From the CTKG Cabinet: Gwyn Romanzi

Hi, my name is Gwyn. As you may know I was a finalist in the 2017 Kid Governor election. I'm now on the Kid Governor Cabinet with the other finalists working with 2018 CTKG Megan.

I ran on a platform of ending childhood poverty. My three point plan includes holding a canned food drive, toiletry drive, and informing students about my issue.

Canned Food Drive 

In my campaign video you saw me collecting the canned food. After collecting the food at my school, everyone who donated got to take a walk to our local soup kitchen. Only the people who donated to the canned food drive got to be in my video.

Toiletry Drive 

At my school we are getting ready for a toiletry drive. We just need to sort out a few things before we get started. At my school everyone is ready to help. Everyone wants to get involved. Everyone seems really interested in my issue.

Informing Students

When I was running for Kid Governor, many people asked me what poverty was. Most people just guessed it means that you are homeless, but this is not the case. Poverty means that you don't have much of anything and the things you do have can get you very sick. Poverty can lead to mental heath issues and can stop you from getting a good education. These are reasons why I will take my research further and inform my class mates at an assembly.


If you have any questions feel free to ask them at info@kidgovernor.org. I would love to hear what you have been doing to help this cause!
  

From the CTKG Cabinet: Liliana Vera

Hi, my name is Liliana and I was a final candidate in the 2017 Connecticut's Kid Governor Statewide Election! I'm now on the Kid Governor's Cabinet working with 2018 CTKG Megan!

I ran on the platform of valuing the elderly. My dad is from Paraguay and we went to visit there last year. I had a lot of fun with my family but my great grandma (Abuelita) has Alzheimer's. She has three sons and six daughters and every day different people come to see her. She can't remember anything (she thought my dad, her grandson, was her brother) but even though she was in a room with people she didn't recognize, she felt valued. She felt good, happy, and loved. Then I thought every elderly person should feel this.

When running for Connecticut's Kid Governor, I developed a three point plan on how to make the elderly feel valued. My three point platform is:

1. Coordinating field trips to local senior centers.
2. Creating a Pen Pals program with the elderly.
3. Establishing an Adopt a Grandparent Club.

Field Trips

Since the Statewide Election, I have coordinated fourth and third grade field trips to the local senior centers. Fifth grade is going in June. At the senior centers, students have the opportunity to read to the elderly, talk with them, and spend time to get to know them.

Pen Pal Program

Kindergarten through second grade are drawing pictures of cards to give to the elderly. Their creations will be put together into a book for the elderly to read or the cards will be put on a wall display at the senior center. Students in grades three through five will write letters to the elderly. Each grade will make their own book. The books will be kept at The Summit, our local senior center, for residents to enjoy. Residents will respond back and their books will be kept in our Media Center. 

Adopt-A-Grandparent Club

I started an Adopt-A-Grandparent Club at my school. This club will meet one day every other week after school. We will walk to The Summit with a teacher advisor. Students will be paired up with a resident that shares his/her interests. There will also be opportunities to celebrate the adopted grandparents (for example, birthdays). 

If my platform interests you and you would like to start an Adopt-A-Grandparent Club or Pen Pal Program in your own school, contact me and I will share with you the steps you can take to make this a reality in your school!

I would love to hear about how you are making a difference around valuing the elderly in your own community. Email info@kidgovernor.org to tell me all about it! You can also visit CT.KidGovernor.org/governors-cabinet to read about the other members of the Kid Governor's Cabinet.

The First Connecticut's Kid Governor Cabinet Meeting

A message from your friends at the Connecticut Public Affairs Network...

Last week held a milestone event for Connecticut's Kid Governor® as we had our first ever Kid Governor Cabinet meeting! 2018 CTKG Megan sat down with our staff and five of the six final candidates from the 2017 Statewide Election who now make up her cabinet. A'aliyah, Gwyn, Liliana, Madison, and Nathan all shared what they have been working on since the election and offered ideas to help Megan with her platform. Dillon could not be there but will be serving in the Cabinet.

Gwyn, who ran on a campaign to raise awareness about Childhood Poverty, talked about how she is helping to organize a toiletries drive at her school, Thomaston Center School. As a part of her platform, Gwyn wanted to hold drives at her school and those around the state to collect goods and foods for children who are struggling .

A'aliyah talked about how she has been working with other students to do anti-bullying skits on the morning announcements at her school, Clover Street School. As a part of her campaign platform, she wanted to create public service announcements or perform skits to showcase the role of the bystander, victim, and bully to help educate students.

Madison talked about how she has been working with a club at her school, CREC Discovery Academy, on how to be kind. The third part of her platform was to create presentations to help students learn about different ways to spread kindness.

Liliana wanted to help the elderly feel valued and helped to bring an adopt a grandparent program to her school in Southington, Plantsville Elementary School. Students and the elderly fill out forms so that they can be matched together based on common interests. Liliana wanted to create partnerships between schools and nursing homes for programs like this as a part of her platform.

Nathan talked about how he is still working to eliminate styrofoam trays in his school. During the meeting, he asked if Megan would join him in talking to Connecticut General Assembly committees about his issue.

Megan was able to update the cabinet on her platform and Stronger Than Cancer fundraiser that kicked off on May 7th. The cabinet members were able to offers ideas to help Megan spread the word about her platform and fundraiser by using social media and apps to educate students in a fun and engaging way.

For more about the Kid Governor's Cabinet, visit CT.KidGovernor.org/governors-cabinet. You can also check back here in the next few weeks for guest blog posts from the Cabinet Members about their work on their platforms!