The Kid Governor’s Cabinet will be led by 2025 Kid Governor Keudy Martinez and will include the six 2024 Statewide Election candidates. The Cabinet will meet monthly to advise Kid Governor-Elect Keudy, discuss how they can support Keudy’s campaign platform in their own communities, and collaborate as they advance their own three-point platforms.
Learn more about the 2025 Cabinet below and send your questions for the Cabinet to Cabinet@CT.KidGovernor.org.
Meet the Cabinet
Dawson Quijada
School: Washington Primary School
Town: Washington
Community Issue: Endangered Animals
Watch Dawson’s campaign video HERE.
About Me:
My name is Dawson Quijada and I live in New Preston with my parents Danielle and Luis, my sister Violet, and my brother Noe. I have a dog named Madaket, a cat named Murphy, and some pet chickens. I am a 5th grader at Washington Primary School in Washington. My favorite hobbies are building with Legos, goalkeeping for Shepaug Futbol Club, and engineering snap circuits. My passion is helping others through motivation, kindness, and tolerance.
My Community Issue:
I chose the topic because when it comes to the environment, endangered species are a part of the “whole.” When one piece goes missing, it effects the whole ecosystem from the smallest bug all the way up to humans. When I’m outside, I like to observe our local animals in their habitat and I get sad when they lose their homes or their food sources. Animals cannot speak up for themselves and it is our responsibility to be their voice.
Did You Know?:
The U.S. Congress passed the “Endangered Species Act” in 1973 and the Connecticut General Assembly passed its own “Act Establishing a Program for the Protection of Endangered and Threatened Species” in 1989. More should be done to educate Connecticut residents about wildlife protection and how it impacts us. For example, if bees go extinct, pollination will decrease and that will reduce fruit, vegetable, and grain harvests that feed livestock and humans. Connecticut residents can donate part of their tax refund to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to help fund projects that prevent animal endangerment.
About My Platform:
- Plan a statewide Pick Up Litter Day when kids pick up garbage in their communities to keep animals’ natural habitats safe.
- Encourage 5th graders to write letters to their State Representatives, Senators, and the Governor asking for more laws that protect our wildlife.
- Ask 5th graders to create educational posters about Connecticut’s endangered and extinct animals to raise awareness in their schools.
Dominic DeVincentis
School: Helen Street Elementary
Town: Hamden
Community Issue: School Safety
Watch Dominic’s campaign video HERE.
About Me:
My name is Dominic DeVincentis and I live in Hamden with my mom Corrine, dad Michael, sister Adriana, and my huge rescue dog Bubba. I enjoy building with Legos, playing football and kickball, and hiking. As a leader, I am honest, passionate, and independent and I stand up for what I believe in. I want to be a role model for other students.
My Community Issue:
I chose school safety as my community issue because I do not feel any student should have to feel unsafe coming to school. I also want our communities to be safer overall. I believe that, as 5th graders, if we work together we can accomplish this goal.
Did You Know?:
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying has been on the rise in Connecticut schools year after year since the COVID-19 Pandemic, according to the State Department of Education’s EdSight portal. According to the Monique Burr Foundation, even though 85% of school bullying incidents have bystanders, only a small number of students actually stand up and act when they see bullying. Do not just sit back and watch – set an example and treat others how you want to be treated.
About My Platform:
- Stop Fighting: Encourage 5th graders to create bulletin boards in their schools that support “stop bullying” efforts.
- Stop Bullying: Create YouTube videos about stopping bullying and spreading kindness that can be shared in classrooms.
- Promote Respect: Plan a statewide coloring contest so 5th graders can express ways to promote respect in everyday life.
Khloe Wilcox
School: Renzulli Academy
Town: Hartford
Community Issue: Healthy Eating
Watch Khloe’s campaign video HERE.
About Me:
My name is Khloe Wilcox and I live in Hartford and go to Renzulli Academy. In my spare time, I like to crochet, knit, sing, draw, and watch movies and TV shows. I am also an active member of my Girl Scout troop. My leadership qualities are that I am kind, smart, optimistic, and easygoing.
My Community Issue:
My community issue is eating healthier. I chose this topic because a lot of people eat unhealthy food daily. Unhealthy eating can lead to gaining weight, problems in the body, poor dental care, and just feeling bad overall. I want people to think about eating better to increase their well-being and health.
Did You Know?:
Did you know that according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, millions of Americans deal with medical conditions due to poor diet? In fact, according to Tufts University, 67% of teens 12 and up, 53% of children ages 6-11, and 40% of children aged 5 and under have a poor diet. And according to a survey conducted by the California Food Policy Advocates in 2013, 34% of kids surveyed don’t like school lunch. This can lead to making poor food choices during the school day.
About My Platform:
- Encourage 5th graders to meet with their school’s leaders to advocate for better school lunches.
- Give 5th graders strategies for eating healthier with input from pediatricians and mental health providers.
- Put up flyers in schools that advocate for healthier eating.
Nava Ekstrand
School: Bennie Dover Jackson Multi Magnet Middle School
Town: New London
Community Issue: Littering
Watch Nava’s campaign video HERE.
About Me:
My name is Nava Ekstrand and I go to Bennie Dover Jackson Multi-Magnet Middle School in New London. I live with my mom, dad, and twin brother. I do tap dancing and cross country and I like to draw, play with my friends, and sing. I am kind, caring, and helpful and I do what I think is right.
My Community Issue:
My community issue is littering. I chose littering as my community issue because there is so much litter and trash in the world and it hurts the environment. According to the Wild World Handbook, litter and trash also help speed up global warming and kill animals in the ocean and on land.
Did You Know?:
According to Perseus and WWF-Australia, plastic is the most common type of litter to kill animals and 100,000 marine animals die each year from becoming entangled in or digesting plastic. According to the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), plastic takes a long time to decompose and it releases chemicals into the environment. The World Bank reports that only 8% of trash goes into sanitary landfills with a gas collection system. The CIEL also states that the food we eat that comes from animals could have plastic in it, meaning we could ingest it.
About My Platform:
- Invite 5th graders to make posters about stopping littering to hang in schools.
- Encourage 5th graders to participate in litter walks in their communities.
- Invite 5th graders to decorate trash and recycling bins in their schools to promote clean school environments.
Ryan Deng
School: Green Acres Elementary School
Town: North Haven
Community Issue: Mental Health
Watch Ryan’s campaign video HERE.
About Me:
My name is Ryan Deng and I live in North Haven with my mom, my dad, my little sister Lydia, and my pet turtle Robert. My school is Green Acres Elementary School. I like to play soccer, tennis, badminton, and basketball. My other hobbies include playing the piano, hanging out with my friends, and studying math. My leadership qualities include that I am kind, thoughtful, hard-working, and always looking out for others in need.
My Community Issue:
I chose to focus on mental health because I noticed that mental health challenges can make it hard to learn new things. If students learn more about mental health they might be able to keep a positive mindset and get through challenges more easily. I am really passionate about this because it is important to our state and everyone in it. Learning about mental health can help everyone and can make our state a safer place.
Did You Know?:
Did you know that according to the World Health Organization, half of all lifetime mental health issues are established by the age of 14? Yet, according to the Mental Health Foundation, 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health challenges have not had good interventions at an early enough age. When students are facing difficulties with their mental health, it can affect them in school. In fact, a student who struggles with their mental health might have lower grades. I want to change mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
About My Platform:
- Create educational classes to help 5th graders understand mental health and coping strategies.
- Promote peer-to-peer support programs in schools where students can check in with each other.
- Encourage schools to have “Friday Fun” days with a menu of fun physical activities that students can try to reduce stress and anxiety.
Warona Sekgoma
School: Governor William Pitkin School
Town: East Hartford
Community Issue: Self-Confidence
Watch Warona’s campaign video HERE.
About Me:
My name is Warona Sekgoma. I recently moved to East Hartford with my mom. I enjoy living in East Hartford but it is still hard for me to find friends and learn all new things. I love to play tennis and the violin. I always try to make people feel happy and comfortable around me. I hope to spread that feeling to other kids who need it.
My Community Issue:
I chose building self-confidence as my issue because I felt inspired by how my grandparents described growing up. They worry about how kids nowadays see themselves and want me to be confident in who I am. As I have gotten older, I see a lot of insecurities in my friends. These insecurities make them hide. I want my friends to show themselves and feel confident about who they are and what they look like.
Did You Know?:
Each student is unique, and recognizing the value they bring to the world plays a crucial role in building their self-confidence. According to ACT for Youth, studies show that between one-third to one-half of adolescents struggle with low self-esteem. According to PsychCentral, individuals with low self-esteem often feel inadequate and worthless. These statistics are alarming but as a community, we can work together to change them. One way to tackle this issue is by encouraging students to support one another. Engaging with friends can help foster healthy, positive self-esteem. We can all be the rainbow in someone else’s cloud.
About My Platform:
- Have 5th graders create “Positivity Boxes” with positive messages that students can read when they feel insecure so they start to feel better.
- Encourage 5th graders to read affirmations during morning announcements so students start every day on the right foot.
- Share student-made videos about maintaining self-esteem that teachers can show in their classrooms.