Youth in Government, Club Advisor: Anita Nation (anation@cherokeek12.org) - Cherokee County Career and Technology Center

PURPOSE: To prepare outstanding, motivated, high achieving young people for moral and political leadership in the American Democratic Process by providing guidance, training, and experience in the theory and practice of determining public policy.

SKILLS FOR A LIFETIME: Youth-in-Government provides students with an opportunity to learn and practice core skills that they will use the rest of their lives including:

·How to conduct research,

·How to build organizational leadership,

·How to apply decision-making and problem-solving skills,

·How to better communicate, debate, negotiate, compromise, persuade, and listen to others.

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY: ·Provides students with opportunities to discuss real world issues and to learn about state politics.

·Prepares students for life through the development of all these skills--making them more knowledgeable, open-minded, and civic-focused citizens who care about others.

·Provides a challenging academic experience and an opportunity for personal development.

THE Y DIFFERENCE: While there are many notable organizations and activities that our youth may participate in, YMCA programs provide students with the unique opportunity to participate in servant leadership.

Each Y program helps students learn to care about their community, to embrace civic and social responsibility and to display the YMCA core values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

ALL YOUTH GOV MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO REQUEST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE YMCA for any conference or event inlcuding, bur not limited to, Junior & Senior Youth Legislature, Youth Judicial, Officer Training, CONA, National Judicial Conference/

CLICK HERE for the Financial Assistance Application- Turn in directly to the YMCA according to the instructions on the form OR you may turn it in to your club advisor who will send it in for you. Either way,IT WILL NOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT THE REQUESTED DOCUMENTS. This is for scholarships provided by the YMCA.

JR YOUTH LEGISLATURE (Grades 6-8)

Junior Youth Legislature (Grades 7-8) is the best way for students to get a first-hand experience in Youth Government. 7th and 8th grade students are invited to attend this one-day event at the State Capitol where they will meet with other middle school students from all over Alabama for an introduction to the legislative process. Participants will have the opportunity to run for an elected office for the day, will attend workshops on the bill writing process and parliamentary procedure, and will join with three to five other students to come up with their own legislation (a bill) which they will present and debate as part of a mock-legislative session.

YOUTH JUDICIAL PROGRAM (Grades 9-12)

gavel on wooden block with American Flag background

During this 3-day, 2-night experiential event, mock trial teams present a pre-selected and modified case provided by the YMCA staff. Prior to the conference, participants work with attorneys, club alum and team coaches who help them understand the judicial system and prepare them for the trial. Judicial mock trial teams consist of up to eight members including three attorneys, three witnesses, and two alternates. Participants may also serve in various elected and/or appointed offices including Chief Justice, Attorney General, Asst. Attorney General, and more. Exciting elections, dances, and lots of fellowship top off this fantastic educational experience.

YOUTH LEGISLATURE (Grades 9-12)

WHAT IS YOUTH LEGISLATURE? (Grades 9-12)

During this 3-day, 2-night experiential event, students conduct a mock legislative session, presenting bills that they have researched and written on a topic of their choice, taking it through the complete legislative process AND exciting elections, dances, and lots of fellowship top off this fantastic educational experience.

Participants may also run for or serve in various elected and/or appointed offices including Governor, Speaker of the House or President of the Senate, Lt. Governor, House or Senate Secretary and Asst. Secretary, House or Senate Pro tempore, House or Senate Floor Leader, Supreme Court Justice, Governor’s Cabinet, Committee Chair, Chaplain and more.