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Youth & Government
The use of the State Capitol's official chambers and meeting rooms adds a tremendous amount of dignity to the proceedings
of the California YMCA Model Legislature and Court (ML/C), now in its 58th year. The ML/C is a statewide youth educational
program involving more than 2,300 high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in a nine month "hands on" experience.
Since its inception, the program has used a variety of activities to build, encourage, and strengthen those life assets and
character traits that will help high school youth become involved responsible adults who are decent and respected citizens.
The tool used is a high quality experiential and educational simulation based upon California's state government. The program
is very comprehensive, and its impact on the youth participants is dramatic. The core purpose of this highly regarded program
is exemplified in the motto "Democracy Must Be Learned By Each Generation."
The program begins in September when 2,200 young people and 250 volunteers at approximately 80 locations throughout the
state meet as individual delegations to discuss issues facing California. During a nine month period, the teen delegates write
bills, select governmental positions to role-play, attend statewide training conferences, and run for various elected offices.
The program reaches its peak in Sacramento at the State Capitol with the convening of the five day Model Legislature and Court
each February. There, "real" government moves over and the teen delegates "take over," using the historic
halls, chambers, and offices of our State Capitol, Supreme Court, and Governor's Office.
However, the program is by no means a government boot camp. A key focus of Youth and Government is the building of friendships
among its participants. During free time at conferences (which can consist of dances, games, or just relaxing) relationships
are built that last a lifetime. It is extremely common for participants to refer to their "Youth and Government buddies"
as the best friends they ever had. The key here is that Youth and Government uses the tool of a Model Legislature and Court
session to provide its participants with the life skills that they will use even if they decide to pursue a professional career
outside of government.
The program is open to all interested high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors whether or not they are members of
the YMCA. The sponsoring organizations, usually (but not exclusively) community YMCAs, form one or more delegations by recruiting
teenagers at high schools or through teen outreach programs. In some cases, delegations are sponsored directly by schools
or other organizations in order for the program to provide opportunities to all interested high school youth at any location
in the State.
Our History
In the mid-1930's, Clement Duran, a YMCA director from Albany, New York, wanted to find a meaningful experience for young
people that might inspire them to become active and concerned participants in government as citizens. He struck upon the idea
of a "model" legislature that would provide "hands on" learning. The slogan, "Democracy Must Be Learned
By Each Generation," was developed by Duran to interpret the purpose of the program. The first Model Legislature was
held in Albany, New York, in 1936.
With encouragement from the National YMCA, the program spread rapidly to nearby states. With Duran's help, California
initiated its program in 1949. Approval and support was enlisted from Governor Earl Warren, father of two boys in the first
program. A statewide committee of leading citizens, including several State officials and legislators, was organized. The
committee, now known as the Governing Board, secured resolutions of both legislative houses for the youth delegates to use
the Senate and Assembly Chambers. State officials worked as consultants to youth officers as well as conducting training sessions
for delegates.
Continued close and permanent working relationships with State Government officials have contributed greatly to the ongoing
quality and success of the program. Every Governor since Warren has been involved, usually by meeting in question-and-answer
sessions with the delegates and by allowing the elected Youth Governor to use their office. In 1972, Governor Ronald Reagan
ordered National Guard facilities to be made available for pre-training conferences. In 1974, then-Senator George Deukmejian
developed a high level Advisory Board for the program and chaired it for nine years until he became Governor. He established
an endowment fund to help assure the continuation of the program for future generations, and continues today to assist the
program. The fund is now named in his honor.
Today's expanded program includes a Judicial Program featuring Trial, Jury Trial, Appellate, Judicial Review and Supreme
Courts, a dual Legislative Program, and special programs for Pages, Print and Video journalists, Legislative Lobbyists, Legislative
Analysts, and others. Sophomore delegates have a special Forum program designed especially for first year delegates. Manuals
and advisory bulletins continue to provide local advisors with the best experience of other Youth & Government Programs.
During the last twenty years, California has sent it's Youth Governor to the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs each
summer in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Since 1992 California's delegation has increased to thirty delegates and advisors,
enjoying success at this highly competitive conference.
On January 1, 2001, California YMCA Youth and Government was chartered as an independent YMCA.
The El Dorado delegation has been around for somewhere between 8 and 20 years and was founded by a man named Dean Borg.
Dispite knowledge of its founders name, the delegation's history before the Northeast YMCA came into the picture is shrouded
in mystery. Currently it is run through the Northeast YMCA at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills.
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