Partners in Civic Engagement

Transcription

1 american bar association and ymca youth in government Partners in Civic Engagement YouthInGovtYMCA_pages.indd 1 1/25/10 8:04:55 AM

2 Dear Colleagues, I write to introduce you to American Bar Association and YMCA Youth in Government: Partners in Civic Engagement, a guide to law-related volunteer opportunities available at local YMCAs. This publication was produced through the joint efforts of the American Bar Association (ABA) Division for Public Education and the YMCA Youth in Government (YIG) program. In 2000, the ABA adopted a policy that encouraged every lawyer to consider it part of his or her fundamental professional responsibility to further the public s understanding of and confidence in the rule of law and the American system of justice. This publication is a valuable resource to direct ABA members to local opportunities that will allow them to answer that call and assist young people in their quest to learn more about our government and political processes. Our membership is uniquely qualified to play important supportive roles in YIG programming. Herein you will find information about a variety of programs that offer a range of volunteer opportunities and options including occasional, short term, and longer term volunteer roles as well as profiles of your colleagues who are YIG alumni and volunteers. As a teen, I was a member of my local YMCA, and I have continued to be an active member in the local and national YMCA, including serving as volunteer chair of the Board of Management of the Metro Birmingham (Alabama) YMCA (serving 44,000 YMCA members). My initial introduction into the law and exposure to legal careers was through my involvement in the YMCA and YIG (then called YMCA Youth Legislature) programming in my hometown of Gadsden, Alabama. Committed attorneys and other adult volunteers worked with me and my YIG peers on mock trials and basic citizenship education and training. That involvement led me to run for and be elected the speaker of the Youth Legislature House of Representatives in Alabama. It was through my participation in Youth Legislature (now YIG) that I discovered my love for the law and realized my calling was to be an attorney. YIG s motto is Democracy must be learned by each generation. If we reflect on the conditions in our country and in the world, we know that this is certainly true. I agree with the sentiments of Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O Connor and former governor of Colorado and superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District Roy Romer expressed in 2006, We should be troubled by another shortcoming of American schools. Most young people today simply do not have an adequate understanding of how our government and political system work, and they are thus not well prepared to participate as citizens. The ABA House of Delegates has passed numerous resolutions expressing advocacy and support for law-related citizenship education and has encouraged the membership to be personally and actively engaged in civic education in their communities and schools. David H. Souter, following retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court, addressed the American Bar Association at its 2009 annual meeting. Souter called on the audience to join him in making civics instruction a priority for the nation and their respective states and communities. I submit to you that an excellent place to start or continue your support is through involvement with your hometown YMCA YIG program. Please consider getting involved. Help to nurture the next generation of active and informed citizens. Sincerely, H. Thomas Wells Jr. ABA President

3 ABA and YMCA Youth in Government Increasing Civic Engagement Call to Action You are Critical Nonprofit organizations such as the YMCA always need volunteers. Law-related and civic education programs including the YMCA Youth in Government (YIG) require large numbers of volunteers with special skills. Legal professionals can help by volunteering. Legal knowledge and expertise are critical in helping to prepare students for YIG mock trials and legislative sessions. Legal professionals play important volunteer roles at all state YIG conferences including serving as judges in trials, resource advisors for student legislators researching bills, coaches for students in appellate courts, and chaperones and advisors for YIG clubs. The members of the American Bar Association are a natural and perfect fit for these volunteer opportunities. National Statistics YMCA Youth in Government PROGRAM 37 STATES and District of Columbia Student Participation 47,000 Program Volunteers 3,500 Local Schools/YMCAs (Delegations) 1,850 Teen Programs Available 120 Many states offer continuing legal education (CLE) or mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) credits to lawyers who volunteer time with civic education programs such as YMCA YIG. In addition, some states require lawyers to volunteer with national or community organizations. Legal professionals may find that volunteering with YMCA-YIG can serve two purposes: provide a unique opportunity to give back to youth in the community and help fulfill the state s MCLE requirements. Lawyers should check with their state bar association to learn more about continuing legal education and volunteer requirements. PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 3

4 ABA and YMCA Partners in Promoting Civic Education American Bar Association Division for Public Education The American Bar Association (ABA) Division for Public Education was established in 1984 and provides national leadership in educating the public about the law, legal issues, and legal institutions. The mission of the Division is to promote public understanding of the law and its role in society. Working in partnership with bar associations, courts, educational institutions, civic organizations and others, the Division reaches diverse public audiences through programs, publications, websites and other resources that are designed to educate and inform youth, undergraduate students, and adults. In 2006, the ABA established an official policy to encourage all lawyers and judges to be personally and actively engaged in civic education in their communities and schools and to call on policymakers at all levels of government to ensure that all students experience high quality civic learning [and that it be] accorded national educational priority on par with reading and mathematics. To implement this policy, the Division created tool kits for educators and bar association leaders to advocate for and facilitate dialogue on the importance of civic education. YMCA Youth in Government YMCA Youth in Government is a civics program, targeted to middle and high school students, that provides education and leadership training in the principles of a democratic society. The mission of the YMCA Youth in Government program is to help create the next generation of thoughtful, committed, and active citizens. The purpose of the Youth in Government program is to bring the workings of state government to life for students. The YIG program and activities create opportunities for students to discuss current state issues with state administrators, elected officials, and students from high schools and YMCAs throughout their respective states. The first Youth in Government program was organized in 1936 in the state of New York, and its original goal was to inspire and train youth to enter politics. Since then the YIG program has evolved and operates with a broader civic education goal. Currently there are active YIG programs in 37 states and the District of Columbia. 4 ABA & YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

5 overview Youth in Government Programming YMCAs in each participating state offer a series of conferences, trips, leadership training sessions, and law-related education and service learning opportunities that are under the umbrella of Youth in Government programming. Local YIG programs operate separately and are unique in their programming offerings; however, there are basic similarities that bind the programs together for a common cause. Individual programs are connected by the YMCA of USA and guided by a common motto, Democracy must be learned by each generation. One of the important facets of the Youth In Government program is the opportunity for teens to serve in appointed and elected leadership positions. The Youth In Government program uses the service learning model in all of its programs Many people associate the YMCA with sports and youth character building through physical activities; however, the YMCA has had an interest and stake in education and civic activities since it was established in London in 1844 as a religious institution for young men. The first YMCA in the United States opened in Boston in Today there are more than 2,600 US-based YMCAs serving 21 million children and adults in 10,000 communities. The YMCA serves all people regardless of race, religion, social class, or gender and provides a wide range of programs. based on the belief that leadership is developed by doing. Each local and statewide program provides a variety of activity choices that are based upon and built on the four core values of the YMCA: honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring. All YIG programs teach students about the legislative and judicial processes in their community, state, and national governments. Students learn to write bills and are guided through the legislative process while assuming the roles of elected officials, including representatives, senators, governors, and attorneys general in a mock government. The bills are presented in model legislative sessions. Students also form teams that prepare for and participate in mock trials and appeals court trials while assuming various roles, including attorneys, witnesses and judges in the judicial process. Most of the activities within these programs occur at the local delegation level, in preparation for the model legislature conference held within each state. The conference is led by teens elected to office by their fellow delegates. Students from across each state gather in the state capital to carry out the roles they have so carefully prepared for all year. Each state provides facilities and volunteers from various state departments who act as resources for the students while they debate the issues. Volunteers help guide the students through mock committee meetings and trials. Many states use the House and Senate chambers of their capitols to add a more official quality to the proceedings. Students debate and vote on PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 5

6 the bills that their fellow delegates have written and presented. Bills that pass in committee are then taken to the floor of the House or Senate for full debate and vote. The experience of participating in democracy in action is very empowering for most students. The government process that they have read about in textbooks becomes a reallife experience. Whether they participate in the model legislature, mock trials, or as elected officials, many students realize for the first time that their own voices and opinions can make a difference. In fact, their voices are heard by state legislators who are often so impressed with the innovative legislation written by the students that student written bills are introduced in state legislatures, and in some cases are passed into law. Youth in Government provides students with hands-on learning opportunities that could increase their interest in history, government, and civic life. YIG also provide students with opportunities to see the connection between academics and their lives as citizens, to improve their school performance, and ultimately motivate them to become productive and engaged citizens. Why the ABA is partnering with YMCA Youth in Government The YMCA is a great partner in a joint endeavor to reach and teach students about civic education. Many of their programs connect with average students and reach youth who otherwise might not 1. naturally gravitate to academic pursuits such as mock trials; 2. necessarily be selected to be a part of a mock trial or other law-related programs at school; 3. be motivated or popular enough to seek or win an office in student government. The American Bar Association and the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools commissioned the Technical Assistance Bulletin Paths to 21st Century Competencies Through Civic Education Classrooms: An Analysis of Survey Results from Ninth-Graders in In it, researchers noted that Civic Education, especially when it is interactive and involves discussion of current issues, is an important way to develop the skills that young Americans need to succeed in the 21st Century workforce. The ABA has a long history of supporting law-related education, and has recognized as a fundamental professional responsibility a lawyer s ability to educate members of the community, young and old, about the law. Retired Justice David H. Souter spoke extensively about the need for more civic education at the Opening Assembly of the 2009 American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Chicago and encouraged members of the ABA to get involved. The formalizing of an ABA-YMCA partnership is another vehicle to promote the importance of civic education to a wider audience and to encourage ABA members to become involved as supporters of and volunteers for Youth in Government programming and activities in their communities. 6 ABA & YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

7 Profiles of ABA Members who were involved in Youth in Government as students and who volunteer with YIG as adults H. Thomas Wells Jr. Birmingham, Alabama As a high school student and the son of a dentist, I thought I was slated to become an orthodontist. However, in my junior year of high school, I became involved in what was then called YMCA Youth Legislature (now Youth in Government). In getting involved in this extraordinary program, I found that I loved legal research (required for drafting the bill I was going to introduce) and discovered my calling to become a lawyer. Moreover, in my senior year, I decided to run for, and was elected speaker of the House of the Alabama Youth Legislature. I still treasure the gavel I received after that experience as much as I treasure the gavel from being chair of the ABA House of Delegates and from being president of the ABA. H. Thomas Wells Jr. was president of American Bar Association from 2008 to2009 and is partner and founding member of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C., in Birmingham, Alabama. Wells earned his bachelor s degree with honors from the University of Alabama, where he was president of the student government association and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his law degree, Order of the Coif, from the University of Alabama, where he was selected as the outstanding member of the Alabama Law Review and a Hugo Black Scholar. Mr. Wells was elected speaker of the House in Alabama Youth In Government 1968 and later served as the chair of the Board of Management of the YMCA Downtown Branch and the Metro Birmingham YMCA, which currently consists of ten family branches, a Downtown Youth Center, Hargis Retreat, and Camp Cosby. The Metro Birmingham YMCA has a total membership of 44,000. PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 7

8 Profile Jade J. Edwards Flint, Michigan Michigan Youth in Government (MYIG) really played a pivotal role in my life and career choices. To this day, when asked why I decided to become an attorney, I always mention Youth in Government in my answer. I developed an interest in law in 7th grade after watching the popular John Grisham movie The Firm. Initially, I really just thought law would lead to a glamorous lifestyle and I would be catered to by some large firm once I became an attorney. When I was in 8th grade, the moot court and mock trial teams from our high school came to my class and staged a full trial as practice for the upcoming competition at MYIG. I instantly wanted to participate. When I got to high school, I joined the law club, and eventually a mock trial team, which led me to competing at MYIG my junior and senior years. I worked with practicing attorneys and received feedback from sitting judges about strategies and advice on trial work. More importantly, the experience fueled my interest in practicing law and led me to apply to law school. While in law school, I was a finalist in six interschool competitions and selected to compete in three additional moot court competitions in various states. It all stemmed from Youth in Government. My experience with MYIG was not only a significant learning experience, but also a fantastic time, and I will never forget the considerable education and wonderful memories that I gained from my participation in the program. Jade J. Edwards is an attorney in private practice in Flint, Michigan, and a graduate of University of Michigan and Michigan State University s Detroit College of Law. As a teen, Ms. Edwards was involved in Michigan Youth in Government. She currently serves as a Middle School Contemporary Issues Forum judge, High School Mock Trial judge, and a Model Judicary Program consultant to the Michigan Youth and Government Office. Ms. Edwards was selected as 2009 Young Lawyer of the Year by the State Bar of Michigan s Young Lawyers Section. 8 ABA & YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

9 Profile Robert E. Rich Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lexington, Kentucky My involvement as a teen with the Kentucky YMCA Youth in Government program introduced me to a larger world. I grew up on a dairy farm in Kenton County, Kentucky, and was responsible for milking my family s herd of cows twice a day during my middle and high school years. Youth in Government activities and events took me out of my farming community to interact with youth throughout the state of Kentucky. As a senior, I was recognized as one of the outstanding high school students in the state and elected YMCA Youth Governor of Kentucky. I attended the first national Youth Governors Leadership Training Program in Washington, and I traveled for meetings and conferences throughout the state of Kentucky during my term. My interest in my local YMCA was stimulated by Youth in Government activities. I continued my involvement in college at the Student YMCA at the University of Kentucky, in law school as National YMCA student representative and finally as trustee and officer of Kentucky s state YMCA since its centennial year of Throughout my adult life, I have continued to volunteer my time with a sense of duty that I learned in the YMCA Youth in Government program. Many of my volunteer efforts are focused in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky communities, and I have a particular interest in youth organizations. My involvement with and commitment to the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association that began in my youth has continued. I served as trustee and president from 1996 to 1998, was elected to a second term as President from 2001 to 2004, and currently serve on the Board of Directors. Robert E. Rich is a partner with Taft, Stettinius & Hollister in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Harvard Law School. He was the recipient of the John W. Warrington Community Service Award from the Cincinnati Bar Association in As a teen, Mr. Rich served as Youth Governor, Kentucky Youth Assembly 1962, and he currently is a member of the Board of Directors, Kentucky YMCA Youth Association where he has served since PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 9

10 Profile Cecilia V. Estolano Los Angeles, California Youth in Government was my lifeline in high school. It gave me a crucial outlet to explore my interest in public speaking, government, and politics at a time when opportunities were limited at my high school. I was able to meet kids from across the state who shared my passion about the issues of the day and my desire to make a difference. Nothing else in high school ever came close to the exhilaration, determination, and confidence I felt when I argued before the Youth Supreme Court my junior year. YIG was a place where I could be myself and explore my dreams. It was also a safe place where I could talk with adults who took the time to understand me and help me find my way. As I applied to colleges, graduate schools, and law schools, and made decisions about various career moves, former YIG advisors became life and career mentors and ultimately some of my oldest and dearest friends. Cecilia V. Estolano is a practicing attorney in the State of California and CEO/Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles. Ms. Estolano is a graduate of Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges and UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law. As a teen, she was active in the Centinela Valley YMCA. In 1983, she was a Supreme Court Youth Chief Justice and currently serves on the board of the California YMCA Youth in Government. 10 ABA & YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

11 YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAM MODELS The YMCA Youth in Government program operates in 37 states and the District of Columbia. While all participating sites host a Model Legislature and many also offer a Model Judiciary Program, the details and specifics of each state program differ. Program sizes range from several thousand participants annually to fewer than 100 participants, depending on the state. All programs provide the opportunity for young people to assume the roles of legislators, media, lobbyists and attorneys; to write bills; and to present those bills through a model legislative session in their statehouse. Students also have opportunities to participate in mock trials or judicial debates. There are two basic YIG program models YMCA-Based Programs are conducted within local or state YMCA offices, with all staff and volunteers trained by the Youth in Government statewide professional staff. Participants are recruited from the community through schools, churches, and other youth activities and organizations. Meetings for youth participants in YMCA-based programs are usually held at the local YMCA once a week for several months prior to their Model Legislature and Model Judiciary Programs. School-Based Programs generally consist of YIG clubs or programs operating within a local school where teachers serve as advisors and sponsors. Participants are recruited from the student body of the school. Some schools offer YIG as an extracurricular club while others organize YIG as a field trip that is the culminating event of a lengthy school project. Meetings for youth participants in school-based programs may be held at local schools or YMCAs once a week for several months prior to their Model Legislature and Model Judiciary Programs. Regardless of the configuration or the size of the club or program, all Youth in Government programs have a common belief that hands-on education can provide a life-changing experience through which young people can become active, engaged citizens. PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 11

12 Profiles of Exemplary programs Local Program Profile: Greenville County, South Carolina Mauldin High School is a large suburban high school in Greenville County, SC, that conducts a Youth in Government program. Early in the school year, YIG Advisor Greg Snoad organizes his Youth in Government club, recruiting students who want to participate in the Model Legislature and Court conference in the late fall. In order to accommodate all students, Snoad holds club meetings in the early mornings before school, as well as after school. By offering alternative meeting times, Snoad is able to attract students who have other after-school commitments. Mauldin High School s YIG program usually attracts 50 students each year. Langston Charter School, a gender-segregated charter middle school in Greenville, SC, sponsors a Youth in Government program led by teacher Bobby Black. At Langston, YIG is a schoolwide project, and more than 100 students participate annually. Black and his co-advisor Bev Cannon hold several all-school assemblies early in the school year to recruit students and then organize their YIG program in their classrooms throughout the fall. I have always found that bringing in outside experts is a great way to bring new energy and life to a club meeting. Student attorneys prepare for trials and/or appeals. Lobbyists study bills and write position papers. At both Mauldin and Langston, as at other school-based YIG clubs, the first order of business for students is to select a role after they have made a commitment to participate in the Model Legislature and Court. Students may choose to be legislators, attorneys, lobbyists, pages, or members of the media. Once students have chosen roles, club meetings are devoted to preparing for the conference. Student legislators study current affairs to brainstorm ideas for bills. They participate in bill-writing sessions, and then write their legislation. YIG programs rely heavily on outside volunteer assistance to help participants fully understand their roles in YIG. It is very important for our students to get some real-world information about the governmental process, said Black, a YIG alumnus. The purpose of YIG is to take students out of the classroom for hands-on education. If we can bring in legislators, attorneys, lobbyists anyone from the governmental world to help our students prepare, all the better. Volunteers assist with preparation for the Model Legislature and Court by working with school club members in their various roles. Local attorneys, for instance, may volunteer to coach a YIG trial team, or to lead a bill brainstorming session for student legislators. 12 ABA & YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

13 PROGRAM Attorneys who work as policy experts or in governmental affairs may volunteer to work with student lobbyists to help them better understand the role of lobbyists or write their position papers. Snoad, a 20-year YIG advisor, said, I teach advanced placement government and economics classes, and many of my YIG delegates already have me in class. I have always found that bringing in outside experts is a great way to bring new energy and life to a club meeting. It also helps me by providing support for what I m teaching in the classroom, which is great. It is so rewarding to see these young people work hard, listen to our guidance and coaching, and walk away with a fuller understanding of their roles in the justice system. In South Carolina, the Model Legislature and Court conference takes place in late November or early December. In most states, however, the YIG conference takes place in late winter or early spring. In all states, YIG students use the statehouse for all or a portion of their conferences. Assistant United States Attorney Susan Hitt, who has coordinated volunteer attorneys for the South Carolina Youth in Government program for 10 years, said, Volunteering in the Youth in Government program gives me and my colleagues the chance to do hands on teaching and to share our love of law and government. It is so rewarding to see these young people work hard, listen to our guidance and coaching, and walk away with a fuller understanding of their roles in the justice system. We don t often get to see such immediate evidence of our efforts, and that makes volunteering for YIG extremely fulfilling. PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 13

14 PROGRAM A partnership that works: Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Michigan Youth In Government The Thomas M. Cooley Law School s involvement with the Michigan Youth In Government program began in the late 1970s when Justice Thomas Brennan, the school s founder, forged an alliance between the law school and MYIG, while he was on the law school s board of directors. Cooley Law School Associate Professor Evelyn K. Calogero works closely with Brent Veysey, director, Michigan Youth in Government (MYIG), and staff to plan and organize mock trial and moot court competitions for Michigan youth. This planning team chooses cases that are informative, engaging, and interesting to the youth participants. Their goal is to make the education process fun while stimulating critical thinking skills. Recent topics have included First Amendment religion issues based on a Ten Commandments theme, Fourth Amendment search and seizures based on the search of a high school student s car in a high school parking lot, and parents responsibilities for restitution for their children s crimes. It takes the assistance and cooperation of numerous attorney volunteers to produce the successful competitions each year, and many of them are Cooley alumni. Volunteer attorneys include local attorneys in private practice as well as attorneys from the Michigan Attorney General s Office, local prosecutors, and civil and criminal practitioners. Additionally, each year a Cooley law student liaison is appointed from the school s moot court board and the liaison recruits other law student volunteers. The students do not serve as formal coaches; however, they listen to teen students arguments and presentations before the spring competition and also judge mock trial and moot court competitions. This provides opportunities for current law school students to learn more about advocacy and trial skills while teaching the high school students. Cooley Law School and Michigan Youth in Government plan to develop a national YIG model based on Michigan s model including the creation of a public service scholarship program to encourage students to compete in national moot court and mock trial programming. 14 ABA & YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

15 PROGRAM national program profile: CONFERENCE on National Affairs (CONA) Linking the 37 state and District of Columbia YIG programs is the annual YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs (CONA). CONA was founded in 1967 by a group of young people who wanted to broaden their state YIG experiences by creating a conference that explores and addresses national and international issues. As a result of their idea and the work that followed, the first YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs had its small beginning in 1968 in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The opportunity to be around so many young people who were so interested in policy issues that are fundamentally important to this country is something I ll always be grateful for. Today, CONA has grown to a 650-participant conference with students from 34 states. The annual conference takes place at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly Conference Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. At first glance, it might seem odd to see hundreds of high school students in business attire negotiating the steep pathways of the conference center in the middle of the summer. Even more surprising might be the agenda, which has participants debating and discussing national and international issues from early morning until late at night. But at CONA, it is the debate passionate, heartfelt, and informed that drives young people to participate. It s hard to explain to some of my friends, but it is the best week of my year, every year, said Neha Parthasarathy, a four-year CONA participant, now a student at the University of South Carolina. It s just so inspiring to be around so many people who care about our country and about the world, and who think about how to make it better. Crawford Long, with Kilpatrick Stockton LLP in Atlanta, was a CONA delegate in the mid-1990s. Today, he remembers it as a time when he realized that young people from diverse backgrounds could find common ground in their passion for sharing ideas, One of the things I enjoyed the most about CONA was being a part of a diverse collection of students from all across America, representing different YIG programs, representing different political and philosophical backgrounds, but they all got it, Long says today. The opportunity to be around so many young people who were so interested in policy issues that are fundamentally important to this country is something I ll always be grateful for. PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 15

16 ways you can help Volunteers play a critical role in all YMCA Youth in Government programs. No matter what kind of programs are offered in your state, if you have a desire to mentor students to become engaged citizens, there is a volunteer position for you. Volunteer roles and specific opportunities will vary from state to state. Following are examples of volunteer opportunities: p p p p p volunteer Local Delegation Advisors work with a group of students from a particular school or YMCA branch to prepare them to successfully attend the Model Legislature and Court. Statewide Staff Volunteers serve as the lead adult volunteers for the program activities when the delegations arrive at their conventions. There are several volunteer roles under this broad heading, including Advisors to the Senate and Court Advisors. Appellate Court Coaches advise students during the Model Court and mock trial processes. Judges act as judges during Model Court or other mock trials. Resource Advisors assist students with research as they draft model legislation. The YIG staffs of local YMCAs are trained in the development of volunteers who are interested in supporting delegations. Statewide staff will work with you to learn more about your interests and connect you with the delegation in your community that best matches your interests and schedule. To volunteer or to learn more information about these and other volunteer roles, please contact your state s YMCA Youth in Government statewide professional staff. Visit or click on the YMCA logo at 16 ABA & YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

17 frequently asked questions Do I have to be an expert in order to volunteer? No, there are excellent training programs to give you the information you need to volunteer. All you need is an interest in working with teens to develop civically engaged citizens. How much time does it take? That depends on your volunteer role. Local delegation officers might meet with students weekly, while statewide volunteers might help a few hours annually with conventions. Your state YIG staff will work with you to find a volunteer role that fits your schedule. Do I have to be a member of the YMCA to volunteer? No, YMCA Youth in Government volunteers include YMCA members as well as nonmembers. The YMCA s mission to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities is emphasized in YMCA Youth in Government; however, volunteers are not required to be members. What will it cost? Each state handles this differently, but in general YMCA Youth in Government strives to cover volunteer expenses (e.g., transportation and lodging during the convention.) While no volunteer is paid to participate, it is the YMCA s goal to keep each volunteer s personal costs to a minimum. Is there an application process? Yes, you will need to complete a volunteer application. To ensure the safety of all participants and to include the most appropriate volunteers, screening is required. Do I need to be a lawyer to volunteer? No. There are roles for adults who are interested and willing to assist. Please contact your local YMCA to find out how your skills and experience can be of assistance. Will my state offer CLE Credits for my service to the YMCA? It depends on the state you live in. Check with your local state bar association. How can I get involved? Contact the YMCA Youth in Government statewide staff in your state. They will connect you with the appropriate program area or delegation in your community. You will not find a more rewarding volunteer experience! PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 17

18 glossary of terms Civic Engagement A person s capacity to work with others to affect common interests, to see oneself as a stakeholder in public life, to value the mechanisms for democratic decision-making, and to believe that individuals have a responsibility to contribute to their communities. Conference on National Affairs (CONA) The national Youth in Government conference, where students from across the nation spend a week discussing and debating national and international issues. Delegate A teen attending a YIG conference without other special roles. Delegates are expected to participate in debate in committees, chambers, and general assembly. Delegation A group of teens and their chaperones who travel to a statewide conference to participate in Youth in Government activities. Legislative Programs Students participating in the legislature can model a variety of roles such as: legislator, lobbyist, clerk, committee chair, lt. governor, secretary of state, and speaker of the house. YMCAs and school delegations prepare the students for their roles through training sessions in which students research and write legislation and become experts at using parliamentary procedure. Student-elected youth governors and their cabinets run the state conferences. Legislative programs take place in the actual House and Senate chambers of each state s capitol. Model Judiciary Programs These programs provide high school students with a better understanding of the American court system. Student teams participate as lawyers, witnesses, judges, and jury members in mock trials and appellate courts. The programs collaborate with professional attorneys, judges, and law schools who provide judges and coaches for teams, as well as write problems for trials. Model Legislature The same as the legislative program (House/Senate sessions in the chambers of state capitols). Service Learning A method of teaching, learning and reflecting that combines academic classroom curriculum with meaningful service, frequently youth service, throughout the community. As a teaching methodology, it falls under the philosophy of experiential education. More specifically, it integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, encourage lifelong civic engagement, and strengthen communities for the common good. 18 ABA & YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

19 Supreme Court Program YIG program in which teens simulate the Supreme Court functions and roles and hear cases, and deliberate and write opinions. YMCA of the USA The national resource office for YMCAs in the United States. The YMCA of the USA is not a facility, and it does not provide direct programs and services to the public. Each YMCA is separate and autonomous from the YMCA of the USA, and each YMCA makes its own decisions based on local community needs and interests. Youth Assembly A statewide event which includes every aspect of the YIG programming including Model Legislature, Model Judiciary and Supreme Court Programs. Youth and Government (YAG) See Youth in Government. Youth in Government (YIG) A civics and leadership program in the United States that educates high school students about the principles of democratic governments. In some states, it is referred to as Youth and Government. PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 19

20 RESOURCES YOU CAN USE American Bar Association Division for Public Education Dialogue Program Series The Dialogue Program provides lawyers, judges, and teachers with the resources they need to engage students and community groups in discussion of fundamental American legal principles and civic traditions Constitution Day In 2004, Congress designated September 17 as a day to hold educational programs for students on the Constitution. Celebrate Constitution Day in the classroom, and in your community, with great resources appropriate for elementary, middle and secondary students. Law Day Law Day has been celebrated on May 1 every year since President Eisenhower proclaimed the first Law Day a day of national dedication to the principle of government under law. The ABA promotes an annual Law Day theme and develops resources and promotional materials through its free, downloadable planning guide. National Online Youth Summit The National Online Youth Summit (NOYS) is a national web-based program that encourages youth to learn about and critically evaluate a timely, law-related topic. The summit curriculum, objectives, and goals are adaptable and allow teachers to create an exemplary project-based learning experience tailored to their students and relevant learning standards. Resources for Youth Courts A wealth of information on all aspects of youth courts ABA & YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

21 Insights on Law & Society Magazine This subsciption-based magazine for secondary educators examines legal issues in historical and social context relevant to young people. LawMatters E-Newsletter LawMatters serves as the online news source for the law-related education community, including educators, lawyers, judges, youth courts, juvenile justice professionals and law enforcement officers. The newsletter offers updates on national events, new publications, politics and government, and resources for those who work with youth. Preview of United States Supreme Courts Cases The Division works in partnership with the Supreme Court to maintain a website and publishes a magazine that includes concise, plain language analysis, written by legal experts, of every case granted plenary review by the Court. Technical Assistance Bulletin: Pathways to 21st Century Competencies Through Civic Education Classrooms An Analysis of Survey Results from Ninth-Graders A report commissioned by The American Bar Association Division for Public Education and the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools Copyright PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 21

22 youth in government at a glance State Staff Volunteers students served School-based Programs Alabama , Arizona YMCA-based Programs California ,500 3 Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia , Idaho Illinois ,100 3 Indiana Kentucky ,500 3 Louisiana 1 8 1, Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan , Minnesota , Mississippi Missouri Montana New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina , Ohio* * * * 3 3 Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina ,750 3 Tennessee ,017 3 Texas , Virginia , Washington , West Virginia , Wisconsin *Ohio shares resources in a joint program with West Virginia. For more information and local contacts, visit or click on the YMCA logo at 22 ABA & YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

23 STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION Eduardo Roberto Rodriguez Chair Mabel McKinney-Browning Director, Division for Public Education Caryn Cross Hawk Editor Associate Director, Division for Public Education ABA-YMCA Partnership staff Mary Capers Bledsoe Executive Director South Carolina YMCA Youth in Government Greenville, SC Joe Bringardner Teen/YIG Specialist YMCA of the USA Chicago, IL Michael D. Haynes State Director/CEO Kentucky YMCA Youth Association Frankfort, KY Tiffany Willey Middleton Program Manager American Bar Association Chicago, IL Rina Shah Program Manager American Bar Association Chicago, IL David Sip Associate Director American Bar Association Chicago, IL Brent Veysey Executive Director State YMCA Michigan Youth in Government Quincy, MI Steve Willmont President/ CEO California YMCA Youth in Government San Mateo, CA Points of view or opinions in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the American Bar Association or the YMCA. Copyright 2010 American Bar Association PARTNERS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 23

24 American Bar Association Division for Public Education 321 North Clark Street Chicago, IL (312) PC#