Youth In Government

Youth In Government (YIG) at the YMCA

Since 1936, YMCA Youth In Government (YIG) has given students around the country the opportunity to serve as part of a youth-run, youth-led model government process. The Florida YMCA Youth In Government program was founded in 1957, and for nearly 70 years, delegates have been actively engaged with the issues that impact their families, schools, YMCAs and communities.

Current Offerings

The YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg offers the program for both high school and middle school students at Speer YMCA, as follows:

Mangrove Bay Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)
Community-Based Chapter (6th - 12th Grade), open to all high school and middle school members of the St. Petersburg area

To join, reach out to Angela Power at [email protected].

Benefits of Youth In Government

Builds servant leaders

At all levels, the YMCA Youth In Government program is designed to help delegates understand that in order to lead, you must first learn how to serve others. In doing so, students are immersed in YMCA core values (caring, honesty, respect and responsibility) and service learning through projects and hands-on leadership development and opportunities. The practice of guiding students to learn, serve and lead is a foundation of the program.

Prepares engaged citizens

The Youth In Government model government process is designed to prepare students for a life of engaged and active citizenship built on the values of civil debate, statesmanship and research-based policy solutions. The annual State Assembly invites high school students from across Florida to join together at the State Capitol in Tallahassee to serve in the actual Senate and House chambers, Cabinet and Supreme Court offices during a 4-day model government session. The Junior Assembly for middle school students follows a similar model and takes place in Haines City, Florida.

Teaches democracy to each generation

Through service and engagement, YMCA Youth In Government strives to inspire future generations to embody the Y’s areas of focus - for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility. In addition to empowering service-minded, community-committed, civically-knowledgeable youth leaders, the program goals intend to inspire:

Awareness of societal issues and solutions
Confidence in and dedication to the democratic process
Increased participative leadership skills
Increased communication skills
Respect for diverse viewpoints
Accountability and respect for the rights of others
Application of moral and ethical values processes to public policy making
Enriching the formal education process with reality-based learning experiences

Career exposure for youth

Youth In Government greatly values investing in the youth of today as leaders of tomorrow, and offers many benefits to students in St. Petersburg. Beyond hands-on exposure to the processes that power their community, students in the program are likely to cultivate a sense of achievement and belonging; develop professional and personal skills; earn service hours; be eligible for college credits or waivers; and have access to positive relationships and mentorship experiences.