YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT
The Youth in Government program began in 1936 by the YMCA of the USA. The Delaware program began in 1968, and since then, thousands of young people have benefited from the experience. Today, the program is offered in over 40 states and involves more than 50,000 young people each year. Delegations are sponsored by local YMCA branches, schools, and community organizations. By participating in this program, we are able to speak our minds, invest in our futures, and make a difference.

What's the process?
The youth in this program connect with other YMCA's in the state of Delaware to perform mock legislative session. Delegates participating in Youth in Government write bills, practice parliamentary procedure, attend a statewide training conference, and run for elected offices such as Youth Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House. Examples of bills that have been passes were providing talking traffic lights for the visually impaired, allowing funding for stem cell research, and longer hours for the DART bus on Sundays. These bills stem from issues in our community or in our state that concern us, and we take these concerns, research them, and construct a bill that addresses that concern.
At weekly meetings, we discuss articulation, presentation, appropriate attire, self-discipline, and courtesy for others.
This program helps them to build their knowledge of law and give them an experience of how the legislative process works.

2005 Participants
Francis Frisby - President of the Senate
Chris Jones - Secretary of the Senate
Lewis Tyler
Kennan Felder
Tara Ogunde
Patrina Higgins
Aja Terry
Nachai Taylor
Jasmine Tyler
Charity Graham
Trincia Griffin