About the Assembly
As the Y works to engage young people as active contributors and stakeholders in our organization and their communities around the country, our virtual National Youth Assembly serves as a platform for youth conversations across the nation.
Hosted by our YMCA Youth Governors and facilitated by youth leaders from around the country, our assembly sessions are youth-led discussions on themes that explore the personal/leadership development, challenges, and influence of young people.
During each of our three sessions – held during the fall, winter, and spring of each school year – you’ll have the chance to meet and network with peers from a diverse array of communities, and share your experiences and perspectives on a wide variety of topics.
Fall Session
“Rethinking Our Narrative”
September 14th, 2021 | 7:00pm-8:30pm ET
Winter Session
“Pathways to Youth Governance”
February 1, 2022* | 7:00pm-8:30pm ET *New Date
Spring Session
Theme TBA
April 12th, 2022 | 7:00pm-8:30pm ET
Register to attend the National Youth Assembly using the link below. There is no fee to participate, and your registration includes all three sessions (fall, winter, and spring):
If you have any issues with your registration or cannot find the link to join the Assembly, please submit your registration again or send an email to derek.summerville@ymca.net.
Session Agenda
Each session of the National Youth Assembly will have a different theme, but follow a similar structure and agenda:
- Welcome & Theme Introduction – Welcoming remarks by our hosts, followed by an introduction and exploration of the session’s theme to prepare for breakouts.
- Breakout Discussions – All attendees will placed into smaller (groups of 10-15) breakout discussions with students from different parts of the country. One of our Breakout Facilitators (sign-up to facilitate here!) will help guide the your group’s discussion on the session theme.
- Youth Action Network Briefing – Session hosts will introduce new opportunities for advocacy, funding, organizing, and taking action from the Y and our partners. After the briefing, you’ll reconvene with your breakout group for a short networking conversation about how you’d like to take action in your community.
- Closing Thoughts – Session hosts will offer a final reflection on the theme and what they heard during breakout discussions, and preview what’s ahead before the next Assembly session.
Session Hosts
Hosts for each of our National Youth Assembly sessions will be announced on this page as they are finalized:
Fall Hosts:
Youth Mayor Jihyeok Chang (CA)
Youth Governor Kemper Cole (DE)
Youth Governor Emma Macaluso (MI)
Youth Governor Aishwarya Swamidurai (OK)
Winter Hosts:
Youth Governor Mason Hill (MD)
Youth Governor Sidd Siddiqui (TN)
Youth Governor Sam Kaplan-Pettus (CA)
Youth Governor Mandeep Kaleka (WI)
Spring Hosts:
Coming Soon
Session Facilitators
In addition to our hosts, student facilitators will lead each of our breakout discussions. If you are interested in becoming a facilitator, please sign-up using the form below:
We’ll reach out before each session to coordinate with facilitators and provide the resources you’ll need for your breakout groups.