Youth In Government

Monday’s from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Harbor Highlands Community Center at 28 East Village View Drive (lower parking lot entrance). Emergency contact information form must be filled out at the first meeting that the youth attends for safety reasons. 

• Youth in Government: September - January with a 4 day conference in early January
  • Informational meeting will take place in late September
• Model United Nations: Early February to April with a 3 day conference in early April
  • Informational meeting will take place on Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Harbor Highlands Community Center.

Youth across our region have participated in Youth in Government (YIG), an immersive four days that includes focused discussions on current issues, a wide variety of social events, engaging evening activities, time for small-group reflection, and hands-on leadership development.

The program starts in late fall when students in grades 8-12 form a YIG delegation, which will hold meetings for their group leading up to the conference. High School students will choose to serve as legislators, judges, attorneys, lobbyists, media representatives, or cabinet members. Eighth-grade students start by participating as a member of the Leadership Corps where they will get to experience all areas of the program to allow them a chance to choose how to continue their YIG journey in high school.

At the end of October, delegates from all over the state come together for our in-person LAUNCH event to help prepare for the four-day conference in early January. In January, delegations from all over the state of Minnesota and Western Wisconsin will come together between the Hilton Hotel in Minneapolis and the Minnesota State Capitol to engage in the Minnesota Youth in Government session.

• Focus on state and local issues
• Meet students with similar interests from across the state
• Choose from many program area options
• Practice leadership skills in this entirely student-led state government 

Model United Nations (MUN) is a hands-on civic learning program where students in grades 8 -12 take on the role of diplomat from one of 193 countries, engage in respectful discussions about the state of the world, and explore solutions to international challenges.

The program starts in early February when students join together to form a delegation. Delegations meet regularly to research countries, prepare for program areas, and practice presentation skills. In early April, delegates from all over the state come together for a three-day conference. At the conference, more than 500 delegates from all over the state will come together in downtown Minneapolis for the annual MUN conference, where they meet in program area groups to discuss and debate global issues, pass resolutions, form diplomatic alliances, and draft legal opinions while practicing cooperation and diplomacy.

• Explore relevant, global issues and how they affect your life
• Practice using cooperation and diplomacy to influence others
• Meet students from different racial, cultural, economic, and political backgrounds
• Build self-confidence and improve your public speaking skills
• Gains skills that set you apart in college applications and job interviews.