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Gwen Petty selected as attorney general for next year’s event

The YMCA of Northwest North Carolina’s Youth & Government delegates continued their longstanding tradition of outstanding commitment at the annual statewide Youth & Government Conference in February.

Two students from West Forsyth — Gwen Petty and Coleman Mulligan — participated in the event this year, which was held online because of COVID-19. They were among the 131 delegates who took part in the hands-on learning event that fosters nationwide civic engagement and servant leadership to students in high school. It gives them the opportunity to represent and serve their communities through model government, leadership, professional development, advocacy and service learning.

Students are able to serve as lobbyists, budget analysts, media members or as a representative in one of the three U.S. branches of government.

Petty was also selected as the attorney general for next year’s conference.

Delegates introduced a series of bills related to social justice, education reform and environmental policy.

“Youth & Government is such an incredible program that exposes students to some of the nuances and details of state and local governments, sparking interests for many of them that will set them down a particular career path or field of education,” said Jennifer Cleary, senior director of college and career programs for the YMCA of NWNC.

The annual YAG Conference is typically held in Raleigh in February, where delegations from YMCAs across the state meet for a four-day conference with a mock government simulation.

Among the activities held during this year’s conference included a video message from Gov. Roy Cooper to the students participating in the conference.