Civics, legislative program open to high school students

High school students interested in the actual hands-on roles of elected and appointed officials will get real-world experience in the Sussex Family YMCA Delaware Youth in Government program.

YIG is a nationwide program that has been operational in Delaware for 56 years, said YMCA of Delaware Executive Director of Governmental Relations & Public Affairs Nicole Freedman. 

The student-led program allows pupils to choose and model roles in the legislative, judicial and executive branches as well as those in the media and lobbying fields, Freedman said. 

Students develop and craft their own bills which they will present for discussion and possible vote in a spring visit to the Delaware House and Senate. During this time, the floors are temporarily staffed by students in the YIG program. 

An elected youth governor will sign any passed bills into law and will present passed bills to the Delaware General Assembly as a basis for possible future legislation.

Children develop bills based upon what they know, said Freedman, who noted that all legislation is a solution to a challenge. 

For example, students have examined free lunch and anti-bullying legislation, and a bill that would provide free public transportation to SNAP participants.

In the judicial component, students will take on the roles of justices and attorneys to debate the constitutionality of an issue in the moot court, Freedman said. Students will create written and oral briefs and arguments to support their positions. 

Delaware attorneys interested in volunteering as advisors may contact Freedman at nfreedman@ymcade.org.

A youth governor is elected in the executive component, and youth journalists will interview program participants and create a strong media presence to document the goings-on.

Of the participating YIG delegations, 12 students will be elected by their peers on the last day of the state conference in March to represent Delaware at the Conference on National Affairs in Black Mountain, N.C. from June 29–July 5. 

Six students who concentrated on the judicial component will also represent Delaware in appellate court or mock trial hearings at the National Judicial Competition in St. Paul, Minn, from July 29–Aug. 1.

With a program for middle-school aged students that met in the fall and convened in November at Legislative Hall, Sussex Family YMCA Youth Development Coordinator Cordi Park said the program has a strong foundation. The middle school cohort concentrates on the legislative component only.

Students gain confidence, hone their public speaking skills and also learn how to express different opinions in a respectful manner, Park said, following through on the YMCA core values of responsibility, honesty, respect and character.

Children who already participate in the YMCA’s teen leadership program can transition easily to the YIG program, said Sussex Family YMCA Senior Child Development Director Shannon Downing.

Current state legislators Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington, and Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown are alumni of the program, Freedman said.

The program is open to all high school students and meets Tuesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. at Sussex Family YMCA. Scholarships are available and donations to defer student costs are welcome. 

Go to yigde.org to donate or for more information.