MODEL UNITED NATIONS RIGHT HERE IN BIG D!

This April, the Dallas Y hosted students from the Houston and DFW regions for our third annual state-wide Texas Model United Nations Assembly, held at the Plano Marriott and the Capital One Conference Center. Model United Nations is a student-led simulation of the United Nations and its organs, teaching teens to be collaborative and empathetic responsible global citizens, as well as active servant leaders in their communities. The student Secretariat officer body selects committees and topics currently affecting nations around the globe. Students participate in their clubs at school or their local YMCA around the state, to learn more, discuss and create solutions for these global issues. Regional Summits provide training and smaller simulations in the Houston and DFW areas, while the State Assembly is a culminating event welcoming students from around the state here in Dallas to represent their nation and pass resolutions on topics such as nuclear proliferation and child marriage.

At this year’s State Assembly, Emiliana Lopez, Global Citizen Fellow at UNICEF, served as the keynote speaker, and entertainment was provided by the Bandan Koro African Drum & Dance Ensemble. Student Secretariat officers selected at this conference to serve for the 2018-19 year, hail from the Coppell YMCA, Plano YMCA, J.E.R. Chilton YMCA and the Woodlands YMCA of Houston. The Model United Nations program began under the umbrella of Youth and Government in 2010 and was adopted by the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas in 2015, serving 62 students at its first culminating event. This year 475 students around the state participated in the program and 221 students participated at the State Assembly, including a small middle school delegation on Saturday of the conference.