Neighbor News
CT Elected Officials Meet With Young Female Leaders
Ms President US hosts "Girls Rock The Capitol"
Hartford, CT – On March 11, approximately 75 girls participating in the Ms President US program took part in the annual “Girls Rock the Capitol” event, an inspiring field trip to the Connecticut State Capitol, Old State House/CT Democracy Center, CT Museum and Library, and CT Supreme Court. Girls in grades 4-8 from 12 CT towns experienced a day of immersive exposure to government, leadership, and civic engagement. The trip was underwritten by the Kiwanis Club of Wilton.
Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz presented official citations to the 2024 Ms President US winners, recognizing their hard work, leadership, and dedication to their communities and emphasizing the need for female leadership. Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas encouraged the group to use their voices and take active roles in shaping the future. “It's really important for people of every age to think about ways they can make their communities better. And I know every single person in this room does that,” she said.
Elected officials from all over the state took time to share their wisdom and admiration for the participants and to emphasize the importance of civic participation and female empowerment, including:
- State Representative Devin Carney - Representing Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Westbrook
- State Senator Bob Duff - Senate Majority Leader, Representing Norwalk, Darien
- State Senator Tony Hwang - Chief Deputy Republican Leader, Representing Bethel, Easton, Fairfield, and Newtown
- State Representative Dominique Johnson - Serving Norwalk, Westport
- State Senator Julie Kushner - Deputy President Pro Tempore, Representing Danbury, New Fairfield, Ridgefield
- State Senator Ceci Maher - Deputy President Pro Tempore, Representing Darien, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport, Wilton
- State Senator Martha Marx - Deputy Majority Leader, Representing Bozrah, East Lyme, Montville, New London, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Salem, Waterford
- State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey - Serving Bridgeport, Fairfield
“We are thrilled to provide these young leaders with the opportunity to engage with government officials and see democracy in action,” said Amanda Cordano, Executive Director of Ms President US. “Experiences like this help cultivate the next generation of strong, informed, and engaged leaders.”
Next up for Ms President US is its Signature Campaign and Election, where girls from 12 CT towns campaign to be elected Ms President US 2025 of their towns. On April 6th, the candidates will present platforms focused on a range of issues including Social Media Overuse, Teen Mental Health, Optimizing School Start Times, and School Lunch Options. The event is free and the public is invited to attend and vote in this important election. RSVP here.
Ms President US is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young girls to pursue leadership roles in their communities and beyond. Through educational programming and hands-on experiences like “Girls Rock the Capitol” and the Signature Election event, the organization empowers young women to become the leaders of tomorrow.
For more information about Ms President US, visit www.mspresidentus.org.
