While the 65th Annual Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government (YIG) Model Assembly wrapped up last week, January 9th through the 13th, I’d like to roll back the calendar to last year’s event.
But before we do, here’s a bit of history on what has become a nationwide program involving nearly 25,000 students in some 40 states across the country.
The first youth-led model legislature–held in Albany, New York–began in 1936. A decade later, Minnesota instituted what has become the state’s largest hands-on civic education event. At the outset, Minnesota staged the assembly every two years until the year 1965 when it became an annual event.
According to the Y’s website, “It is the mission of Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government programs to develop personal growth and encourage life-long, responsible citizenship by providing experiential learning for young people and by providing public forums to recognize the abilities and capabilities of youth.”
YIG provides students the opportunity to:
. Join youth leaders from around the state to debate issues that are important to them.
. Listen to delegates with different experiences.
. Research public issues and become aware of local, state, national and international concerns.
. Accept their civic responsibilities and their leadership role.
. Let their voice be heard and get involved in the decision-making process!
“Participants take on roles as legislators, lobbyists, lawyers, judges, justices and journalists and practice open government without the confines of partisanship. The Minnesota YIG program brings together a variety of students from across the state to share their perspectives.”
“Youth in Government helps students learn about current issues and express their thoughts on the world they will inherit,” said Orville Lindquist, state program executive for Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government. “Students bring issues forward that are important to them and to their families, schools and communities. Discussing these issues helps students understand the perspectives of others and share their own stories.”
A year ago, Cook County Commissioner Heidi DooKirk vaunted her enthusiasm, during the January 9, 2018 commissioner’s board meeting, after returning from the 64th annual proceedings.
“I just attended a four-day YMCA Youth in Government . . . we had 11 kids 8th grade to 12th grade. They talked about open meeting law and the sunshine law and did a really great job; and so, um, I’m just very impressed.
“One of our students brought a bill to change school lunches, and not necessarily be more healthy but to have a wider option, because kids with allergies or diabetes or special needs don’t have a selection to pick from and if they are a lower-income family and they bring their own food it’s a burden on the family. It was a great thing to bring forward but, being [this was] his first year and not doing this [before], he wasn’t able to articulate where the funding would come from.
“He wanted the funding to come from the sales tax from pop sales and he didn’t have the information to show how much money that generated, and the students decided that they didn’t want to add the burden of expense of increasing food supplies to the smaller school district.
“So it didn’t pass just because he wasn’t able to articulate the funding, and [so] that it wouldn’t be a burden on the community.
[Elation, gasps, enthusiastic hoopla from fellow board members]
“Yea, and these are the conversations 8th graders are having. I was sitting there in awe. It was amazing! Our group came in very educated and well prepared.”
Did you get that? I strongly suggest you read those last three paragraphs again.
Refreshing to hear, isn’t it?
Quite the contrast to a local administrator and majority of commissioners who have consistently demonstrated: if they can finagle it, no obligatory questions called for, no empathetic concerns need be expressed, no prerequisite to be educated and well prepared, the community can simply fund it!
Wish we could expand the horizons of the adults “leading” this community on the responsible use of authority, power and position.
Former Cook County Commissioner Garry Gamble is writing this ongoing column about the various ways government works, as well as other topics. At times the column is editorial in nature.
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