West Hartford PLTI mom featured in Courant

As part of her PLTI community project, Brooke Daly of West Hartford encouraged several local elementary schools to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by promoting the Changing the Face of Beauty campaign on social media. When she tweeted a photo of her 2-year-old son Finn, who has Down syndrome, with the #ChangingTheFaceOfBeauty hashtag, it got noticed by a flower boutique, which is using photos of the family for an advertising campaign that benefits HARC of Hartford.

You can read about Brooke in this Hartford Courant article, which may require registration: http://www.courant.com/community/west-hartford/hc-west-hartford-mothers-day-down-syndrome-ad-20150422-story.html

Danbury parent leader defends Parent Trust Fund

Danbury parent leader Maria Prosecuter has written a strong defense of the Parent Trust Fund in a letter to the editor of the Danbury Daily Voice. The Fund, which supports PLTI and other parent leadership initiatives, is in danger of losing its funding under the proposed budget that Governor Malloy has submitted the state legislature. Maria argues that programs like PLTI should be recognized as "the gateway to progress."

Bridgeport CLTI making an impact

That's Bridgeport Children's Leadership Training Institute (CLTI) graduate Leah Attai on the right, with Lead Teacher Gina LeVon Simpson. They're holding some of the stuffed toys that Leah made for the emergency shelter which the Center for Family Justice operates for adults and children fleeing abusive situations. Leah and the current CLTI class are also helping CFJ and the Daniel Trust Foundation by collecting "gently used" toys, redeeming bottles, and seeking contributions. In addition, the students are collecting toiletries for homeless veterans. Way to go, kids!