Youth in Government Program

Malik Moore, Director of Community Youth Services
(216) 263-6805
mmoore@clevelandymca.org

Click here to watch a video about the Greater Cleveland YMCA's Teen programs, narrated by Channel 3 newscaster Ramona Robinson.,.

Youth in Government program A fun and exciting way to learn about government!

The Y's Youth in Government Program enhances development of the American democratic process for young people through participatory training in the theory and practice of the Ohio state government.

Teens from across the city meet in local clubs throughout the year to discuss and debate issues that affect citizens of their state and to propose possible legislation to make state government more efficient.

The local groups elect a Youth Governor and Lieutenant Governor, as well as several officers like Secretary of State, Senate President, Speaker of the Assembly, and Attorney General. Other roles for Lobbyists, Clerks and Pages are also explored. An appointed Editor-in-Chief leads members of the print and electronic press corps in production of the session’s daily newspaper and electronic coverage.

Teens in the program learn about the legislative process, how to write and research bills, and how to participate in elections. Their work culminates in teens serving as delegates at their state conference, debating bills on the floor of the legislature. Some teens have actually made bills into laws!

The YIG program seeks to build, encourage and strengthen life assets and character traits that will help teens become involved and responsible adults. All YIG activities are designed with the following goals in mind:

•Providing leadership training and preparation to meet the needs of a democratic society
•Stimulating interest and awareness of US and state government’s function
•Creating opportunities for civic engagement and awareness of prominent social issues
•Developing self-confidence and self-expression while fostering tolerance and understanding of others’ point of view
•Cultivating the application of moral and ethical valuing processes to public policy making

Notable alumni of the Youth in Government program include President George H.W. Bush, former Ohio U.S. Senator John Glenn, Ohio Governor Scott McCallum, State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin and Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna.

In 1936, C.A. “Pete” Duran, state YMCA secretary in New York, created the first Youth in Government session in Albany. The program’s opportunity, as he saw it, was to interst youth through experience in the democratic process, particularly in the field of lawmaking.

In 1989, the first Ohio Youth Supreme Court was incorporated into the program and held in the actual Supreme Court chambers of the Capitol Building.

If you want to shape your city, this is the place for you! Contact the Program Director for meeting times at (216) 263-6294.