The year 2007-08 marks the 57th Anniversary of the Oklahoma YMCA Youth and Government program. YMCA Youth and Government gives high school students from around the state the opportunity to author legislation and debate it in the chambers of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and it also allows students to be witnesses, attorneys, and judges in the Court of Criminal Appeals at the State Capitol. Since the beginning of the program, over 12,000 students have been involved with this unique leadership experience.

Currently, there are many schools participating in Oklahoma YMCA Youth and Government. However, with the help of former participants, such as James Waldo, former Youth Governor and former Chairman of the State Youth and Government Board of Directors, and the generous contributions of the Hatton W. Sumner Foundation, we hope to get more schools involved.

Oklahoma YMCA Youth and Government Purpose

To enhance the development of the American democratic process by enabling young Americans to prepare for moral and political leadership by providing guidance, training, and experience in the theory and practice of determining public policy;

To provide leadership training to meet the needs of a democratic society;

To provide an understanding and awareness of modern government;

To provide opportunities for participation in the legislative process;

To provide opportunities to become significantly involved in social issues;

To develop self confidence and self expression;

To provide opportunities to gain experience in political action;

To sponsor an inter-association event and laboratory training on the democratic process of our country attractive to high school youth;

To increase the ability of members to organize ideas clearly, concisely, and persuasively along with giving individuals experience in the art of speech making and debate;

To enable the individual to learn to take defeat without discouragement as well as to learn to be tolerant of others’ points of view.