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In the mid-1930's, Clement Duran, a YMCA director from Albany, New York, wanted to find a meaningful experience for young people that might inspire them to become active and concerned participants in government as citizens. He struck upon the idea of a "model" legislature that would provide "hands on" learning. The slogan, "Democracy Must Be Learned By Each Generation," was developed by Duran to interpret the purpose of the program. The first Model Legislature was held in Albany, New York, in 1936.
With encouragement from the National YMCA, the program spread rapidly to nearby states. With Duran's help, California initiated its program in 1949. Approval and support was enlisted from Governor Earl Warren, father of two boys in the first program. A statewide committee of leading citizens, including several State officials and legislators, was organized. The committee, now known as the Governing Board, secured resolutions of both legislative houses for the youth delegates to use the Senate and Assembly Chambers. State officials worked as consultants to youth officers as well as conducting training sessions for delegates. Continued close and permanent working relationships with State Government officials have contributed greatly to the ongoing quality and success of the program. Every Governor since Warren has been involved, usually by meeting in question-and-answer sessions with the delegates and by allowing the elected Youth Governor to use their office. In 1972, Governor Ronald Reagan ordered National Guard facilities to be made available for pre-training conferences. In 1974, then-Senator George Deukmejian developed a high level Advisory Board for the program and chaired it for nine years until he became Governor. He established an endowment fund to help assure the continuation of the program for future generations, and continues today to assist the program. The fund is now named in his honor. Today's expanded program includes a Judicial Program featuring Trial, Jury Trial, Appellate, Judicial Review and Supreme Courts, a dual Legislative Program, and special programs for Pages, Print and Video journalists, Legislative Lobbyists, Legislative Analysts, and others. Sophomore delegates have a special Forum program designed especially for first year delegates. Manuals and advisory bulletins continue to provide local advisors with the best experience of other Youth & Government Programs. During the last twenty years, California has sent it's Youth Governor to the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs each summer in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Since 1992 California's delegation has increased to thirty delegates and advisors, enjoying success at this highly competitive conference. On January 1, 2001, California YMCA Youth and Government was chartered as an independent YMCA. In 2002, California YMCA Youth & Government launched the Model United Nations program to service middle school through nineth grade students, consisting of a weekend statewide training conference and a 4 day MUN conference, held in Pasadena. < History
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California
YMCA Youth & Government Copyright
1997-2005 California YMCA Youth and Government |
