PLTI spotlighted at CT-N Town Hall

On Monday evening, the Connecticut Network (CT-N) held a Town Hall-style forum at the Old State House entitled, "Renewing our Democracy: What Connecticut Can Be." A panel led by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill and Everyday Democracy Executive Director Martha McCoy explored ways to overcome the recent cynicism about government and get people more involved in civic life. At about 24 minutes and 30 seconds into the event, moderator Diane Smith called on the chair of the Commission on Children, Dr. M. Alex Geertsma, who gave an overview of what PLTI does to build civic participation in Connecticut:



To watch the event on TV, check CT-N's schedule here.

For more background information on the event, go here.

PLTI grads elected to local offices

The list of PLTI and Parents SEE graduates who've gone on to leadership roles in local and state government continues to grow! Among the alumni who won Election Day victories on Tuesday:

• Ava Hart and Mitchell Wynn, graduates of Middletown PLTI, were elected to the Middletown Board of Education. Middletown Eye blog post
• Marina Loyola of Danbury PLTI was elected to the Danbury Zoning Commission.
• Luz Osuba, a graduate of Windham Parents SEE, has been elected to the Windham Board of Education. Norwich Bulletin article

Congratulations to all! If you know of other grads who won election on Tuesday, let us know.

Parent Trust Fund awards grants for 2012

The Parent Trust Fund, which supports PLTI and other parent-leadership programs, will award grants totaling more than $626,000 in 2012. The money will support leadership programs in Bridgeport, Bristol, Danbury, Enfield, Greenwich, Hartford, Meriden, Middlesex County, New Haven, New London, Norwich, Plymouth, Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury, and West Hartford. This news release has more information.