Windsor’s Makhi Ettienne-Modeste Elected  2022 Connecticut’s Kid Governor

Windsor’s Makhi Ettienne-Modeste Elected  2022 Connecticut’s Kid Governor

Windsor, Conn. – The winner of the Connecticut’s Kid Governor® (CTKG) Statewide Election was announced during a school-wide assembly at John F. Kennedy School on Wednesday. To preserve the closely-guarded secret, students at the school were under the impression that they were attending an assembly; however, CTKG Officials from The Connecticut Democracy Center (CTDC) were there in person with the surprise announcement that one of their classmates, fifth-grader Makhi Ettienne-Modeste, had been elected as the 2022 Kid Governor.

“The Kid Governor program teaches students about civics and the power they have to make a difference in their communities by giving them a voice in a real election,” remarked Brian Cofrancesco, Head of the Kid Governor® program for CTDC. “Makhi’s commitment to helping animals is inspiring, and his ideas and platform points clearly resonated with Connecticut’s fifth-grade voters. We look forward to working with Makhi and his Cabinet as they work to make a meaningful impact in our state in 2022.”

Makhi is the seventh student to be elected Connecticut’s Kid Governor through the CTDC’s educational program, headquartered at Connecticut’s Old State House.  He ran on a platform of preventing animal cruelty. His three-point platform that he will work toward during his year as CTKG is to:

• Educate Connecticut 5th graders about the signs of animal abuse.
• Create posters that raise awareness of animal cruelty.
• Donate to shelters to help animals that have been abused.

In his first public address to his classmates and statewide constituents via livestream, Kid Governor-Elect Mahki expressed gratitude to his parents and teachers for their support of his candidacy.  “I also want to thank all of the students who voted for me.  I am encouraged that many fifth-grade students understand the importance of animal cruelty.  This topic must be heard!”

More than 8,400 students from 300 classes and 134 schools across the state participated in this year’s CTKG Statewide Election. The seven Final Candidates and their community issues were:

• 2022 Connecticut’s Kid Governor Makhi Ettienne-Modeste, John F. Kennedy School, Windsor – Preventing Animal Cruelty
• Brian Wright, Casimir Pulaski School, Meriden – Increasing Physical Activity in Schools
• Elizabeth Becker, Noah Webster Microsociety Magnet School, Hartford – Climate Change
• Madelyn Sweet, Dr. Thomas S. O’Connell School, East Hartford – Kids and Anxiety
• Olivia Campbell, Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School, New London – Child Food Insecurity
• Samantha Botero, Greenwich Catholic Academy, Greenwich – A Cleaner Connecticut
• Satvik Nog, Long Meadow Elementary School, Middlebury – Climate Change

The candidates’ campaign videos can be viewed here.

During his term., Makhi will have the leadership support of the six other candidates who will work together as the CTKG Cabinet. The Cabinet will meet monthly throughout the year and the six members will work to achieve their own platform goals and support Makhi’s work as CTKG.

CTKG is a national award-winning civics program created by The Connecticut Democracy Center at Connecticut’s Old State House. The free program teaches fifth-grade students about state government, voting, and the importance of civic engagement through an authentic statewide election. Each school is eligible to nominate one student to run for CTKG. Nominees are required to submit a campaign video about a community issue important to them as well as a three-point plan designed to help other students take action on the issue.

Seven final candidates move on to the Statewide Election where peers watch their campaign videos, review their platforms and cast ballots to elect one student to represent them as CTKG. The winning student serves a year-long term as CTKG beginning with their inauguration at Connecticut’s Old State House in January. The student promotes their platform via the program’s website and blog, meets and speaks with their constituents, creates resources and tools for students to take action, and participates in programs across the state.

This is the seventh year of the successful CTKG program. Past Kid Governors include 2016 CTKG Elena Tipton of East Hartford, 2017 CTKG Jessica Brocksom of Milford, 2018 CTKG Megan Kasperowski of Portland, 2019 CTKG Ella Briggs of East Hampton, 2020 CTKG Myra Stanfield of West Hartford, and 2021 CTKG Reese Naughton of Southington. Naughton, who is wrapping up her year-long term as CTKG, has been focused on her Be Positive: Pandemic Perseverance platform of mental and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kid Governor® is also a growing movement in civics education with affiliate programs in Oregon and New Hampshire where students elect their own state’s Kid Governor each fall.

Connecticut’s Kid Governor® is presented with funding and partnership support from CT Humanities the Gawlicki Family Foundation, and in partnership with the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies.

You can learn more about Connecticut’s Kid Governor – both the program and the student – at CT.KidGovernor.org or by following CTKG on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

The Connecticut Democracy Center (CTDC) provides people with a lifetime pathway to active citizenship and the tools to take civic action in their own communities.  The mission of the CTDC is to inspire people of all ages to engage in civic live and strengthen their communities.

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