PLTI profiled on 'For the People'

"For the People," a public affairs program of WFOX-FM ("95.9 The Fox") profiled PLTI for its July 13 program, with host John Voket interviewing the Commission's Dawn Homer-Bouthiette and several parent leaders, including Tom Stoto, Mark Kaufman, and Yasmine Blackburne. Nice job by everybody! You can listen to it here.

Congrats to Danbury PLTI's Darla Shaw and Barry Finch

The Danbury News Times recently profiled the members of Ridgefield's Founders Hall Band, who include Danbury PLTI graduates Darla Shaw and Barry Finch. The band, also known as the Senior Melodiers, rehearses at the local senior center and has performed everywhere from birthday parties to concert venues.

Darla, a Western Connecticut State University professor as well as the band's manager, started playing the accordion nine years ago. "We're still evolving," she told the News Times. "We want to continue to grow and learn. If we're not the best musicians, that's OK."

Two awards for PLTI

The Bridgeport PLTI site has received a Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award from the Connecticut Valley Chapter of Advancing Women in Transportation. The nomination was submitted by Crystal Engram, PLTI Class of 2007, who works for Greater Bridgeport Transit.

Meanwhile, the New Haven PLIT site has received the Community Service Award from The Mount Zion Seventh Day Adventist Church in Hamden. The nomination for that award came from Kim Harris, a parent in the 2012 class in New Haven.

Congratulations to everyone in Bridgeport and New Haven for making the awards possible!

Help us celebrate 20 years of PLTI

It's true -- the first class graduated from PLTI in 1992. We'll be celebrating the occasion in the coming months with events, articles, and more, including remembrances from PLTI alumni and supporters. You can share your memories in the comment section below or e-mail them to kevin.flood@cga.ct.gov. We're also looking for photos and other memorabilia.

United Way of Milford gives a shout out to PLTI

PLTI of Milford is spotlighted in the "Champion the Cause" section of the United Way of Milford's latest newsletter:

Milford’s 4th Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), a collaborative effort between the Milford Health Department, Milford Public Schools, the United Way of Milford, and Kids Count of Milford, began this past January. PLTI was developed by the State of Connecticut’s Commission on Children to enable parents to become leading advocates for children. Cornerstones of the program are respect, validation, and a belief that when the tools of democracy are understood the public will actively engage in civic life. PLTI students participate in an 18-week program designed to provide the civic and leadership skills needed to work in the community on behalf of children. Participants also complete a community project that contributes to the well-being of Milford’s children. This year's participants are Colleen Berry, Joyce Carloto, Lindsay Carlson, Eamteong Chay, Richard Ferrari, Talina Galvez, Beth Granger, August Harrigan, Tracey Irby, Tori Lawlor, Jen Mino-Scopp, Nuha Musallam, Jane Mirmina, Kelly Nealy, Pat Pritchard, Marie Romano, Kerry Sciuto, Christine Surel, Jessica Theisen, and Larissa Watt. For more information about the program, contact PLTI coordinator Lesley Darling at the Milford Health Department (203) 783-3314.

H/T to Patti Keckeisen for noticing this.

Check out the PLTI banner hanging outside the State Office Building!

How cool is this? The banner will hang at the corner of Washington Street and Capitol Avenue in downtown Hartford -- in full view of state officials and anyone else driving in and out of the state Capitol -- all this week.

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.