislative Weekend.
- Legislative Weekend: All of the work done throughout the year culminates in this capstone event. Students act as mayor, council members, committee members, lobbyists, and press – debating and passing laws that they think help improve the District.
Purpose
The purpose of the program is to bring the workings of city government to life for students. YMCA DC Youth & Government creates a hands-on opportunity for students to discuss current issues with city administrators, elected officials, and students from schools and YMCAs throughout the District of Columbia. Club members are extensively trained over a school-year program cycle to fulfill the following roles at the Legislative Weekend:
- Officers and Administrators are given responsibility for the planning, implementation, and leadership of the conference and must learn procedure and the duties of the youth mayor, cabinet, committee chairs, chair of the Youth City Council, and editor-in-chief of the press corps.
- Committee Members must stay up to date on current affairs, learn procedure and bill-writing skills in order to author bills and vote on bills, speak their minds on current events, run for office, and vote for officers.
- The Press Corps keeps a careful eye on the proceedings by publishing newspapers daily.
- Junior Legislators serve as conference pages while they learn the mechanics of the program. They also develop bills and present them to appropriate chambers.
Goals
The goals of the YMCA DC Youth & Government Program are to:
- Practice cooperation, tolerance, and goodwill in making democracy work.
- Provide guidance, training, and experience in determining public policy.
- Confirm the principles of democracy in the life of each citizen.
- Develop the attitude that through action in the branches of government, people can improve their current situation.
- Reveal the importance of the freedoms set forth in the Bill of Rights and the DC Charter.
- Have a safe and stable environment to experience democracy.
- Show that an honest disagreement of opinion is healthy for society.
- To meet these goals, each participant will have individual goals to work towards meeting by the end of the conference year, including:
- Applying the four core values of the YMCA to their lives: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
- earning how their city government functions.
- Connecting with other students and staff from the DC region.
- Expressing themselves on matters of public policy.
- Understanding the importance of being a participant in our democracy