The Poster Contest is now closed, but read on to learn more about it!

Kid Governor Reese Naughton is committed to her Be Positive: Pandemic Perseverance platform and improving the mental health of Connecticut kids during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, she and The Connecticut Democracy Center at Connecticut’s Old State House partnered with the Department of Children and Families on the 2021 CT Family Day and Poster Contest!

This year’s poster contests asked:

What is your family’s silver lining during the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Students were invited to show their family’s “silver lining” during the pandemic and submit their artwork to the 2021 CT Family Day Poster Contest. Their designs helped Connecticut’s Kid Governor Reese Naughton raise awareness of her Be Positive: Pandemic Perseverance platform and share positive, uplifting messages by and for students.

Connecticut’s Kid Governor Reese, her Cabinet, and the Department of Children and Families selected twelve finalists and one winner. They were recognized at 2021 CT Family Day on September 28. Their artwork was also displayed in the Kid Governor’s Office at Connecticut’s Old State House.

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Contest Rules

• Open to all Connecticut 5th graders.
• Art must be on 8.5×11 white paper.
• Color pencils, crayons, paint, and markers permitted
• Bold colors look best!
• Must include at least one handprint (drawn or traced).
• Must be entrant’s original, hand-drawn creation.
• Completed Permission Form, art description, and a scan or photograph of artwork must be emailed or shared via Google Drive with Brian.Cofrancesco@ctdemocracycenter.org by the deadline.
• Original hard copies of artwork must be mailed to The Connecticut Democracy Center, 21 Oak Street, Suite 309, Hartford, CT 06106 and postmarked by the deadline.

Deadline: Friday, June 11, 2021

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Permission Form

The Permission Form is available in two formats:

• PDF Form: Print, complete by hand, and scan to return. 
• Google Doc: This version can be completed using Google Drive. Simply click the link, go to “File,” select “Make a Copy” or “Download,” and complete page 2.

In light of COVID-19 and students working from home, original signatures are not required on the Permission Form. A typed parent, guardian, kin/foster parent name is acceptable.

Completed Permission Form, art description, and a scan or photograph of artwork must be emailed or shared via Google Drive with Brian.Cofrancesco@ctdemocracycenter.org by Friday, June 11, 2021. Original hard copies of artwork must be mailed to The Connecticut Democracy Center, 21 Oak Street, Suite 309, Hartford, CT 06106 and postmarked by the deadline.

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Selection of the Winners

Connecticut’s Kid Governor Reese, her Cabinet, and the Department of Children and Families selected twelve finalists and one winner. They were recognized at 2021 CT Family Day on September 28. Their artwork was also displayed in the Kid Governor’s Office at Connecticut’s Old State House.

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Kid Governor® is an award-winning civics program for 5th graders created by The Connecticut Democracy Center at Connecticut’s Old State House. The Connecticut Democracy Center inspires people of all ages to engage in civic life and strengthen their communities.

Reese is collaborating with the Department of Children and Families because it provides an integrated system of services and supports for children and adolescents with mental health needs and oversees an array of services that address mental health.

CT Family Day has been a statewide tradition since 1997. Now in its 24th year, CT Family Day is a collaboration across state agencies and community organizations that honors and celebrates CT families.