Alliance Overview

The Youth and Government Program Alliance (YGPA) is the professional network of YMCA staff that lead our Youth and Government programs across the country. This network works to provide support, resources, training, and professional development opportunities, as well as a platform for staff to connect on best practices and national programs/initiatives.

Youth and Government Program Alliance (YGPA)

The YGPA is our primary communications and networking platform open to all YMCA YG staff at the local, state, and national levels who directly lead or support the Youth and Government program in any capacity.

If you are a staff member who would like to join the peer community and attend our monthly virtual calls, email your request to the YGPA Council at contact@ymcayag.org.

We also encourage all members of the YGPA to follow and amplify our national Youth and Government social media accounts, where we’ll be sharing stories and resources for your programs, participants, and volunteers.

YGPA State Representatives

Each Youth and Government state program designates one staff member (usually an executive or director) to serve as their YGPA State Representative for all official business and state correspondence. If you have any questions about the representative for your state, please email contact@ymcayag.org

YGPA Council

The 5 members of our YGPA Council are elected during our YGPA Leadership Conference to serve for a two-year term.

The council meets virtually to guide the work of the YGPA, develop and steward program collaboration, and serve as the voice of the Youth and Government program to YMCA of the USA and other national partners.

2024-2026 YGPA Council
Chelsea Coombes (FL) – chelsea@floridaymcas.org
James Farnsworth (MN) – james.farnsworth@ymcamn.org
Madison Farricker (CA) – madisonfarricker@ymcala.org
Kasey Roberts (PA) – kasey@ymcapa.org
Hannah Wood (NM) – nmyag@ymcacnm.org

All members of the YPGA are eligible to run for election to the YGPA Council if their candidacy is approved by their respective YGPA State Representative.

The YGPA Council is supported and resourced by staff from YMCA of the USA’s Government Relations office in Washington, D.C..

Angie Castilleja, YMCA of the USA – angie.castilleja@ymca.net

To contact the Council about a question or opportunity, email council@ymcayag.org

YGPA Leadership Conference

Held every two years, the YGPA Leadership Conference is open to all members of our YGPA National Peer Community. The conference brings together staff at the local, state, and national levels of the Y movement who lead and support Youth and Government programs for collaboration, networking, and professional development.

2026 YGPA Leadership Conference
Santa Fe, New Mexico
May 18-21, 2026

Contact: Hannah Wood, YGPA Councilmember and NM YAG State Director – nmyag@ymcacnm.org

States that are interested in hosting the YGPA Leadership Conference in future years can submit a bid to be considered and voted on by our YGPA State Representatives at the conclusion of each conference.