While it feels way too frequently of late that our constitutional democracy is sitting on a knife’s edge, if you’re willing to look closely enough there are also reasons to feel hopeful about the future.
One such example is this year's 55th annual Conference on National Affairs (CONA); a national Y program that attracts high school students from Y Youth & Government programs across the country. For those unfamiliar with Y Youth & Government, it is a youth program in each state which provides high schoolers hands-on opportunities to learn and experience the fundamentals of democracy. It's an outstanding program and one of the best kept secrets of Y community life.
Held at the Y Blue Ridge Assembly in North Carolina last week, this year's CONA welcomed 422 students from across the country, 21 of whom represented the Maryland Y Youth & Government delegation. Legislative proposals were debated and moved through a deliberative process, with the top 30 selected to get to the final round. Ultimately three student proposals from the Maryland delegation moved on to the final round, which is known as the General Assembly. And I’m proud to announce that all three passed!
The students whose proposals went on to the General Assembly were Soifa Moreira from Thomas S. Wootton High School (in Rockville), Carlo Andanar from the Ward Y in Abingdon delegation, and Summer Nelson from Notre Dame Prep (in Towson). Summer was also awarded one of the Distinguished Delegate Awards and Outstanding Proposal Awards at the conference.
Here were their proposal topics:
Sofia Moreira: We Can't Wait.
A change in disability benefits.
Carlo Andanar: Rank It. Don't Blank It.
Implementing rank-choice voting for all federal elected officials and abolishing the Electoral College in place of a ranked popular vote.
Summer Nelson: The Termination of Terrorism.
Ridding the nation of the influence of domestic terrorism.
Congratulations to Sofia, Carlo and Summer as well as all the youth who participated! Their enthusiasm, intelligence, thirst for knowledge and sense of civic purpose is a needed reminder that democracy can work, but it takes hard work, compromise and a willingness to see people with whom you disagree not as enemies but as potential collaborators. If these young people can do it, surely we grown-ups can figure it out!
Many thanks to Ryan Novo, Heather Naviasky and all the Y associates and volunteer leaders who do such an excellent job of providing this outstanding experience for so many. They’re heroes of democracy as well!
If you'd like to know more about Y Youth & Government, please click here.
All the best,
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland