Parent Leadership Training Institute - Connecticut

03/26/2026

03/12/2026

💻 CWCSEO 2026 AI Awareness Events 📱

Parents and caregivers in Connecticut - this one's for you! The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity is hosting a critical conversation about keeping our most vulnerable community members safe as AI technology becomes part of daily life.

Our children are growing up with AI tutors, games, and chat companions. Our seniors are using AI for health monitoring and social connection. How do we embrace the benefits while protecting against risks?

🗓️ What: Chatbot Protections for Children and Older Adults
📅 When: Saturday, March 21st at 10:00 AM
🏢 Where: on Zoom

Join the discussion:
• Safe AI practices for families
• Recognizing when AI relationships become unhealthy
• Mental health support and crisis recognition
• What Connecticut is doing to protect vulnerable populations

Free virtual event; register here - https://bit.ly/ChatbotProtection

Share this with parents, grandparents, teachers, and anyone who cares about community safety!

02/11/2026

Register now for the workshops coming up next Tuesday, 2/17 and 2/24!

Open to current cohort, alumni, and anyone else in the community that could benefit from understanding how the CT General Assembly works and how you can use your lived experiences to write public testimony.

12/11/2025

🔥 New podcast episode alert!🔥

Season 1, Episode 2 of Parents, Policy & Power! A podcast dedicated to spotlighting how parents are using their power to affect policy through their community projects and current roles in the workplace and community.
Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ebYzsDm6

The parents you'll get to know, root for and support are graduates of the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI). PLTI is the family civics initiative of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity. It’s built on the belief that when parents and caregivers have the tools, confidence, and connections to lead - children, schools, and communities thrive!

Our next guest is Joshua Vaughn, a parent leader with strong ties to Naugatuck PLTI, Greater Waterbury and Naugatuck Valley areas, as well as having a presence as a national consultant on fatherhood, leadership and the voice of people with lived experience. An entrepreneur and HR professional, Josh brings his wealth of knowledge to spaces and ignites the passion within others to do more and be more. Josh is the principal and founder of Vaughn Signatures and father to five amazing children.

We are delighted to have him on the podcast.
Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ebYzsDm6

Learn more about Josh here: https://lnkd.in/enHVz7uJ


Melvette Conley Hill Joshua Vaughn Parent Leadership Training Institute - Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity
https://lnkd.in/ebYzsDm6

12/04/2025

Apply today to Naugatuck PLTI!

✅They offer Children’s Leadership Training Institute (CLTI), which is a mirror curriculum and covers similar themes as PLTI in an age appropriate way. Multigenerational change makers!
✅Hybrid site—mostly on Zoom with 4-5 sessions in-person over the 20+ weeks
✅Accepting participants outside of Naugatuck, as long as you can attend the 5 in-person sessions in Naugatuck

Looking to make a difference in the lives of children? Join our next cohort of Parent /Child Leadership Training Institute of Naugatuck.

12/02/2025

💥Happening tomorrow (Wednesday)--our FIRST "Taste of PLTI" info session!💥

If you know a parent or community member curious about civic engagement, leadership opportunities, or making a stronger impact in their community, the Taste of PLTI is a great entry point to learn what Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) is all about.

💡Help spread the word!
Your stories and first hand experiences are incredibly powerful and deeply valued in engaging potential participants!
✅Personally invite a friend, a neighbor, or a colleague
✅Tag someone who might be interested
✅Forward the flyer or registration information to your networks.
✅Share these PLTI posts on your own timeline or in community groups

11/30/2025

Are you ready for December?
Thinking about the new year?

As you consider your next steps, and as you approach all that a new year brings. Consider developing or sharpening your leadership and advocacy skills through the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI). Providing some inspiration here for you from Joshua Vaughn, a Naugatuck PLTI graduate who is doing remarkable things in his community, especially in his work with fathers and other men.

Joshua Vaughn is our next guest on our podcast Parents, Policy & Power. Here is a sneak peek: https://youtube.com/shorts/q_9yIk3arNI?feature=share



Learn more about PLTI here: https://wp.cga.ct.gov/cwcseo/sub_commissions/parent-leadership-training-institute/

For more info on PLTI contact [email protected]

Sneak peek of Parents, Policy, & Power podcast, Season 1, Episode 2 where we interview Joshua Vaughn. He's talking fathers in leadership, the idea that spear...

11/28/2025

✨SO THANKFUL! It's here! ✨

Season 1, Episode 1 of Parents, Policy & Power! A podcast dedicated to spotlighting how parents are using their power to affect policy through their community projects and current roles in the workplace and community.

https://youtu.be/odWvsrV4IhM

🤩The parents you'll get to know, root for and support are graduates of the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI). PLTI is the family civics initiative of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity. It’s built on the belief that when parents and caregivers have the tools, confidence, and connections to lead - children, schools, and communities thrive!

Our first guest is Patti Keckeisen, a parent leader with strong ties to Danbury PLTI Alumni, Bridgeport PLTI, the National Parent Leadership Institute, the Connecticut and national PLTI alumni networks, and many state and national organizations too long to ist here. Patti has been instrumental as a PLTI historian and steward of the movement ensuring fidelity to the PLTI model created in 1992.

We are so excited to have her on the podcast. So much wisdom, such good insights and lovely dialogue with our Executive Director and host, Melvette Hill.

Patti's bio can be found here: https://parentswholead.org/patti-keckeisen/ #:~:text=Patti%20graduated%20from%20Fairfield%20University,husband%20Jim%20live%20in%20Danbury.



Melvette Conley Hill
https://youtu.be/odWvsrV4IhMkeckeisen/ #:~:text=Patti%20graduated%20from%20Fairfield%20University,husband%20Jim%20live%20in%20Danbury.

11/22/2025

🌟The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI)--a family civics initiative of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity--is gearing up for its 2026 cohort launching this January🌟

We're excited to welcome new parent and community leaders!

📍 2026 PLTI Communities:
Naugatuck
New Haven
Stamford
Waterbury (pending funding)
West Hartford

✨ Curious about what PLTI is all about? Join a Taste of PLTI — an interactive session where you’ll connect with coordinators, engage in a sample activity, and explore how you can create change in your community.

🔗 Register for upcoming Taste of PLTI sessions

Wednesday, 12/3/25, 7:00-8:15pm https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2sLk3b61RfiZkGeh9W3vkQ

Wednesday, 12/10/25, 7:00-8:15pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/SPCn5-J6RICDDFXmLXxOZw

Saturday, 12/13/25, 9:30-10:45am
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dKdSys-9SGqKv3ptl444zA

Monday, 12/15/25, 7:00-8:15pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/p4SUM8wsTYSGafr4CJWfeg

Thursday, 12/18/25, 12:00-1:15pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bQRz3zdCTSuHSwXIq-1J7g

Wednesday, 1/7/26, 7:00-8:30pm https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/XuWFCkNFSw2qikOfdtB6Qw

11/17/2025

💥🎤New Podcast Alert!🎤💥

We are premiering a new podcast - Parents, Policy & Power! A podcast dedicated to spotlighting how parents are using their power to affect policy through their community projects and current roles in the workplace and community.

🤩The parents you'll get to know, root for and support are graduates of the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI).

✨PLTI is the family civics initiative of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity. It’s built on the belief that when parents and caregivers have the tools, confidence, and connections to lead - children, schools, and communities thrive!

🎬Tune in to this intro episode, and be sure to look for us on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon and places where podcasts can be found.


Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity