PLTI grad wins funds for her school

PLTI graduate Regan Allan recently entered her children's school, the Julia A. Stark Elementary School in Stamford, in the Build a Bright Future promotion run by Saputo Cheese USA. She just received word that Stark is one of seven schools receiving a $1,000 prize, making it automatically eligible for a top prize of $10,000.

To participate, Regan had to submit an essay describing how Stark Elementary would use the $10,000 prize to "build a bright future." Regan’s idea is to enlist parents, teachers, student council members, and the schools' Girl Scout troops in preparing backpacks full of food that needy students can bring home to their families for the weekend. She noted that 62 percent of Stark students receive free or reduced-price meals at school. You can read Regan’s essay here. Since the $10,000 is awarded to the top online vote-getter, you may also cast a vote there. You may vote once a day until October 31.

Bloomfield PLTI grad's op-ed article published

Monica Stellmacher, a 2015 graduate of  Bloomfield PLTI, has written an op-ed article for CT News Junkie that takes note of recent layoff notices in state government and offers some advice for everyone on how to conduct a job hunt. Monica has some expertise on this subject, since her community project for PLTI was the creation of the a support group called K.U.D.O.S. Cafe, short for Keeping the Unemployed Determined Optimistic and Sane.

Pictures from an exhibition

Thanks to Doug Edwards for taking these great photos of the reception held at the state Capitol in Hartford on Thursday night in honor of "Illuminate! Bringing My Culture to Light," an exhibit of children's artwork from around the world. Danbury PLTI grad Miguel Barreto engineered the exhibit in his capacity as director of operations for Creative Commons, a nonprofit organization based in Norwalk. The exhibit can be seen throughout December in the concourse that connects the Capitol to the Legislative Office Building. For more details, see the previous post.

PLTI grad brings international art exhibit to the Capitol

Danbury PLTI graduate Miguel Barreto is brightening the state Capitol with "Illuminate! Bringing My Culture to Light," an exhibit of children's artwork from around the world. As director of operations for Creative Commons, a Norwalk-based nonprofit organization, Miguel gathered examples of the artwork created under Creative Connections’ ArtLink program, a six-month program in which American and foreign students make art that express a common theme but still reflects their own cultures. This year, students were asked to highlight otherwise-hidden aspects of their cultures by placing a source of light on them.

The exhibit, consisting of work from 17 countries, lines the concourse connecting the state Capitol with the Legislative Office Building. It will remain there through December and can be viewed on weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is free parking in a garage attached to the LOB, at 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford. (Directions)

Creative Connections created the exhibit in collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance and with the support of the Connecticut Commission on Children, which operates PLTI. 

• Commission on Children news release

Helping her fellow Danbury parents

When Danbury High School held a workshop to help parents of English language learners get acquainted with school rules, the grading system, and everything else they needed to know to help their children succeed, Danbury PLTI alum Maryangela Amendola was there to help.

As the Danbury News Times described it:

High school parent Maryangela Amendola spoke Spanish and English as she told parents about the School Governance Council, a group of parents, community members and educators who advise the principal on improving the school. She explained that the state required the council be established because the high school's test scores were not adequate.

 Way to go, Maryangela.

Kathy Thompson shares her story

Kathy Thompson, a graduate of the Waterbury Parents Supporting Educational Excellence (Parents SEE), recently wrote an article for the National Center for Learning Disabilities website on her struggle to get her son Jeffrey's reading disability diagnosed and treated. The headline of her article says it all: "Parent Determination Leads to Son's Success with Assistive Technology." Here, she's pictured with Gov. Dannel Malloy, who met with Jeffrey last year and gave encouragement and inspiration by describing his own battles with dyslexia. Kathy has also served on the state Special Education Advisory Council and the African-American Affairs Commission.