Support Illinois Youth and Government

Every year, students from across the state meet in Springfield for legislative session, present bills that they have created and debate laws. These exceptional students are working to pass reforms to legislative redistricting, expanding renewable energy use, providing assistance to veterans, and so much more.

As a former participant, I am so proud of the work that over 1,000 students in Illinois complete each year. More importantly, I know that the foundation that Youth and Government teaches includes essential life skills like learning how to listen to people who disagree with you, developing persuasive arguments for positions you believe in, and learning to work with others who have very different backgrounds.

At this time in our nation, Youth and Government is more important than ever.

Over the past few years, Youth and Government has had to adapt to ensure that students could still participate actively the pandemic. As the program looks forward to the next year of programming, we need your help to support the students, teachers and volunteers who make this program possible.