At the YMCA Conference on National Affairs, teens discover something powerful:

Their voice matters.

Every year, the Florida delegation brings passionate high school students from across the state to one of the nation’s premier youth civic leadership conferences. There, they debate national and international issues, challenge their perspectives, and learn how democracy truly works.

For some students, CONA is their first time leaving home.
For others, it is the first time they feel heard.

Students who arrive unsure of themselves leave confident enough to stand at a microphone in front of hundreds of peers and defend ideas they believe can change the country. They learn to listen deeply, disagree respectfully, and lead courageously. In a world increasingly divided, these young people are learning how to build bridges instead of barriers.

But these opportunities come with a cost.

Many of our delegates work part-time jobs, rely on financial assistance, or come from communities where national leadership opportunities simply are not accessible. Without donor support, some of Florida’s brightest young leaders would never get the chance to attend.

Today’s CONA delegates could become tomorrow’s teachers, nonprofit leaders, legislators, attorneys, or community advocates. The skills they gain at CONA stay with them for life.

When you invest in the Florida CONA delegation, you are investing in the future of democracy itself.

Florida CONA 2026

Team Members