As delegates gather for the Texas Youth and Government State Conference, Daniel Ren, a candidate from Glenda Dawson High School in District 3, is campaigning for Youth Governor with a platform centered on equity, structural refinement and restoring trust in the system.

Ren said his candidacy is rooted in representation.

“I’m running because I come from District 3,” Ren said. “It’s smaller. We don’t have thousands of members behind us. We don’t always have the loudest presence in the room. And for a long time, leadership has consistently come from the largest districts.” While he acknowledged the work of larger delegations, Ren said representation across districts matters.

“I want students from smaller districts to look at the ballot and think, that could be me,” he said.

Rather than proposing sweeping change, Ren emphasized strengthening the program’s foundation. “Youth and Government has existed for nearly 80 years,” Ren said. “It does not need reinvention. It demands refinement.”

The central issue of his campaign is trust in the judging system. “When judging feels inconsistent, when rubrics aren’t clear, when outcomes feel emotional instead of
objective, students notice,” Ren said. “If we ask students to prepare for months, we owe them fairness.”

Ren proposes standardized judge training, greater rubric transparency and a more accessible appeal system. He also supports maintaining financial aid while exploring merit-based scholarships that recognize leadership, growth and commitment within clubs. Beyond structural reform, Ren hopes to strengthen YG’s culture through monthly “table topic” sessions designed to help students think critically and speak confidently under pressure.

“I lead quietly,” Ren said. “I rely on structure, follow-through and listening carefully before acting.” If elected, Ren said he would begin by gathering detailed feedback from members before implementing initiatives. “Winning would mean responsibility,” Ren said. “Youth in Government belongs to its members. If I am given the opportunity to serve, my role is simple: to listen carefully, act intentionally and leave the organization stronger than I found it.”

Blog By: Gavin Strong, Glenda Dawson HS

How Naila Amol Navigates Justice from Opposite Ends of the Courtroom

In District Court, judicial delegates usually commit to one role. Naila Amol has chosen two.This conference, she is playing both a prosecution lawyer and a defendant in Mock Trial. “I’m a prosecution lawyer,” Naila explained, “which is like the people accusing the other person. And then on the defense side, I’m the one being accused. I’m the defendant.” Being able to balance these opposite perspectives requires lots of preparation, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the case.

Playing both sides, she says, is “definitely complicated.” Earlier in the season at district, she portrayed Harper Lynn, the defendant. To prepare for her role, she read the affidavit repeatedly, carefully studying her character’s statement and practicing responses to possible cross-examination questions. Now, as a prosecution attorney, that preparation gives her an advantage. Because she also embodies the defendant, she knows the character, Harper Lynn, very and has a good understanding of the testimony.

“I know the characters so well,” she said. “It feels easier because I feel prepared.” That familiarity allows her to ask impromptu questions confidently, anticipating how the other side might respond. Her experience highlights one of the most valuable skills Mock Trial develops: the ability to think from multiple perspectives.

Beyond the courtroom intensity, Naila has also embraced the community aspect of the program. From long bus rides with teammates to meeting new delegates at state, she describes the experience as fun and is excited to continue connecting with others.

By stepping into two drastically different roles, Naila demonstrates that understanding justice requires seeing both sides of the story.

Story By Lola Sagoe, Greenhill School

Inside Greenhill’s TX YG Delegation and the advisor guiding Its growth.

At Greenhill, students involved in Youth and Government don’t just learn about our government, but they actively practice it. Now in her second year as the delegation advisor, Mrs. Hensen stepped into the role after being encouraged by one of her own students. “This is my second year as the advisor,” she explained. After arriving at Greenhill mid-year and beginning to teach AP Government, one of her students approached her about sponsoring the club. The program had already been established at Greenhill, but they were looking for a new advisor.

Mrs.Hensen’s decision to lead Youth and Government reflects her broader philosophy about civic participation. She believes that living in a democracy comes with responsibility. “If you live in a democracy, you should participate in it,” she shared. “That’s one of the reasons why people choose democratic countries.”  For her, Youth and Government is more than a competition. It is a training ground for active citizenship. Students gain “an understanding of civics” and begin to see “how exciting, but challenging the democratic process can be.” Through drafting bills, debating legislation, campaigning for office, and writing articles, delegates experience the realities of governance firsthand.

She describes the program as a way for students to strengthen what she calls their “democratic muscles.” Youth and Government provides opportunities for students to practice leadership, collaboration, and civic engagement before entering adulthood. Delegates even experience simulated elections long before they are eligible to votethemselves.

By guiding students through this process, Greenhill’s delegation continues to grow as a space where young people do not simply learn about democracy but actively engage in it. Under Mrs.Hensen’s leadership, the program encourages students to understand their role in shaping the systems they are part of and prepares them to participate thoughtfully in the world beyond the classroom.

Story By: Lola Sagoe, Greenhill School

As the 2022 race for Texas governor tightens, virtually all citizens and news outlets are focused on the two major candidates: Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott, or his Democratic challenger, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke.

This is hardly surprising. Every Texas governor (and nearly every prominent US politician) since the 1860s has been either a Republican or Democrat. In most cases, they are seen as the only viable candidates, or at least the only ones with any chance of winning.

But often left out of the bigger conversation are the many third party candidates. Be it because of their often more radical ideals, their history of low support, or not having the backing of a major party, most of these campaigns are quiet, with many voters not even knowing the candidates until seeing them on the ballot.

In the 2022 election, the big third party gubernatorial candidates are Libertarian nominee Mark Tippetts and Green Party candidate Delilah Barrios. Neither party has ever elected a governor in any state.

Tippetts, a Lago Vista city councilman and the 2018 Libertarian governor candidate, holds close to the party’s ultra-conservative views, in his words the “maximum protection of the rights of all people against any violation”. This includes reformed immigration policy, cutting taxes, and lower restrictions on marijuana and 2nd amendment rights. The Green Party candidate, Delilah Barrios, lands on the opposite side of the political spectrum. A surgical technician and working class mom, she advocates for social and income equality, healthcare access, and environmental justice, in line with her party’s liberal attitude.

Thus far, Tippetts has made a slightly bigger push for the office, with more financial support, media coverage, and a web store. However, that won’t seem to matter. In a recent UT Austin poll, both received 2% support, far behind Abbott’s 45% and O’Rourke’s 40%.

In addition, neither third party candidates were invited to the sole gubernatorial debate in September.

While most Americans today stick to the traditional Republican v. Democrat format, third party candidates have a better chance to shake up the landscape with a new, informed generation of young voters.

In a poll of Texas YMCA Youth and Government students, none were familiar with the major third party candidates.

Written by Connor Whitecotton – Perry YMCA Onsite Club