YMCA Youth and Government™ is a nationwide civic engagement and leadership development program that provides students in middle school, high school, and college with the opportunity to represent and serve their communities through model government, leadership and professional development, advocacy, and service-learning. Youth and Government collectively serves over 55,000 students through 43 state programs across the country, including Washington, DC. Students can participate through a Youth and Government student organization at their school and/or through their local YMCA. These school-based or YMCA-based groups are led by student officers, and advised by school faculty, community volunteers, and/or YMCA staff.