New Mexico Youth and Government

09/02/2026

Please support our financial assistance fund for the Middle School Youth and Government Conference in October by donating to help fill our gavel!

Thank you to the Teamfi platform that created this customized gavel fundraiser just for YMCA Youth and Government!

Help support NM YMCA Youth and Government reach their fundraising goal!

07/31/2026

Once a student that participated in New Mexico Youth and Government? If so, we would like to invite you to fill out our alumni engagement form! As an alumnus, you’ll have the opportunity to stay connected with our organization, engage with fellow alumni, support future participants, and continue to support the growth of civic engagement. Whether your involvement was recent or many years ago, your experiences remain an important part of our organization’s history, and we would be honored to welcome you back. Visit our link if you are engaging as an alumni! We look forward to reconnecting with you! https://www.nmyag.org/alumni

06/03/2026

This summer, a select group of New Mexico delegates will represent our state at the YMCA Conference on National Affairs (C**A) in Black Mountain, North Carolina. C**A brings together outstanding Youth and Government students from across the country to discuss national and international issues, exchange ideas, and develop the skills needed to become thoughtful, engaged citizens and leaders.

Each delegate is responsible for raising approximately $1,675 to cover the cost of attending. We invite you to support these students through our Pick-a-Date Calendar Fundraiser. Your contribution will help make this life-changing opportunity possible and invest in the next generation of civic leaders.

Help Hannah Wood complete their entire Pick a Date to Donate Calendar Fundraiser by donating a day!

05/15/2026

This summer, New Mexico Youth and Government will take 26 students to the Conference on National Affairs in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and 9 students to the National Judicial Competition in Austin, Texas. We have a fundraising goal of $40,000 for these trips!

Please consider donating!

Direct Donation: https://centralnm.recliquecore.com/donate/now/3936900/21600/

Please share this post with your network as well!

Help support our community - donate now!

03/01/2026

Help us buy pocket Constitutions for our students in New Mexico Youth and Government!

Each of our resources is free, scholar reviewed, and easy to implement. Browse our full collection by subject, grade-level, era, or term.

10/12/2025

Friends - below is a link to watch the memorial for Pamela Hegarty for those who are unable to attend in person.

Service:
October 13 at 11 am MT at Covenant Presbyterian in Albuquerque (9315 Candelaria Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112)

YouTube Link:

Worship with the community of Covenant Presbyterian Church Albuquerque. Images, sound effects, and some music clips licensed through Envato Elements. We pri...

10/06/2025

Sharing memorial details for Pam Hegarty:
Please join us on Monday, October 13th, at Covenant Presbyterian Church (9315 Candelaria RD NE, Albuquerque, NM) at 11AM MST for a memorial of Pam Hegarty's life. Pam was loved by so many, and it would mean the world to us to come together, and share our memories and celebrate a life well lived.
A light reception/potluck will be held after the service. Please feel free to bring a small dish to share.
We would like to ask the community: Please share your favorite memory of Pam, be it personal or professional!
We are in the process of securing a live video stream of the service, please look for updates here as they become available.

09/29/2025

It is with deep sadness that we said goodbye today to the best advocate, friend, mentor, and director that NM Youth and Government has ever had – Pamela Hegarty.

Pam Hegarty served as the first state director of NMYAG, taking over from a committee of volunteers in 1986 and running the program for 25 years. Most of the time, Pam operated behind the scenes – always preferring to let the students lead but working tirelessly for her part to make sure they had a great program. After retiring from the YMCA, Pam continued to mentor and support all the state directors that came after her. For going on 40 years, Pam has supported this program, the students, and the staff. For myself (Hannah Wood) and my predecessor (Michael Horanburg), Pam was family. We went from being her YAG kids, to building a volunteer program alongside her, to gathering up all the knowledge we could from her as we tackled navigating how to run this program. Pam was cheering us along at every major milestone. Earlier this year, when I proudly called Pam to tell her we had 275 registered delegates for the high school conference she informed me that she was confident that was the largest year that NMYAG had ever had. She was looking forward to seeing some of her old friends from across the country in Santa Fe next May, for the bi-annual state director’s gathering.

Pam was not only our mentor and friend – Pam is one of a very small group of people who truly understands what it takes to make this program happen and what makes it so special. We have been willing to give of our time that may have been spent with family or friends, our energy even when it feels depleted, our own funds, our hearts - because we see the impact that it has on young people and the change that comes from being civically minded and civically engaged. Pam was always there for her YAG kids even years after we were no longer kids. She lived her life in service to others, and we in turn learned by example the value of service, advocacy, and compassion. We love you, Pam, and we will miss you so much.