From the CTKG Cabinet: Satvik Reflects on His Term in Office

Hello everyone! My name is Satvik Nog and I am a member of the 2022 Connecticut's Kid Governor’s Cabinet working on a platform addressing climate change.

It seems like just yesterday I was nominated by my classmates to represent my school, Long Meadow Elementary School (LMES) in Middlebury for the 2021 Kid Governor Statewide Election. I still remember the day when the names of the seven final candidates were announced. With fingers crossed, we were all holding our breaths anxiously waiting to see if my name would be called. A loud cheer filled my classroom when they said my name! LMES and the entire Region 15 were very excited, as I was the first student of Region 15 to be selected as one of the seven finalists. I was ecstatic to be a part of the Cabinet, and little did I know I was about to begin one of the most amazing journeys in my life.

In January, I, along with my family, my principal Mr. Wermuth, and my school's librarian Mrs. O'Neill, attended the magnificent Inauguration Ceremony at Connecticut's Old State House in Hartford, where I took my oath of office.

After that, the year flew by so fast! Let me take you on the journey of this incredible experience. Each month I attended Cabinet Meetings, during which the members shared their work. We came up with great ideas to help each other with our platforms. Samantha, Olivia, and I even created an Earth Day video in April! It was really fun to work with them in writing the script and recording this very informative video. This entire experience taught me the value of teamwork. I feel so lucky to have made new friends in this process!

The Cabinet's visit to the Connecticut State Capitol in April was remarkable. Getting to know the state’s rich history and learning about the brave warriors who sacrificed their lives to save the country was awe-inspiring. I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Governor Ned Lamont, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and some of my local state representatives. I talked to them about my platform and ways to implement changes to curb climate change. I shared my ideas like increasing the number of electric school buses, banning single-use plastic and styrofoam, and adding education about climate change into school curriculums.

During our Capitol visit, the Cabinet was interviewed by Dennis House from WTNH News 8. It was really fun to watch the interview telecasted on the local channel! I was also interviewed by our local newspapers throughout the year about my vision and ideas to prevent further global warming.

Continuing my work on climate change, I created a checklist for eco-friendly habits that was distributed to all the schools in our region. These were simple but significant steps to save energy and stop global warming. Additionally, with the help of my school librarian Mrs. O’Neill, I organized a poster competition for all of the elementary schools in my region to spread awareness about climate change. I was very excited to see many creative posters with inspiring messages! I awarded the winners from each school with a certificate of excellence and a shirt with my platform message, “Act Now For a Greener Earth."

I was also able to join Kid Governor Makhi at one of the stops on his Library Circuit Tour in September. I went to the Silas Bronson Library to talk about my platform and ways that kids can contribute to protecting our planet. I was also invited to the Kids Convention at Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk, where I, with the other Cabinet Members, had an opportunity to have an engaging discussion about our platforms with other kids.

I was so thrilled to know that for the upcoming 2023 term, two 5th graders from my region, Maxence from LMES, and Shaan from Pomperaug Elementary School, will be Cabinet Members like I was. I was able to meet up with Maxence, where we chatted about how amazing this journey has been. I wish the best of luck for our 7 new leaders on their upcoming journey!

As I reflect back on this year, I feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity. I learned a lot, made amazing friends, and most importantly, contributed to a cause that I am very passionate about. I am very thankful to my family, friends and teachers for being so supportive. I am also extremely thankful to all the members of The Connecticut Democracy Center for this valuable and unforgettable experience. And lastly, thank you to all the 5th graders of CT, who allowed me to be in this position and supported my platform. If I could, I’d truly do this all over again!

Signing off for the last time and passing the baton to our new 2023 Kid Governor and Cabinet, this has been Satvik. Thank you!

Satvik Nog

2022 Kid Governor's Cabinet 

Middlebury/Southbury

From the CTKG Cabinet: Olivia Reflects on Her Term in Office

Hello 5th graders of Connecticut! My name is Olivia and I am a member of the 2022 Connecticut's Kid Governor's Cabinet with the platform of Child Food Insecurity. As I reflect on my year as a member of this dynamic 2022 Cabinet, I can’t help but feel grateful for having this amazing opportunity to make our state a better place.

I set out to accomplish my 3-point plan, which includes:

1. Raising money for food banks and encouraging people to donate to food banks and shelters.
2. Raising awareness about food insecurity.
3. Starting a social media campaign.

One of my favorite activities that I got to participate in as a member of the Cabinet this year was touring the State Capitol to better understand how the government works. During that experience, I was able to meet my state legislators, Senator Paul Formica and State Representative Anthony Nolan. We even got to meet Governor Ned Lamont! 

Another amazing experience I had as a Cabinet Member was all the support I had from community members while working on my platform. For example, Mott’s helped me donate applesauce and apple juice to local food banks! 

The one that hit closest to home was the outpouring of community-based support to raise $1,100.00 for Fresh New London, a local organization that specializes in agriculture. They do a program where every month, if you need to, you can go to one of their gardens and get fresh fruits and veggies.

I was most humbled by the fact that I was able to inspire an NFL player, AJ Dillon from the Green Bay Packers (who just so happens to be my brother), to work with Feeding America Wisconsin to broaden my platform and stretch to the Midwest. He designed his My Cause My Cleats to represent Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, which will be auctioned off to raise money for this worthy cause. I can’t believe that my brother said that he looked up to me, especially considering that he is almost 14 years older, 6ft tall, and 250lbs! I guess there is a first time for everything! 

I strive to continue working on helping to end food insecurity in Connecticut and nationwide, and I hope I can inspire you to make a difference too. I am confident that people will continue to donate to food banks and participate in events around the state to raise money. I also want to continue spreading awareness of food insecurity through a future social media campaign, so be on the lookout! I have some exciting prospects in the works.  

Before I go, I want to give a special shoutout to the 2023 Connecticut's Kid Governor Ellie and her Cabinet - Aaron, Jacob, Liliana, Maxence, Scarlet, and Shaan. I can't wait to see the work you all do for your platforms! 

I will miss the friends that I made during my time working with this extraordinary group of individuals that made up what I deem the best team in Kid Governor history! To my friends Mahki, Madelyn, Satvik, Samantha, Elizabeth, and Brian: thank you for an awesome term! 

Olivia Campbell

2022 Kid Governor Cabinet 
Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School

New London

From the CTKG Cabinet: Elizabeth Reflects on Her Term in Office

Hello! My name is Elizabeth and I am a member of the 2022 Kid Governor's Cabinet with the platform of Climate Change. Working on my platform with Kid Governor Makhi, and supporting his Protecting Our Pets platform, has been so much fun this year! It's hard to believe that our term is almost over. This will be my last blog post as one of your 2022 Cabinet Members. 

Today I wanted to talk about two things. First, have you ever been to a thrift store? Thrift stores are good for the environment. But what are thrift stores? Thrift stores are places where people can buy gently used clothes, toys, furniture, books, jewelry, and more. You can find lots of cool things for cheap prices. For example, I bought this cool jacket for only $8! 

Thrift stores are great for the environment because instead of throwing away things that would usually end up in a landfill, people can bring them here and give them a new life! This leads to fewer things being thrown away and more reusing and recycling. What a great way to help the environment! I hope you check out a local thrift store in your community. 

Since this is my last blog post I also wanted to give a brief reflection on my term in office. This has been an amazing experience and I am so sad for it to end, but I am so excited to see what the next Kid Governor and Cabinet do! They have a lot of important community issues that they will work to address. 

This year, Makhi, Brian, Madelyn, Olivia, Samantha, Satvik, and I have had so much fun getting to know each other and becoming friends. We did so many cool things such as participating in interviews to spread awareness of our community issues, visiting the State Capitol and meeting dignitaries like Governor Ned Lamont, and speaking at the 2022 Kids Convention at Stepping Stones Museum! I am so happy to have been in the Cabinet this year. 

If you’re a 4th grader, consider running for Kid Governor next year! It's a great way to make your voice heard. But even if you don't run, there are so many ways to help your community. What will you do to make a difference? 

Thanks for reading! 

Elizabeth Becker 

2022 Kid Governor Cabinet 

Noah Webster Microsociety Magnet School

Hartford

From the CTKG Cabinet: Satvik's Tips for Eco-Friendly Halloween Celebrations!

Hello, my name is Satvik Nog and I am a member of the 2022 Kid Governor's Cabinet with the platform of Climate Change. 

If you celebrate Halloween, you know that it's coming up soon on Monday, October 31! But did you know that a recent report from NPR's Marketplace found that Halloween is responsible for a huge rise in waste, with 2,000 tons of Halloween plastic (from costumes, decorations, and sweet wrappers) bought and thrown away due to celebrations?

Keeping this fact in mind, here are 5 different eco-friendly ways to celebrate Halloween!

1. Make your own decorations!
Avoid plastic decorations this Halloween. Instead, plan fun activities with your family and friends and create artwork using eco-friendly recyclable materials like tin foils, paper bags, and cardboard. I really enjoyed making milk carton ghost lanterns with my sister!

2. Make your own costumes instead of buying them!
Costumes are a huge source of waste after Halloween, as most people end up discarding their costumes after the holiday is over. Try using your DIY skills to make the best costume possible, and if you used a costume that doesn't fit you anymore, consider donating it to someone in need.

3. Decorate your own bags for trick-or-treating!
Rather than using plastic buckets, you can use reusable bags, like tote bags or pillowcases, for trick-or-treating. Even better, you could decorate your paper bag with paints, eco sequins and fabric pens to make them Halloween-themed, which can be a great activity!

4. Be strategic about your pumpkin use!
Can you imagine Halloween without a jack-o'-lantern? I definitely can’t. While pumpkins are a Halloween staple, if not put to good use, they can contribute to a huge amount of waste. The scary part is that nearly 12.8 million pumpkins are thrown away each year!!! Buy local pumpkins, enjoy the delicious seeds, and use the flesh to make soup. Doesn't that sound yummy?

5. Plan eco-friendly Halloween parties using recyclable glass and containers!
If your party involves trick-or-treating, carpooling with friends certainly decreases emissions due to transportation. 

I hope you will follow these simple tips for enjoying an eco-friendly Halloween. Thanks for reading, and have a great Halloween!!!

Satvik Nog

2022 Kid Governor's Cabinet 

Middlebury/Southbury

My Library Circuit and the 2022 Kids Convention

Hello, my name is Makhi and I am your 2022 Connecticut's Kid Governor. In today's blog post I will be talking about what I have been doing as Kid Governor lately! 

One thing I've done this fall is my Library Circuit, where I traveled to different libraries across the state and spoke about my experience as the 2022 Connecticut's Kid Governor. I went to 6 different libraries in September: 

1. The Windsor Public Library (with Elizabeth Becker from my Cabinet!)
2. The Silas Bronson Library (with Satvik Nog from my Cabinet!)
3. The Easton Public Library
4. The Hamden Public Library
5. The Groton Public Library
6. And the Waterford Public Library (with Madelyn Sweet from my Cabinet!)

I gave a speech at each stop where I talked about my Protecting Our Pets platform, the work I've done on each of my three points, and some of the cool experiences I've had so far during my term as Kid Governor. I also got to meet a lot of new people, like different state and local government officials. It was so much fun to talk with everybody! You can see more information about each stop, including photos and recordings of my speeches, by clicking here!

Another thing I've done recently was attend the 2022 Kids Convention at Stepping Stones Museum. Elizabeth Becker, Madelyn Sweet, Olivia Campbell, and Satvik Nog from my Cabinet joined me! At the convention, we participated in a question-and-answer panel discussion where we got to talk with the audience. It was so fun and we got lots of questions. I love talking about my platform and all the hard work that my Cabinet and I have done this year! 

We also got to see some of the other presenters at the Kids Convention. One of the speakers was named Renata Bowers. She's a children's book author who lives in Connecticut! Her book series is called "Frieda B." It is about a girl who can be herself. Ms. Bowers read us parts of her books and talked about how kids can make the world a better place. That message is very important and connects to all the things I've been doing during my term as Kid Governor! 

How can you make the world a better place? Remember to be yourself and to (P.O.P), Protect our Pets!

 

Makhi Ettienne-Modeste

2022 Kid Governor 

Windsor

From the CTKG Cabinet: Olivia & The FRESH Walk For Food

Hello 5th graders of Connecticut! My name is Olivia and I am a member of the 2022 Connecticut Kid Governor's Cabinet with the platform of Child Food Insecurity.

There are so many people that work to help people in Connecticut who are food insecure. One example of this is coming up this weekend! FRESH New London is holding an event that I would like to bring to people's attention. It is called the FRESH Walk For Food Justice. This event will take place on Saturday September 17 at 9:30 AM. The walk will begin at the Mercer Street Community Garden, located on the corner of Mercer and Williams Streets in my town of New London. 

Participants of this event will walk a 2.5-mile circuit in New London to visit 5 local gardens. At this time of year, all 5 gardens will be overflowing with healthy vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Walkers will see gardens of all sizes & innovative urban farming techniques, get to sample seasonal crops, and learn more about each incredibly unique, reclaimed space.

At the end of the walk, there will be pizza from an outdoor woodfire oven, plants and merchandise for sale, music, and festivities. If you would like to join the walk please follow the instructions below.

• Pledge to walk by filling out this pre-registration form.
• Ask your friends and family to support your walk by donating.
• Collect their donation and add their information to this form.
• Extra idea: create a team of your co-workers or friends and walk together!

If you don't want to collect donations, that’s okay! You can attend with your own $10 donation and still participate!

After you collect your pledges and the form is complete, bring it all with you on September 17th to the Mercer Street Garden, or you can fill it out and pay ahead of time online (HERE).

This local event is a great way to help people who are food insecure. What are some ways you can help people in your community? 

Olivia Campbell

2022 Kid Governor Cabinet 
Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School

New London

My Family Vacation to Washington, DC!

Hello everyone, I am Makhi Ettienne-Modeste, your 2022 Connecticut's Kid Governor. Welcome to my new blog post! Happy back to school to everyone! Today I will be talking about what I did recently. I did a lot! 

Back in August I went to Virginia with my family. One of my stops was to our country’s capital city, Washington D.C. It was lots of fun! I got to see the U.S. Capitol Building, the memorials, and the White House. Here is a picture of me at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. 

On my trip I also learned a lot of things, like:

• The White House was built in 1792 (about 230 years ago!)

• The U.S. Capitol Building was built just a year later in 1793

• The Pentagon is a more recent building - it was built in 1941 

It wasn’t easy building these places. It took builders 8 whole years to build the White House, and that wasn’t even the only time they had to build it! In 1814 the British stormed the White House and burned it down, so it had to be built again. That time it took nearly 3 years to build! 

Then in 1948, the White House needed to be fixed after so many years. Some people said they should just tear it down and build a new mansion. But Mr. Harry Truman, the president at the time, fought to keep the White House and most of its historic features. 

The White House is one of the most famous buildings in America. It is a symbol of our government and represents the history of our country. Here is a picture of the White House. I think it looks so cool! Do you?

I hope you learned something new about Washington D.C.! Remember to be kind and to P.O.P. - Protect Our Pets!

 

 

 

Makhi Ettienne-Modeste

2022 Kid Governor 

Windsor