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.

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.

PLTI grads: They're everywhere!

That's Danbury PLTI graduate Wendy Hess talking with state Representative Dan Carter of Bethel at the Danbury public library, where Representative Carter was holding office hours. The photo comes from his blog. Representative Carter sponsored an amendment in the last legislative session that led to Public Act 11-235, which calls for "a representative from the Parent Leadership Training Institute within the Commission on Children"  to serve on the Advisory Council for Special Education to advise the legislature, the state Board of Education, and the commissioner of education.