St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota YMCA, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, will welcome 1,500 students in grades eight through 12 to the Minnesota State Capitol January 4-7 for the Youth in Government (YIG) Model Assembly.
At the 64th YIG Model Assembly, the state’s largest hands-on civic education event, participants from 44 delegations take on roles as legislators, lobbyists, lawyers, judges, justices and journalists and practice open government without the confines of partisanship. The Minnesota YIG program brings together a variety of students from across the state to share their perspectives.
- 10 percent of students come from Minneapolis and St. Paul, 53 percent come from the suburban Twin Cities, and 37 percent come from greater Minnesota
- 59 percent of participants are female
- 23 percent are students of color, while only 15 percent of Minnesota students are youth of color
“Youth in Government helps students learn about current issues and express their thoughts on the world they will inherit,” said Orville Lindquist, state program executive for Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government. “Students bring issues forward that are important to them and to their families, schools and communities. Discussing these issues helps students understand the perspectives of others and share their own stories.”
Students elect their peers to leadership roles within each branch of government. The 2018 youth governor is Hayden Schutt, a senior from the Hastings delegation, and the 2018 youth lieutenant governor is Brent Hauck, a senior from the Lakeville delegation.
WHO:
Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government
WHAT:
64th Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government Model Assembly Session
WHERE:
Minnesota State Capitol Complex, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155
WHEN:
Sessions will be held at the Capitol Complex at the following times – photo opportunities:
Friday, January 5, 2018 and Saturday January 6, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
About the YMCA of the North
The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 161 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, seven overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 350,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds.