What is the Conference on National Affairs?

The Conference on National Affairs (CONA) is a national debate conference for 700+ high school students across the United States. CONA is held at the iconic YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Students are selected by their home state to write and debate proposed solutions to national and international problems.

Up to 25 students each year to represent Michigan. It is important that each applicant knows what it means to be a Michigan delegate to the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs. If selected, you will be expected to attend delegation meetings between the time of your selection and departure for Washington D.C. and North Carolina.

If you are interested in being apart of the CONA delegation please fill out the form below. In order to be eligible to attend the conference, your application must be completed and your references completed before attending the Spring Lansing Conference. The applicants will then be observed during the Spring Conference, and the delegation will be announced at the award ceremony.

What is the National Judicial Competition

Since 2012, the YMCA National Judicial Competition (NJC) strives to develop Youth and Government teens into competent, active, civic-minded citizens through a hands-on Mock Trial and Appellate Moot Court program. NJC takes place in Chicago at the end of the summer each year.

This is accomplished through the following objectives:

• Encourages collaboration by presenting case arguments as a team, and respectfully debating opposing teams from other states
• Increases confidence in presentation and reasoning skills as well as knowledge of the judicial system in the United States.
• Cultivates long-term engagement and support of YMCA and Youth & Government programs

If you are interested in taking a team to compete in NJP please fill out the form below.