Where Did You Find Your Voice?
Over the past few weeks there have been many reasons to feel unsure, confused, and hopeless.
“What does this mean?”
“How did this happen?”
“Does America hate us?”
All questions asked by our Youth & Government delegates at our Election Night Watch Party. A night they thought would end the hate speech, a night they wanted, but did not get.
Days later some of our Y&G Delegates joined over 1,000 high school students and walked out of their classrooms and into the streets in protest of the messages from the President Elect, his campaign, and its supporters. Messages that make these youth fearful for their rights and the rights of their friends and family.
What did this protest accomplish? These delegates know there will be no change in the final election results due to protests. What they accomplished was taking their fears and putting them into action. They look for ways to have their voice heard.
The YMCA of San Francisco – Youth & Government Program provides a space for teens to find their voice and to be heard.
A week after the election Rosie Bell, Youth & Government delegate, was able to publicly speak her truth in front of 400 freshmen delegates from throughout the state. Our first state-wide conference consists of the first phase of trainings and elections to prepare for our culminating event in Sacramento this February. Rosie, fearful that her experience with this mock government program would mirror our real life government, decided to run for office.
Rosie campaigned to be the next Forum Sergeant at Arms. Her platform consisted of Equality and Fairness to all delegates. She wanted to be seen at the “Peace Keeper” and not the “Authoritarian” of their Forum. While she did not win, she felt her fear and her sadness of loosing and promptly asked, “What can I run for next?”
Rosie Bell – High School Freshman (Gateway)
Rosie has been apart of the Buchanan YMCA family through after school programming, Model United Nations Ambassador, Mock Trial participant, and now a Youth & Government Delegate.
Learn more about the Y and G program and how you can be involved!
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