Teen Programs Youth Shine at Youth and Government Conference

The YMCA of Greensboro teamed up with High Point Central and sent 17 teens to an event in Raleigh called the North Carolina Youth & Government (YAG) Conference. This was the 33rd time teens from all over the state gathered to learn about how government works.

The Governor of North Carolina, Josh Stein, was the keynote speaker for the occasion. Teens role-played as North Carolina policymakers. They talked about new rules that would better serve their communities, developed new laws or policies that would benefit their constituents or neighbors, and voted on them, just like the professionals! Three of our Y teens did so well that their ideas turned into laws.

 Almost 300 ideas for laws were given to the  Drew DiMeglio, the Youth Governor, whose job is to coordinate and organize officers and program areas for the upcoming conference year. He picked only 27 to sign, and two of those came from YMCA of Greensboro teens. One of our Y teens, Andrew Simon, who works as a lifeguard at the YMCA, had an idea that became a new policy! He wants kids to learn about water safety in school. His new policy says that schools should teach kids how to stay safe around water, even when they're not in a pool. Andrew also had an opportunity to speak with North Carolina state representatives about his idea.

“One of our primary goals is to give teens the space and place to express themselves and explore their passions; this aligns perfectly with the YMCA’s mission of helping kids develop into smart, resilient adults as when teens feel at home and heard they develop a sense of resilience,” said Eric Graves, Association Teen Director with the YMCA of Greensboro.

To learn more about YMCA opportunities for teens to expand their horizons visit our Teen Programs webpage!