Nice Video Made by Valeria Ojeda, Youth Governor of New Mexico

The YIG Movement from Valeria Ojeda on Vimeo.

Politics and Sports Special Event (part 10 of many)

I'm an athlete. I've gone to the PIAA Swim Championships as a freshman, sophomore and junior. I also do Triathlons, have played on our Ultimate Frisbee Team, (with its captain, Daniel Goldstein, another YAG member) ran cross country, played water polo and do cycling races. Many races I get to finish. Some not so much.

Others in our Obama Delegation with state office in 2012-13 are athletes too.

Ben Junker, Lt. Governor for YAG, swims and plays on our water polo team and does volleyball and frisbee too.

Anna Vitti, Editor in Chief of YAG, is a superstar volleyball player.

In my school's delegation, we have plenty of other athletes.

• Tobias was a 3 sport city champion as a freshman (soccer, swimming and volleyball).
• Demetri swims and plays water polo, and never missed a practice last year.
• Rosa is a starter on the volleyball team as a freshman and plays lots of club tournaments.
• Angela, our club president, is a soccer player who leaps over opposing players in championship games.
• Daniel, a first year swimmer as a junior, plays water polo too and organizes the ultimate team and plays volleyball.
• Rohun, volleyball.
• Jonah, swimmer, water polo, ultimate.
• Than, swimmer.
• Sam, basketball.
• Sadik, volleyball.
• Dan, football.
• Renee, soccer, swimming.
• Yoka, swimmer.
• Matt, swimmer, water polo, ultimate.
• Sarah, volleyball.

Even within PA YAG, we have advisors who are football coaches (Derry High School, Knock High School), volleyball coaches (Obama Academy) and other sports coaches (swimming).

Face it, the Ys are known for being great places to develop minds and BODIES. The Ys are places for fitness, exercise, sports and athletes.

Sports is all about teamwork, while wearing athletic gear. Meanwhile, YAG is also about teamwork, but wearing business suits.

In real world politics there are hundreds of examples of men and women who are or have been in elected office who have had wonderful experiences in sports and athletics before getting political.

PA YAG can grow, with new clubs and with new members in all of our existing clubs, plus we can have a lot of fun, if we make a serious sports connection in our communities. And, I know just how it can be done.

I'm going to encourage every YAG club to host a large, community wide special event in the months to come. This will be a YAG recruitment event but advertised as a SPORTS MOVIE and DISCUSSION with the PA Youth Governor. Every athlete, coach, official and booster in your school and in your community, as well as in your neighboring communities should be invited. Get a projector, big screen and lots of popcorn. A sound system would be nice too. Under the stars is fine. Make a rain date as a back-up.

I have access to a FANTASTIC one hour film by a sports, media friend and celebrity, David Zirin. We can send you a copy of the DVD real cheap for advance screening by your club sponsors, advisers and club leaderships if you wish.

The movie, Not Just a Game, from the Media Education Foundation is a great motivator to get people to come out of their comfort zone and think about taking a political stand. Think of Muhammad Ali. He is in the movie. David Zirin's recent book was with an Olympian, John Carlos. He held his glove covered, raised fist in the air when on the medal podium as the national anthem played in the Mexico Olympics in 1968. This year, 2012, is an Olympic year. We can make it a sports and political year with YAG as well.

We need to get the athletes in your town aware of YAG, invite them to your clubs, or challenge them to form their own clubs right away. These events be the kickoff to making it happen. I think you'll find that this movie will get people thinking and help to drive conversations for weeks to come.