The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas is pleased to announce Texas Bar Association has made a $10,000 grant to support the Dallas YMCA Youth & Government Program.  Youth & Govenments is a statewide, youth-led civic engagement program for high school and middle school students. The program focuses on the mechanics of the state legislative and judicial processes of government, along with print and broadcast media. The mission of the Youth and Government program within the YMCA is to help youth become responsible citizens and future leaders of our nation by creating an environment in which students can increase their political awareness and understanding, while learning the meaning of social action through mock experience in government.

Beginning in 1946, this program has used a variety of activities to build, encourage, and strengthen those life assets and character traits that will help youth become involved responsible adults who are decent and respected citizens. The core purpose of this highly regarded program is exemplified in the motto "Democracy must be learned by each generation in order for it to survive."

This past November, over 1,000 students from 69 schools and programs competed in at the YMCA District Conference in Duncanville, TX. The 2018 State Conference will be held in Austin, Texas. Funding from the Texas Bar Foundation will provide scholarship support to youth in the Greater Dallas area who could not otherwise afford state conference registration. 

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded approximately $18 million in grants to law-related programs.  Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.