YMCA Youth & Government (YAG) Club 2017-2018 Year End Report

Ka’u High School & Pahala Elementary School

Date Prepared: January 29, 2018

I. Vision Statement: We strive to educate and turn students to active vocal leaders who are not afraid to
express their own opinions and beliefs and make changes that will benefit their own communities, as
well as turning them into confident individuals able to think critically and thrive in their own chosen
profession.
II. Mission Statement: Our mission is to give students a platform to discuss controversial or current social
and political issues and pieces of legislation, while giving them the understanding of the political
process in order to become active citizens of society.
III. Demographics of 2017-2018 YAG Members:
A. Age
1. 8th Grade: 2 (11%)
2. 9th Grade: 1 (5%)
3. 10th Grade: 5 (26%)
4. 11th Grade: 6 (32%)
5. 12th Grade: 5 (26%)
B. Gender
1. Male: 8 (42%)
2. Female: 11 (58%)
C. Ethnicity
1. Filipinx: 9 (47%)
2. Latinx: 2 (10%)
3. Caucasian: 3 (16%)
4. Native Hawaiian: 2 (10%)
5. Multiracial: 3 (16%)
IV. The Leadership Team
A. 2017-2018 School Year
1. President and Chair: Ezra James Ramones
2. Vice President and Co-Chair: Rowlie John Flores
3. Communications Chair: Brennen Nishimura
 4. Finance Chair: Rebekah Polido-Kalili
5. Recruitment and Retention Chair: Alethea Joy Ramones
B. 2018-2019 School Year
1. President and Chair: Brennen Nishimura
2. Vice President and Co-Chair: Rebekah Polido-Kalili
3. Communications Chair: Alethea Joy Ramones
4. Finance Chair: Cherrisse Althea Calumpit
5. Recruitment and Retention Chair: Monique Hughes
V. 2017-2018 Youth & Government Conference Attendance
A. Date of Conference: 1/13/2018-1/15/2018
B. Location of Conference: Camp Erdman, North Shore, O’ahu, Hawai’i
C. Number of Ka’u YAG Participants: 19
D. Students in Leadership Positions at State Conference: N/A
E. Mock Legislation & Bills Presented:
1. Bill Topics:
a) Relating to mandating public schools not require the use of school uniforms
b) Relating to establishing a tourism council
c) Relating to implementing a breakfast in the classroom program
d) Relating to the legalization of medically assisted suicide
e) Relating to the taxation of beef to reduce the effects of climate change
f) Relating to implementing a social justice curriculum in social studies courses
g) Relating to the decriminalization of marijuana
h) Relating to decreasing the voting age to sixteen years old
i) Relating to granting the male input in the abortion decision making process
j) Relating to ignoring juvenile records in the employment process
2. Bills Passed: (Note: Bills during the YMCA Youth & Government Legislative Conference
are signed by the Youth Governor and presented to the Governor of Hawai’i, David Ige)
a) Relating to establishing a tourism council
b) Relating to the taxation of beef to reduce the effects of climate change
c) Relating to implementing a social justice curriculum in social studies courses
d) Relating to the decriminalization of marijuana
e) Relating to ignoring juvenile records in the employment process
F. Conference Awards:
1. 67th Rookie Legislator of the Year for the House of Representatives: Revis Petitt
 2. 67th Veteran Legislator of the Year for the House of Representatives: Hayden
Hanshew
3. 67th Veteran Legislator of the Year for the Senate: Brennen Nishimura
G. Testimonials from past and current YAG members:
1. "To have a chance to express my opinion, understand the inequalities, injustices and have
the chance to make a difference." - Kaiminani R.
2. “ Most importantly, as a result of this program I feel as if I am capable of making a
difference in my own community. “ - Monique H.
3. "I am in Youth & Government to understand how the laws in our state influence my place
in society so I can break past the walls of oppression." - Chloe G.
4. “Participating in YAG has impacted me because I grew more confident in talking in front
of people, and I grew more aware of the problems of Hawaii because I researched
multiple problems.” - Hayden H.
5. "I'm doing this because there are things in my community that need improvement and by
having a voice in Youth & Government, I could make that change happen." - Brennen N.
VI. Financial Standing:
A. Total Funds Raised in 2017:
1. Main Sources of Funds:
a) ‘O Ka’u Kakou: $200.00
b) Hilo Y Men’s Club & Gocke Fund: $4,000
c) Online Donations: $200
d) Contributions from Individual Sponsors: KKP CAS Donation: $500
2. Cost of State Conference:
a) Airfare: $175.00 each
b) Mileage & Parking Reimbursement: $50.00
c) YMCA Program Cost: $525.00 each
B. Total Funds Remaining as of January 29, 2018: $~4,183
VII. 2018-2019 Recruitment Goals:
A. Middle School: Currently, the Youth and Government club at Ka’u is comprised of 11% (2 out
of 19) middle school students. The objective of the 2018-2019 is to maintain the same
participation from middle school delegates. In other words, the goal of the leadership team is to
recruit at least two middle schoolers every year.
B. High School: Currently the Ka’u YAG club is comprised of 89% (17 out of 19) high school
students. The objective of the 2017-2018 Leadership Team is to increase that number by five
delegates, which equates to 22 high school participants.
 C. Club Cap/Quota: 24 delegates
1. Rational for Cap: To compensate for limited funding.
a) Estimated airfare for 24 YAG participants + 2 club advisors: $4,680
b) Estimated discounted program fee for 24 YAG participants: $1,200
(1) Neighbor island delegates receive a discounted program fee and pays only
$50 instead of $525.
c) Total estimated costs: $5,880
D. Recruitment Strategies:
1. Uplink Program (Target: Middle School): Leadership team to make presentation
regarding Youth and Government to the Uplink Program
2. Flyers school-wide
3. Sign-up sheets
4. Newspaper articles
5. School announcements on morning bulletin
VIII. 2018-2019 Fundraising Goals: $6,000
A. Fundraising Strategies: Partnership with O Ka’u Kakou, GoFundMe page, and
fundraising letters to businesses and personal connections.
IX. 2017-2018 Leadership Goals:
A. Ka’u Club:
1. Bring in a wide array of diverse and passionate young individuals who are motivated to
speak and make change in whatever they believe in
2. Make YAG a seamless experience (organized)
3. At least two delegates from Ka’u to attend CONA in North Carolina
4. We want to do more activities with the whole YAG group (hiking, stuff, etc.)
5. Better bill preparation
6. Higher quality bills
7. Leadership team must meet after meetings and plan out future meetings
B. State Conference:
1. At least 3 Ka’u YAG delegates will run and be elected into leadership positions in the
state conference
2. One of Ka’u YAG delegates will run for the Youth Governor position
X. Youth & Government Alumni
A. Colleges & Universities Attended or Will Be Attending:
1. University of Hawai’i - Manoa
2. University of Hawai’i - Hilo
 3. University of Virginia
4. University of Portland
5. Georgetown University
6. Arizona State University, Tempe Campus
XI. 5 Year-Plan:
A. What:
1. Creation of a regional conference YAG in the Big Island, Ka’u as host delegate
2. Our influence in YAG would be spread throughout the island to at least 2-3 new
delegations on the Big Island
B. Action Taken:
1. Vice President Rowlie John Flores and President Ezra Ramones have emailed high
school principals and student activities coordinators on Big Island high schools
2. Vice Principal Rowlie John Flores drafted an article on Youth and Government 2018
session
C. Action Needed:
1. Work with the Kamuela delegation to organize a regional conference
2. Plan field trips to school campuses and give presentation on what Youth and Government
is
D. Outcomes:
1. Waiting to hear back from schools
2. The contacts of school are keeping us updated on a date in which we are able to present
information on how to implement YAG within their school system