Tears, cheers, and spirit fingers were abundant at the 8th annual New York State YMCA’s Youth And Government Middle School Conference. From November 24th to 26th, a few dozen adults and 25 high school Resource Team members supported 600 middle school students in creating, debating and voting on legislation.
Under the hum of giggles and chatting, passion was loud. Over the course of two days, dozens of bills based on all sections of New York State law were presented and ‘signed’ by the Middle School Youth Governor. A new slate of presiding officers were elected, awards presented, and a strong sense of community and pride radiated from the Desmond hotel.
The high school program, one of the YMCA’s proudest programs, is a prestigious conference that not only participates in mock senate activities, but judicial hearings and press coverage. From the Governor’s cabinet to Presiding Officer positions, or Conference On National Affairs nominations, there are so many opportunities for participants feed their ambitions and excel. These teen leaders have the chance to apply to be a “Resource Team Member” at the middle school conference, and a few get the privilege to witness and support the next generation of YAG kids at the Middle School Conference.
Rebecca Campomanes, YAG’s Speaker of Assembly Liberty and Resource Team Member, shared that she was honored to see “the delegates’ growth during the very short time we spent together. They presented with so much passion and confidence at such a young age while supporting each other.” The camaraderie Campomanes mentions was overwhelming.
Bill 35, An Act to End The “Pink Tax,” a Luxury Goods tax on menstrual products, was passed anonymously in the Yellow Senate. After some much deserved, but out-of-order applause, the tween bill group walked to the bathroom to debrief, not noticing the crowd that followed them. Once in the women’s restroom, claps and shrieks erupted from the group of girls, excited that four of their peers had succeeded. This energy was pervasive.
Campomanes wasn’t the only one who noticed growth during the short few days. Mary McCormack, YAG’s Deputy Protempore of Senate Freedom, said “the most meaningful part of the conference to me was watching some of the middle school delegates grow so much in just three days. I watched kids who were terrified to speak in front of a group of 15 fellow students speak in front of nearly 50 of them without batting an eye after just two days.”
Public speaking - a key part of Youth And Government - is a very challenging skill to master, and these middle schoolers excelled. A challenging election with many qualified and passionate candidates, a slate of deserving Presiding Officers were sworn in on the last day of the conference, prepared to serve over the next year, and preside at the 2025 conference.
Through the bittersweet weekend for senior Resource Team members, nostalgia flowed. YAG’s Commissioner of Labor, Valencia Massaro, expressed much gratitude in “getting to introduce a new generation to a program that changed my life. I was so inspired hearing what they were passionate about and I'm so excited to see what they go on to do.“
Those leaving the program for good are absolutely filled with pride and hope for future generations of YAG leaders. Their excitement about changing the world is absolutely contagious.