Story by Remi Anderson, Fridley; Edited by Lale Akkin, Mounds View; Illustration by Lindley Johnson, Shakopee
During Youth in Government’s 2025 Launch, Youth Lieutenant Governor Megan Barker, a senior from the Parnassus delegation, announced the start of a new program area this year. The State Issue program area will have 32 people, all remaining in their normal program areas with the addition of basing their program area assignments on the state issue. This program area’s purpose is to spread awareness on a specific topic throughout the YIG conference. To start this pilot year, the 2025 State Issue topic will be Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Minnesota, commonly known as the housing crisis.
Those in Legislature will write bills about the housing and affordability crisis, delegates in NIF will base their proposals around it, Lobbyists will influence how those bills and general public opinion move through the Capitol, delegates in Courts will write up case scenarios to discuss and remember in future years, and delegates in media can spread awareness by using their resources and publishing content. Every program area has a way to contribute to the state issue, even though some must get creative.
Senior Alana Forliti from the AFSA delegation is the first Executive Officer for the State Issue program area. She is enthusiastic about the new program area and having a huge role in it. “This program area is a good way to connect all aspects of the conference,” said Forliti.
State Issue is a way to bring the entire conference together while raising awareness for large issues in Minnesota. Since delegates in all different program areas connect their work to the state issue, people will consistently discuss and hear about the issue multiple times throughout the conference. The final goal is for delegates to leave the conference with more empathy towards that year’s state issue, no matter what program area they are in or why they came to YIG.