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Constitutional Challenge

With each year’s annual Constitutional Challenge, the Governor’s administration main motive is to continually work towards integrating the branches of the Youth and Government program. Integration is essential to empower the stream of networking through a framework to give important information to benefit the capacity of the program. To further motivate unification, the cabinet will be conducting yet another challenge, but this time, on a bigger platform. Overall, the aim of the Constitutional Challenge is to show the several sides of the YAG program through friendly, yet serious debate.

The Blue Senate bill #932 entitled “My Shot”, written by Senator Sam Condrick and Representative Connor McDonald, will be the bill participating in the administration’s challenge this year. The bill aims to strengthen general public health within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The challenge will question the constitutionality of it’s concept, as it proposes to eliminate the religious exemption when it comes to vaccinating children within schools.

The Constitutional Challenge debate will take place on Sunday during closing ceremonies, and will feature this year’s Chief Justice, Abby Han, the bill authors, and representing the Governor’s administration, Jerusha George, the Judicial Asset, and Ethan Sniderman, the Attorney General.

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The Smile Project

While you may not think it, smiles and compliments go a long way in making someone's day the very best it can be. The concept of “paying it forward” has created a chain effect of responding to a person's kindness by being kind to someone else in our day and age. Inspiring generosity and compassion, paying it forward is a simple, but important, step towards unifying the delegates of the Youth and Government branches. Integration has been something our program has been striving towards for numerous years. However, until now, there had yet to be a unifying addition to the program that goes beyond the work done as a delegate. The Smile Project was started by legislative delegate Fahad Jahangir and is a statewide project aimed towards promoting a positive, welcoming culture in YAG. It only takes one person with an idea to create an effect. In this case, 15 delegates worked together to create day-to-day challenges and incentives. “All it takes is one smile to turn a rough day into a happy one. After Model ended last year, I realized that regardless of whatever appellation, power, or influence you hold, making a difference in someone’s day always just boils down to how you treat people,” commented Jahangir. So how can you participate? Find a new delegate, specifically one you’ve never met before from any branch, or even your own. All you have to do is compliment them and make them smile! Simply take a selfie together then, write down your favorite compliment from the overall day and submit it to the form posted on The Smile Project’s Instagram page (@smileprojectyag.) If you participate in the daily challenges, you get the chance to win a smiley sticker and other additional prizes!

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First Bill Signing

At 9:30 in the Rotunda on Saturday, Youth Governor Colin Black signed six bills into law.  “I have been more than impressed with the debate these delegates displayed,” started Black. “I’d like to thank all the delegates for putting on the endless hours of research they've done and the passion that they and all of their peers have debated on with their legislation. ”

Governor Black first signed Gold House bill #840 (“Emergency Contraception Bill”), by Isabella White and Peter Barto. The purpose is “to ensure that sexual assault victims are receiving emergency, comprehensive medical care within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Gold House bill #944 (“Emission Testing Bill”), sponsored by Jacob Mock and John Mack, was the next to be signed. The objective is “to ensure that sexual assault victims are receiving emergency, comprehensive medical care within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Gold Senate bill #882 (“Citizens of Pennsylvania Protection Act”), sponsored by Luke Musante and Nick Sullivan, was then signed. Its intention is to increase the safety of and give legal resources to citizens in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Blue House bill #727 (“Do You Need a Needle?”), sponsored by Amanda Brown and Scott Rochman, was signed. It was written in order “to reduce death and illnesses associated with bloodborne pathogens.”

Blue Senate bill #771 (“The Quest to Protest Act”) was also signed. It was sponsored by Gianna DeVincenzo, Maureen Hartwell, and Julian Sherr. It proposes to allow public school students two days absent from school in order to allow students their rightful expression of free speech and a larger role in governmental decisions.

Blue Senate bill #761 (“Commonwealth Substance Determination Act”) was the final bill of the 10:00 am session to be signed. The bill was sponsored by David Mailman and Jackson Clark. The aim of the bill is “to ensure citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have a greater voice on the status of controlled substances within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

“It’s my job to represent the people that elected me, so this feels like I’m coming to conclusion on that promise. The laws were passed because people believe they will provide for the state of Pennsylvania. It has been my honor to participate in signing today,” Black concluded.

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Second Bill Signing

Colin Black performed a second signing ceremony at 2:00 pm on Saturday in the Rotunda. He signed three bills into law during the session. “Once again I'd like to thank all of the sponsors of the bills and all of the delegates that have been speaking so passionately on the floor. We appreciate everything you guys are doing, sponsors especially,” began Black. “We would just like to thank you for truly caring about the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and this program. It’s the people like you that make this program so important.”

Blue House bill #729 “Don’t Pray Away the Gay” by Valerie Wilmath, Jocilyn Koser, and Angie Torres was first signed. The bill was written “to keep LGBT youth from receiving harmful and/or unwanted treatments for their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Peter Barto and Kaitlyn Rager had their Gold Senate bill #450 “The Mental Health Matters Act” signed as well. Within the bill, it proposes to “educate the youth in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania about common mental health issues.” To ensure that, the bill arranges to have public middle schools in Pennsylvania include at least one mental health focuses course in their curriculum.

Gold House bill #686 “Medicaid Reform Act” by sponsors Nikolaus Schuster and Nishant Jayachandran was the last to be signed during the second session. The bill discusses “reforming the State Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act of 2010 by changing the package delivery system of benefits and imposing work requirements for those who are eligible to work in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Governor Black closed the ceremony with these words: “I would like to once again thank all of the sponsors for their hard work, all of the delegates that have been debating these pieces of legislation, and all of the delegates who have attended this model legislature and making a difference in the Commonwealth.”

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Y-Corps

Giving back to the community has always been at the forefront of the YMCA’s values. Students participating in Youth and Government truly know what it means to be a civil servant and provide for the Commonwealth. These values are even stronger with the Y-Corps, where the program's goal is to embody the Y principles.

Y-Corps is four to six month program that adequately trains students to be impactful servant leaders, advocates, and fundraisers. Later in the summer, all accepted applicants travel throughout New York and Pennsylvania for one week doing charity projects to benefit local communities. Last year, Y-Corps did everything from painting a playset in Scranton, to organizing books in Syracuse.

For Alex Rapp, a Hershey High School sophomore and Y-Corps member, the program is everything Youth and Government wishes it could be. The program takes the servant leadership delegates discuss in legislature into practice.

“It’s where I found what matters to the world. I found out why I do what I do, what I want to bring to the world. That’s what Y-Corps means--finding the why in what you do,” Rapp explained. Y-Corp members are sent from place to place throughout the trip never knowing what their next service will be, but being ready for anything.

The Y-Corps program has always mirrored the main values of charity of the YMCA, leading young people to become great leaders and even better civil servants. It demonstrates the true meaning of being part of a community and the importance it plays in our lives.

The program has requirements in order to participate, proving just how far a student can go to be a successful public servant. Everyone accepted is expected to complete 50 community service hours by July and raise $500 through donations. The purpose of fundraising prior is intended to support students who want to attend the future Youth and Government conferences.  

“Everything thing you do, everywhere you stay, you see first hand what the world around you is. Your world expands beyond anything you can imagine because you get the time to reflect what your community has done for you and what it is you need to do to give back to it,” Rapp said.

“We have been called by multiple cultures and faiths to love our neighbors, and one of the easiest ways you can show you care is helping. It doesn’t require a lot--simply just help somebody without being asked.” expressed Greg Rudder, Executive Director.

To be apart of the Y-Corps program for the 2018-2019 year, you can visit the New York YMCA’s page at http://www.ymcanys.org/yag/y-corps/ to submit an application. All updated applications for 2019 will be uploaded to fill out before February of next year. If you have any questions, you can contact Greg Rudder about the program at [email protected] or Drew Caldwell at [email protected]