What to Remember from the All-Conference Session

Lilly Ann Brown –

We were all there, but here’s a rundown of what you don’t want to forget from the All-Conference Session at 2:30 on Friday, February 25th.

Despite minimal issues with technology, our officers, including Hardy Gardner and Gubernatorial candidate Will Severn, did an excellent job getting the ball rolling at this year’s joint session. 

Following the theatrical start, Susan Moriarty shared her gratitude for our diligence, the exceptional work of our officers this year, and of course our beautiful capital building. Profound moments from her speech include an apt reminder to keep our spaces clean and safe, a reminder that this space is shared with our Legislature and Governor, Bill Lee, and a final thank you to YIG alumni and YMCA staff.

Next up was Chris Tointon, the Middle Tennessee YMCA CEO. Chris discussed the virtue of the program and again reminded us to not take the friends and connections we make through YIG for granted. Furthermore, he addressed the perseverance the delegates this year have had, and the great work done by everyone today. Tointon closed with a strong sentiment, stating, “your debates this weekend maybe mock, but they have the ability to inspire real change.”

Next, after a lovely introduction from Tyler, youth governor Comfort Markwei began the State of the State Address. Markwei is endorsing a bill that encourages the teaching of race and race education in schools. Markwei states, “History is uncomfortable”, and promises to fight censorship of history and racial inequality. Comfort also supports several other education-related bills, including an online school-based bill to further funding in those areas, and other bills furthering progressive and modern change to the education system. Her platform is wide and multi-faceted; Governor Markwei is fighting for prison reform, the LGBTQ+ community, Covid relief for the Tennessee homeless population, CRT training for the Tennessee police force, free menstrual products, environmental sustainability, regulation of the adoption system, and more.

She closed appropriately, stating, “I ask you to picture a better future for Tennessee and make it happen.”

And with some help from Yao Xiao, the meeting was adjourned.