California YMCA Youth & Government

Bimonthly Newsletter: March 2025

A Soulful Beginning to the

77th Model Legislature & Court!

Meet Chris Jefferson, the LA-Y’s Chief Program Officer/SVP! Chris could not have opened up our 77th Model Legislature & Court (MLC) Opening Joint Session any better. With his gorgeous singing voice, Chris broke out into an Aretha Franklin hit, “I Say A Little Prayer” that elevated the positive energy level of all in session and put a smile on everyone. After Chris’ kind wisdom and thanks to all delegates for being present, he introduced the new 77th MLC  Youth Governor, the Honorable Briana Alagba. That was the beginning of what became a very successful 77th MLC!

77^th Youth Governor

Hon. Briana Alagba

Youth Board of Managers Members:

Our Work in Retrospect

The Youth Board is composed of four high school delegates who come together to improve the delegate experience and provide insight into the needs of the program. In a year long term the Youth Board tackled many projects. From hosting statewide informational webinars, to managing the @cayouthgov Instagram, and working to establish more Northern California delegations the Youth Board has been committed to carrying out the mission of California YMCA Youth & Government. 

The most well known project handled by this group is the statewide social initiative known as Youth in Action, which focuses on giving back to the communities in which Y&G operates. For the past two years Youth in Action has worked alongside El Camino Homeless Organization to create hygiene and winter care packages for the El Camino Area. Delegations from across the state travel to the Training & Elections Conference with donations that are then packed into ziplock bags for the ECHO to distribute. At the 77th Training & Elections at Camp Roberts, half of our delegations participated which allowed Youth in Action to produce 200 care packages and cards. 

Youth in Action tries to tackle issues that are tangible to delegates and provide information/resources that can be taken home from statewide program events and applied to their communities. That is why in wake of the rapid misinformation surrounding immigration rights the Youth Board dedicated Youth in Action at the 77th Model Legislature & Court to be focused on handing out "Know Your Rights Cards" and sharing immigration hotlines. Through this initiative the Youth Board was able to provide delegates with the necessary resources to take back home and help support their friends and/or families. 

Youth in Action and the Youth Board as a whole is one of the many ways that California YMCA Youth & Government empowers delegates to dedicate themselves to making a positive impact both in and out of the program. Youth in Action has helped promote a culture change within the program's youth, a change that promotes education over stigmatization, compassion over ignorance, and perhaps most importantly service.

Meet Our Lead Volunteer for Leadership: Jessica Ramos

A Youth & Government (Y&G) volunteer for 18 years, Jessica Ramos first volunteered as a delegation advisor with the Conejo Valley and the Miller delegations, and in the last few years, has volunteered statewide working with our elected and appointed leadership delegates. Outside of Y&G she is a 5th grade teacher, avid soccer fan and currently enrolled in a PhD program, with her research focused on the impact school and extracurricular experiences can have on women’s political aspirations.

Through her work with leadership delegates, our youth leaders have had the benefit of hands-on training sessions designed to develop essential leadership skills, including communication, collaboration, and decision-making. Jessica's goal is not only to prepare these teens for success within our program but also to equip them with lifelong skills they can carry into adulthood. For our 77th MLC in Sacramento, we brought 30 youth leaders up early to participate in skills sessions, mentoring meetings with other youth and adult leaders, and networking events with California Legislators. Leadership delegates learned how to effectively lead their peers, serve as role models, and navigate the challenges that come with leadership responsibilities.

In March, we are excited to have Jessica facilitate a one-day training for the newly elected statewide officers. This focused training will provide an in-depth look at their roles within the program, explore strategies for effectively leading their peers, and introduce tools for networking and personal development. With Jessica’s guidance they will collaborate on new program ideas to continue growing and improving our Y&G experience for all participants. “Our goal for this new leadership training is to give our Youth Governor, Youth Chief Justice, and Youth Secretary of State a chance to begin developing their leadership goals early in the year, and help prepare them for the responsibility they’ve been entrusted with, and the hard work and exciting opportunities that are coming up for them during the 78th Model Legislature & Court.”

Cal Y Y&G staff has been thrilled to have Jessica work with our youth leadership for the past three years. In addition to  expertly modelling the Y’s four core values, Jessica is kind, thoughtful in her approach, patient, actively listens, explores collaborative solutions, and most always wears that big beautiful smile. We look forward to continuing to work with Jessica Ramos as she continues to be an incredible leader within our program.

THE DAILY DELEGATE at the 77th MLC in Sacramento

From the 77th Model Legislature & Court Media program,, we share with you their article, “The Future of Civic Engagement: How Youth & Government Shapes Tomorrow’s Leaders,” This article was featured in The Daily Delegate, which showcases more of their work.

Congratulations to the Newly Elected

78th MLC Statewide Officers!

From left to right:

Molly Stout, 78th Youth Chief Justice (Westside), Violet Chin, 78th Youth Governor (Crowell Family YMCA), Kayla Ring, 78th Youth Secretary of State (Diablo Valley)

Alumni Highlight: Josh Fryday

This year’s 77th VIP Day was exceptionally fortunate to have Josh Fryday, a Y&G Alumnus & 51st Chief Justice of Y&G, speak on the importance of volunteerism at this moment in time.

“In a challenging time for our state and country, the Youth & Government Program is more important than ever.

Giving young people the opportunity to experience leadership in Government and practice Democracy, stays with them forever. I know firsthand. I had the honor of serving as the 51st Chief Justice of Y&G and I’ve taken the lessons learned at Camp Roberts and in the halls of Sacramento to pursue a life of service as an Officer in the Navy, Mayor of my hometown and now in the Governor’s Cabinet as California’s Chief Service Officer.

Youth & Government delegates will soon be alums. As alums, we will need them to continue to serve, make their voices heard and be actively engaged in their communities. Continuing to grow and support our Y&G community will ensure the ongoing strength of our Democracy and our State, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”

Josh Fryday, Chief Service Officer, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor

Building Competencies and Compassion

As we close the book on our 77th Model Legislature & Court, we are excited to move forward with our 24th Model United Nations program for middle school students.  This 12 week program will have a strong focus this year on the work done to support UN resolutions by independent organizations around the world.  Our student “Ambassadors” will have the opportunity to choose a country to represent, identify an area of need in their chosen country, and to create a non-governmental organization to meet that need.  Through participation in MUN, Ambassadors will learn to advocate for themselves and others, and learn core leadership skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

ENJOY THIS SPECIAL 77TH MLC RECAP REEL!