Story by Lindley Johnson, Shakopee; Edited by Lale Akkin, Mounds View; Photo by Steve Holt, Fridley delegation advisor
“Launch, being an introduction to YIG, is one of the most important things… It really gets us back into the YIG culture that I’ve loved so much since I first joined,” says junior Jadyn Heath-Hlavacek, an Upper Legislature Delegate from the Mounds View Delegation. This perfectly sums up the value of Launch; an experience that helps build the Youth in Government experience as much as the actual conference. Some delegates might debate attending Launch if their delegation leaders do not mandate it. However, most delegates at the event agree that Launch has not only been helpful to them but is also a formative part of the YIG adventure.
Two inspiring district court delegates from the now two-year-old Blaine Delegation, seniors Fatima Alhisnawi and Asma Yusuf, have an especially powerful gratitude for Launch, each for their own reasons. “I love taking people from our delegation––since our delegation is so new––and showing them what YIG is like without just bringing them to the conference, and it’s a super new experience,” says Fatima, who helped start YIG at their school. “It is so helpful and it gives us a bunch of answers to our questions.” However, new delegations are not the only ones who need a little push. Yusuf speaks for many first-year delegates. “To be honest, I wouldn’t know anything, so I’m glad I came here!” she said. With its multitude of break-out rooms for every aspect of YIG life, gathered seasoned delegates, and the presence of so many officials and leaders, delegates can easily find answers to any question.
More returning delegates do not miss out on the fun either. “It’s amazing coming back from almost a full year without YIG,” said Heath-Hlavacek. “Seeing people that I’ve missed from previous years and welcoming in some eighth graders and telling them what YIG is going to be like, it’s always been a very fun experience.” At YIG, there will always be new people to befriend, stories to share, and new things to learn, and Launch is the perfect platform for all of this. Even though this year’s Launch has passed, delegates who missed it can attend next year to discover what awaits them at the 2026 YIG conference, while improving their overall experience at YIG.