From left, Lompoc Family YMCA Youth & Government member Enrique Rocha and Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson. Courtesy photo.
LOMPOC — The Channel Islands YMCA Youth & Government delegation joined more than 3,000 youth from throughout California for the 69th Model Legislature & Court held Feb. 16-19 at the Sacramento Convention Center and State Capitol. Among them was Lompoc Family YMCA Youth & Government member Enrique Rocha.
As a delegation, youth create bills about pertinent issues, research and practice court cases, develop public speaking and networking skills, and attend three annual Model Legislature & Court conferences. The youth have been meeting weekly over the last six months to prepare for the culminating Sacramento conference.
While in Sacramento, the bills developed by the delegations during the fall were debated in committees, then on the floor of the Assembly and/or Senate and, if passed, sent on to the Youth Governor.
The Lompoc delegation submitted a bill to amend Penal code 242, relating to battery laws.
During the summit, the Channel Islands delegates met with Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson. The Senator presented each delegation with a Senate Certificate of Recognition. Senator Jackson signed a bill relating to green energy laws and gave the delegates a tour of the Senate chambers as she submitted the signed bill.
California YMCA Youth & Government’s Model Legislature & Court (MLC) has been the state’s premier youth leadership and civic development program since 1948. This program provides them with the opportunity to experience government first-hand through a unique “youth-run, youth-led” model.
“I have noticed a big improvement in one of our delegates who started off the program as a shy student, said Claudia Quezada-Rocha, Youth Development Director. “This delegate relied on his older sister to publicly speak about their bill. When his older sister could not attend MLC Sacramento this delegate stepped up and attended the Delegation President meetings, presented his bill, and made so many friends. I am very proud of our delegates accomplishments in the Youth & Government program.”
The Youth & Government program is offered at the Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Stuart C. Gildred, and Ventura branches of the Channel Islands YMCA.
To support this program or to learn about how to participate in the 2017-2018 delegation, please contact Claudia Quezada-Rocha, Youth Development Director at (805) 588-6858 or visit http://www.ciymca.org/lompoc. Interested students do not have to be members of the YMCA to join.
About the Channel Islands YMCA: Established in 1887, the Channel Islands YMCA is a charitable organization of seven YMCA branches serving Santa Barbara and Ventura counties including: Camarillo Family YMCA, Lompoc Family YMCA, Montecito Family YMCA, Santa Barbara Family YMCA, Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA in Santa Ynez, Ventura Family YMCA, and Youth and Family Services YMCA which operates Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter, the St. George Family Youth Center and My Home.
The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Channel Islands YMCA serves over 46,000 individuals and provides over $1.3 million in financial assistance to families in need for child care, YMCA memberships, away and day camps, youth sports, and teen after-school programs. For more information about the Lompoc Family YMCA, visit http://www.ciymca.org/lompoc or call (805) 736-3483