Whatever your political perspective, I think we can all agree that our political debate hasn’t exactly been at the level of our founding fathers during the Constitutional Convention over 240 years ago. While it’s easy to get disheartened and concerned about the future of our democracy, I can guarantee you that some time spent around the 234 Maryland high school students who were this year's Y Youth & Government delegates will provide you with just the hope you’re looking for.
Continuing a decades-long Y tradition, these budding leaders formed 15 delegations, met for weeks with their Y coaches, 43 of whom were volunteers, and immersed themselves in the messy but noble art of democracy. Putting their newly gained knowledge to work, they gathered, as they do each April, for a three day mock legislative session in the halls of the Maryland legislature where representatives were elected, their original bills were argued, lobbied about, covered by the mock media, voted upon, and if passed, written into “law.”
Just like our actual elected officials around the state, the Youth & Government delegates brought to Annapolis different political views and life experiences, and represented widely diverse backgrounds. That’s what makes democracy messy, but it’s also what makes democracy so vital and important. When done well, it’s the art of people with passionate points of view being able to form consensus and enact legislation on behalf of all those they represent, not just a narrow faction. When not done well, well I think we all know what that looks like…
A glimpse at some of the student bills passed tells you a lot about the issues near and dear to their hearts:
- HB 1048 lowering the voting age to 16
- HB 1099 Human Trafficking Fine Allocation
- SB 2006 Statewide Single Payer Healthcare
- SB 2013 Child Marriage Prevention Act
- SB 2076 The Testing Opportunities Act of 2019
- SB 2087 Jobs After Jail Bill
- SB 2091 Quality Teachers Act
- SB 2094 Universal Child Protection Act
Thanks goes to the wonderful Youth & Government Y team, headed by Grace Chaisson and her sidekick, Jesse Reese, our corporate sponsors, including major sponsor BGE, an army of volunteers, keynote speaker Senator Cory McCray and, of course the 234 passionate students who inspire a sense of renewed hope about our future. They are so passionate, they even held a mock press conference when their bill to change the voting age to 16 was signed into law!
Hats off to the entire dedicated Y volunteer and associate team for another outstanding Youth & Government season. All of you and the students who bring this all to life make us not only proud but also optimistic about the future.
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland