Story by Annie Ham
Cover Photo by Sophie Watson
RALEIGH, N.C. – From a young age, Brandon Robinson knew he wanted to pursue a career in history and politics. So, when the Davie County YMCA offered sign-ups for the North Carolina Youth and Government (YAG) program in 1996, Robinson was quick to jump at the opportunity.
By his senior year of high school in 2000, Robinson was elected the first African American youth governor of North Carolina’s YAG program. On the final day of the program’s annual conference in Raleigh, Robinson sat in the Hanover Ballroom of the downtown Marriott Hotel with over 500 other politicians and community leaders in training.
Sunday evening is a big day for youth senators and representatives alike – the youth governor decides which proposed bills are passed or vetoed, simulating the real legislative process. Admittedly, Robinson doesn’t remember most of the bills that crossed his desk.
But one still stands out.
It was a bill that called for an increase in penalties for “deadbeat parents” who did not pay child support after a certain period, Robinson said. In a few sentences, he explained his reasoning for passing it: His own mother brought his father to court over a child support dispute when he was younger.
His impromptu speech was met with thunderous applause.
“Youth and Government was the first and most seminal experience of my life,” he said.
Now an attorney, historian and avid state advocate in Durham, Robinson continues to credit YAG with where he’s ended up – a generational theme among participants of the now 89-year-old civic engagement program.
“It literally set in motion everything that I do today.”
Democracy must be learned
In February 2025, at a nearby ballroom at the Raleigh Convention Center, over 1,000 high schoolers from across the state gathered for the 32nd annual North Carolina YAG conference – the culminating event of the year where students simulate the legislative and judicial processes, stepping into the roles of local politicians after weeks of preparation.
On the first night, the teens, dressed in their best business casual, awaited a visit from newly elected N.C. Gov. Josh Stein to kick off the weekend.
Stein’s introductory speech was filled with nuggets of inspiration for the impressionable crowd. Despite not having participated in YAG in high school, Stein said he did have the opportunity to meet former N.C. Gov. Jim Hunt in 1984.
Needless to say, Hunt – the longest serving governor of North Carolina – had a big impression on Stein who was in high school at the time.
“This is a man who had dedicated his entire career to trying to make this state everything it can be for every person in North Carolina,” Stein said. “And it was just inspiring to be with somebody and have that sense of motivation.”
YAG was originally developed in 1936 by founder Clement A. “Pete” Duran who was the Secretary of the Albany, New York YMCA “Boys Work” program, which helped younger boys join and acclimate to the YMCA. Duran re-envisioned the “Older Boys Conferences” – meetings where older members talked about their experiences with younger members – to be centered around citizenship and the development of laws.
Today, the national program operates through individual state level chapters in 41 states and Washington, D.C. YAG’s motto is “democracy must be learned by each generation.”
Drew DiMeglio, who served as North Carolina’s 2025 youth governor, is a testament to this motto. Politics, he said, informs everything he does.
“Youth civic engagement is probably my No. 1 issue,” DiMeglio said. “And it’s because of this program.”
As Stein pointed out, over half of young people have no trust in governmental institutions. These statistics, Stein said, are concerning. When people disengage, decisions “get made by people who care and not by you,” he said.
DiMeglio is among the youth who do care: One of his main goals as youth governor being to increase engagement and accessibility to YAG.
Learn by doing
Each year, students are assigned or elected to local government roles. During the conference, the student-led houses debate and vote on bills, while the courts review and rule on cases.
Among some of the most pressing issues at the 2025 conference included driving laws, safety in schools, environmental advocacy and technology.
Three high schoolers from R.J. Reynolds High School proposed a bill about Restorative Practice Centers replacing In School Suspension when it comes to disciplining students.
“It’s been passed unanimously twice in a row, which is really encouraging,” Sophie Brockenbrough, one of the authors of the bill, said the day before the governor would decide its final fate. “We weren’t sure how we would do, but now that we’re here, we’re really excited.”
Their bill, HB75, was one of 27 passed by Youth Gov. DiMeglio Sunday evening out of the 211 submitted.
State Rep. Dante Pittman, D-Wilson, was a participant in the program for two years starting in 2013. Now as a legislator, he can attest to the accuracy of the experience, in particular how different politicians have different priorities in office.
“Some people are not as interested in the bill being talked about, and others are ready to go to battle over it,” Pittman said. “And the same thing happens here in the General Assembly.”
Pittman was among over 30 local elected leaders who visited the conference this year for a legislative social.
Students get the opportunity to discuss issues sometimes years before they are brought to local legislatures, and in some cases, the weekends’ discussions have led to real change in North Carolina politics.
Two freshmen from Wilmington proposed a bill at YAG to mandate carbon monoxide detectors in all school buildings, as at the time, some older facilities were not required to have them. When the bill failed in the YAG houses, the students shared the idea with a family friend working for State Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, who brought it to the N.C. General Assembly.
The proposal became a provision in the 2023 budget bill, requiring a study to assess the number of affected buildings and the estimated cost of installing detectors.
Hayes Permar, North Carolina’s youth governor in 1995, said YAG was the perfect example of learning by doing. Instead of being mystified by the idea of running for office or being a leader beyond school, Permar said he walked away from the experience enlightened.
“Once you know how something works, it doesn’t seem as far away or impossible,” he said.
Crystalized commitment
From its establishment in the Tar Heel State in 1993 to now, YAG has continued to inspire young people to get involved in their North Carolina communities.
Some end up local legislators, like Pittman. Others have found different ways to stay engaged and grounded, Permar now the owner of the historic Rialto Theater in Five Points Raleigh.
Since Robinson’s final Sunday evening at the N.C. Youth and Government conference 25 years ago, he’s operated his own law firm for 11 years, served on eight local boards over the past decade and is currently writing a book about Reconstruction in North Carolina.
Robinson said YAG crystalized his commitment to the state. This tradition of civic engagement will remain strong for those who go through the program.
“Youth and Government is a great way to teach young people how they can be active participants in their own government, their own society, their own culture when they get older,” Robinson said.
At the end of the weekend, DiMeglio graciously passed the youth governor torch to high school junior Josh Brown for 2026, ensuring the cycle of leadership continues.
And thus, democracy continues to be learned by each generation.
“You talk a lot about, you know, young people not having a passion and how that’s a big crisis in our nation,” DiMeglio said. “That’s because we don’t have as many programs like this, so I’ll always support programs that will help youth be civically engaged and help youth find their passion.”
