Youth and Government

The YMCA Louisiana Youth & Government program is organized for high school students throughout the State of Louisiana. Since 1962, the YMCA Louisiana Youth & Government program has offered the Youth Legislature conference to the future leaders. At Youth Legislature, students attend the three-day conference as Senators, House Representatives, lobbyists, officials, members of the judicial system, or press representatives. Throughout their stay in Baton Rouge, the 550-plus students assume specific roles and act out mock legislation or mock trial.

In 1987, the Model United Nations conference was added to the Youth & Government program and in 2003, the first YMCA Middle School United Nations Assembly was held.

Youth Legislature and Model United Nations include formal debates, committee meetings, reports on the fate of bills and proposals and election of new officers. Social activities include banquets and dances.

For more information about Youth and Government, Contact Eddrick Martin at 225-344-6775 or Visit http://www.lahiy.org

Above: Youth of the Capital Area participating in Youth and Government Programs

 

Black Achievers

The YMCA Black Achievers program is a mentoring program for junior high and high school. They are mentored by local professionals and attend career cluster meetings, where they are guided in setting career and personal goals.

Dr. Leo Marsh start the first Black Achievers program in 1971 at the Harlem YMCA in New York. It has long since advanced throughout the nation to places like Cincinnati, Detroit, Lexington, Louisville, Milwaukee, Newark, New Orleans and across the country.

The YMCA of the Capital Area holds a banquet every spring to honor the black achiever program participants. In 2011, university scholarships totaling more than $14,500 were awarded to area high shcool students and 100% of the participants were accepted to a college this year and will begin in the fall. To date, the Black Achievers program has awarded over $554,000 in new and renewable scholarships.

Some photos from the 2011 Black Achiever's Banquet at Baranco-Clark YMCA