|
|
|
California YMCA Youth & Government
Bimonthly Newsletter: September 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hello California YMCA Youth & Government!
My name is Molly Stout and I am the 78th Secretary of State for California Youth & Government’s Model Legislature & Court. When running for this position, I chose to center my platform around civic education and building community within Youth & Government. Keeping these values in mind, my team and I have created a Voter Engagement Initiative that we are very excited for: Breaking Boundaries for Better Ballots.
The project will focus on historical and modern boundaries to voting and how our communities can work together to break them down through education. Participants will have the opportunity to create projects in three categories: historic, modern, and future boundaries to voting. They can take the form of physical poster boards, digital documents, videos, or any other format of interest and could include pictures, articles, words, drawings, and beyond. Contributors can choose to focus on any democratic community they belong to- school leadership, statewide, Youth & Government, local, or presidential.
I believe that understanding history and prioritizing education are two of the most important principles we can practice and are fundamental to shaping a functional democracy. The goal with this VEI is to build understanding of why voting is necessary and how groups have fought for their right to vote in the past. While historical boundaries are commonly discussed, people often forget to acknowledge that many people still struggle to have their voices heard today. Within the “future” category, participants can explore what they want voting to look like in the future. They can brainstorm ways to fight injustice, advancements in voting technology, or make predictions on what the future of democracy will look like.
We hope that this project helps delegates to better understand the importance of voting, inspires them to fight for democracy, and is a fun way to kick off the Youth & Government season! |
|
|
|
|
|
2025 Conference on National Affairs (CONA) |
|
|
 |
|
This summer, California’s Youth & Government program had the pleasure of sending 25 of our most qualified teens to the Conference on National Affairs to debate proposals of national importance. With prep starting way back in April at the training conference in Los Angeles, the California CONA delegation enjoyed a pre-trip before the long week of debate. Everyone met in Washington D.C. for delegation bonding, city tours, and lots of time to collaborate and perfect proposals and speeches. Despite the California kids not being used to the heat and humidity, everyone had an amazing time!
Following a long bus ride from D.C. to Appalachian State University in North Carolina, the delegation arrived at CONA. Delegates defended their proposals, spoke pro and con on others they felt passionate about, and everyone’s favorite part, got to make new friendships with students from all over the nation. All of the hard work paid off with eight delegates’ proposals advancing to Committee C, three to GA (General Assembly), and two passing in GA. California was also honored with conference-wide delegate recognitions with Hudson Phillips as a Distinguished Delegate, Kasey Babb and Catherine Piotrowski as Outstanding Statespersons, and Vito Claritzio being awarded the Suzanna Mabie Memorial Award. |
|
|
|
|
|
2025 National Judicial Competition (NJC) |
 |
|
Twelve delegates from across the state represented California in the Appellate portion of the National Judicial Competition in St Paul, Minnesota this past July. Under the tutelage of Head Coach Austin Baxter and returning veteran Arnold Alvarez-Glasman, the team truly shone! After a summer of hard work and hours of Zoom Meetings the results were in: Two California teams scored in the top 6 of 71 teams. Four CA teams scored in the top 20% with all 6 teams scoring in the top 45% of the competition! Kayla Ring received Outstanding Justice honors after she and Rigzin Gyalzten were 2 of only 6 delegates chosen to act as justices on the Show Case Round out of 142 delegates. This team was a truly special group as they not only were able to excel in appellate rounds, but became known across the competition for the quality of their character.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We celebrate the longevity of The Board of Education (BOE) program, which is modeled after the California Department of Education and provides a highly interactive, collaborative, hands-on experience for delegates to explore real challenges that the CA education system faces-- and work collectively to generate solutions. All delegates begin their BOE journey by learning about CA’s education system, digging into existing challenges (e.g., inadequate mental health supports, teacher retention), electing a state superintendent of public instruction, and working in teams to design education proposals that solve pressing educational problems. In Sacramento, groups work together to refine their education proposals, engage in pro/con debates, and practice public speaking. The culminating BOE programming features an elimination-round style competition, where delegates present their proposals, advance through feedback and debates, and refine their ideas until the strongest solutions are chosen as winners. The structure of the BOE, led by the BOE-elected state superintendent and the appointed deputy superintendents and board of education members, provides delegates the additional opportunity to step into leadership roles within the program. Every delegate leaves the BOE not just with a polished proposal that tackles existing cracks in the education system, but also with more collaboration skills, confidence, and connections.
Many thanks goes to veteran program staff volunteers, Kathy Yoshii, Monica White, Paul Sims, Lori Drengson, and new member, Addison Duane!
New BOE volunteer, Addison Duane, an assistant professor at Sacramento State University, is passionate about educational inequities and empowering students to generate systemic solutions rooted in their lived experiences in schools.
“What brings me joy about the BOE is the immense creativity of the delegates and their passion for making real change within the system of education. The programming gives rise to their bold and thoughtful ideas that challenge the status quo. I leave every session so energized by their brilliance.” Addison Duane
Collaboration of the BOE Volunteer Program Staff |
|
|
|
|
|
Y&G’s New Board Chair
Chantal Cotton Gaines |
|
|
 |
|
Cal Y Y&G is excited to celebrate the appointment of Chantal Cotton Gaines as our new Board Chair! Chantal has been the Vice Chair and Chair of the Finance Committee for the last three years. She also volunteers as an advisor for the Silicon Valley Coalition (SVC) East Palo Alto delegation. She is a Y&G Alumna from Michigan and served as the Lt. Governor, Chaplain, Media Rep, and participated in the Conference of National Affairs during her time as a delegate.
Chantal is currently the Deputy City Manager in Palo Alto, CA where she staffs various City Council Committees, oversees international relations, protocol improvements, wellness and belonging initiatives, services for the unhoused, legislative affairs, and other special projects.
She is a mother of two and received her Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Master of Public Policy, and Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan. She also completed the Local Government Summer Institute at Stanford University, and was recently acknowledged by the Silicon Valley Business Journal as one of the 40-under-40 recipients for 2025.
Chantal loves Y&G because the program gave her so much as a participant and now she has the opportunity to help our young leaders really flourish as they practice the values of democracy and shape our communities throughout California and the U.S. The Board of Managers and staff are thrilled to have her take the helm and lead California YMCA Youth & Government moving forward. Congratulations, Chantal! |
|
|
|
A Weekend To Remember! |
 |
|
More than 200 youth leaders gathered at YMCA Camp Surf in San Diego for the LA Y’s 4th Annual MLC Officer Retreat, and it was nothing short of inspiring. Officers from the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, along with peers from the Southeast Ventura County YMCA and Da Vinci School High School, came together for a weekend filled with fun, professional development, and meaningful networking.
From the moment officers checked in at the McKinney Oceanfront Center, the energy was high. The retreat combined classic camp traditions—like color games and beach activities—with engaging workshops designed to strengthen leadership skills. Sessions were broken up under titles of “Be Well”, “Do Good”, and “Lead Change” giving delegates tools to bring back to their communities, from vision board making and yoga to motivational leadership and community service planning.
On Sunday, the retreat closed with powerful sessions including Y&G Culture and the Future Leaders Campaign—all underscoring the values of belonging, wellbeing, and youth voice at the heart of MLC.
Thank You to Our Partners
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the incredible organizations and facilitators who made the drive to San Diego to pour into our youth leaders. From YMCA staff to community partners like the Entertainment Community Fund, ReachLA, and the LGBT Center, your time and dedication made a lasting impact on the next generation of changemakers.
“It was an incredible weekend. Our President & CEO Victor described it as “Youth Development in Action!”. Not only did I get to see the Y’s center for community well-being IRL (that means “in real life”…in case you did not know), but the power of belonging was so evident throughout the entire retreat. Teens from every corner of the LA region were learning, laughing together, and living their best lives, safe at the Y, where everyone belongs. No drama, no problems, no one being sent home…just young people being themselves and knowing they were in a place that embraces them.”
-Christopher Jefferson, Chief Program Officer / Senior Vice President of Youth Development
Article by Nick Vairo, Associate Executive Director, LA Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-September 14: SoCal 1-Day Advisor Training, Los Angeles, CA
-September 25: Board of Managers Meeting, Virtual 6:30 - 8:00 pm
-November 7-10: 78th Model Legislature & Court’s Training & Elections Program Event at Camp Roberts, San Miguel, CA
-December 11: Board of Managers Meeting, Virtual 6:30 - 8:00 pm
-February 13-16, 2026: 78th Model Legislature & Court Sacramento Program
-February 14, 2026: 78th VIP Day, Sacramento-SAVE THE DATE! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
