YMCA Youth and Government™ is a nationwide civic engagement and leadership development program that provides students in middle school, high school, and college with the opportunity to represent and serve their communities through model government, leadership and professional development, advocacy, and service-learning.
Youth and Government collectively serves over 55,000 students across all 50 states and DC.
Students can participate through a Youth and Government student organization at their school and/or through their local YMCA. These school-based or YMCA-based groups are led by student officers, and advised by school faculty, community volunteers, and/or YMCA staff.