On March 7-9, the Youth Legislative Assembly (YLA) had its annual conference. The YLA is a mock legislative session coordinated by Erica Gallion. The YLA was established in 1971. It is a great opportunity for high school students. As stated on ncleg.gov, “The conference allows high school students an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the workings of local, state, and national government. Active participation in YLA increases the students’ confidence and ability to debate current issues. Any high school student in good standing at a public, private, charter, or home school in North Carolina is eligible to participate in YLA.”
This program offers a variety of leadership opportunities, each playing a crucial role in its success. At the highest level is the position of speaker, a crucial role held by five individuals each year. These speakers are elected at the conclusion of the annual conference to serve in the following year. For the upcoming year, the elected speakers are Avani Narayanan, Gracie Moore, Ian House, Annika Gupta, and Emma Williford. In addition to the speakers, there are three leadership positions for every committee: two co-chairs and a clerk. Their responsibilities are chair discussions, facilitate smooth proceedings, and be in charge of the participants throughout the conference. The remaining participants are delegates, who actively participate in debates, offering solutions, and making positive contributions to the bill. The committees work on their bill and make amendments to make the bill better for when it gets presented to the rest of the delegates. The 2024-2025 YLA included the Agriculture Committee, Business Committee, Education Committee, Environment Committee, General Government Committee, Health and Human Services Committee, Information Technology Committee, Judiciary Committee, Justice Public Safety Committee, and the Military Committee.
Every year participants go to the NC General Assembly. On Friday, March 7, delegates debated on their assigned bill with their committee for two hours. A group photo is taken on the red stairs at the Legislature Building every year. On Saturday, the legislative process continues as delegates step beyond their own committees to debate bills from other groups. They work together to propose amendments, refine legislation, and ultimately cast their votes, mirroring the real-world policy-making process. Cardinal Gibbons High School junior Annalise Rich has attended the YLA all three years. Rich said, “YLA is a lot of fun! I met so many people who are also interested in making a difference in North Carolina politics and who are passionate about creating a better future.”
Beyond the legislative experiences, the YLA also offers an environment to create new friendships. The conference hosts a game night and a dance. For the 2024-2025 conference, the dance had a patriotic theme and individuals dressed in the classic American colors red, white, and blue. Millbrook High School sophomore Jayden Smith was on the information committee. Smith said, “This was my first year, but the experience was life changing. I made many new friends, and I learned a lot about the legislative process. I will definitely sign up for it next year!”
The YLA applications are available months in advance. The specific date for YLA 2025-2026 is not scheduled yet, but it is usually around spring break. Rich said, “YLA gave me the opportunity to meet with influential members of the government and build connections. This experience taught me the importance of self confidence and the impact we as youth can make on our future.” For more information, you can contact Erica Gallion at (919) 301-1372 or [email protected], and visit the website.
