Cabinet – Page 2 – Connecticut's Kid Governor®

Cabinet Member Nava Ekstrand’s First Blog Post

Hi, my name is Nava Ekstrand and I was a final candidate in the 2024 Connecticut’s Kid Governor Election. I’m now a member of the Kid Governor’s Cabinet working with 2025 Kid Governor Keudy!

I ran on the platform addressing Littering because trash is everywhere, it hurts the environment, it kills lots of animals, and it speeds up climate change! My three-point plan to stop littering is:

Invite 5th graders to make posters about stopping littering to hang in schools.
Encourage 5th graders to participate in litter walks around their communities.
Invite 5th graders to decorate trash and recycle bins in their schools to promote clean school environments.

One of the first things I have done to advance my platform is create a display at my local library, the Public Library of New London! I won the library’s “Design Your Own Library Card” art contest and as the winner, I was able to create my own display of books. I picked out books that had to do with trash, litter, and the environment!

Any way you can, try to use my three-point plan to keep our planet and ourselves healthy or create your own plan. Remember, I would love to hear what you are doing to stop littering so please email me at Nava@CT.KidGovernor.org to tell me about it! Also remember to visit CT.KidGovernor.org/cabinet2025 to read about the other Cabinet Members’ Platforms!!

Cabinet Member Ryan Deng’s First Blog Post

Hi, my name is Ryan Deng and I was one of the finalists in the 2024 Connecticut’s Kid Governor Statewide Election. I am now a member of the Kid Governor’s Cabinet, working with 2025 Kid Governor Keudy.

I chose Mental Health as my platform because I noticed that when students struggle with mental health issues, it becomes much harder for them to learn new things. For example, in my math class, I saw that some of my friends who had difficulty grasping new skills also struggled to cope and stay motivated. I realized that if students learned more about mental health and coping strategies, they might be able to maintain a positive mindset and overcome their challenges.

I have developed a three-point platform to address this issue:

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.

Since the election, I have been working on my platform by spreading awareness of my community issue in my school. I plan to continue expanding my efforts to other schools to further raise awareness about mental health.

If you would like to support my platform, please email me at Ryan@CT.KidGovernor.org to share your thoughts! You can also visit CT.KidGovernor.org/cabinet2025 to learn more about the other Kid Governor’s Cabinet Members and their platforms.

Cabinet Member Dominic’s First Blog Post!

I am excited to introduce myself, Dominic DeVincentis as a member of the 2024-2025 Connecticut Kid Governor Cabinet! I am eager to bring a strong sense of leadership, creativity, and a deep passion for making a difference in this cabinet, especially when it comes to the important issue of school safety.

I pride myself on being an independent thinker who isn’t afraid to stand up for what I believe in. My leadership qualities, such as the ability to listen, collaborate, and inspire others have played a key role in shaping my platform. I am determined to ensure that every student feels safe and supported at school. Whether by advocating for better security measures, fostering open communication between students and staff, or promoting access to mental health resources, I aim to lead with empathy, integrity and determination.

My goal is not just to address the issues but unite my peers, educators, and families in creating a more inclusive and secure school
environment.

In addition to my dedication to school safety, I also have a wide range of interests and skills. I am an accomplished Lego builder, often creating complex structures that showcase my problem-solving skills and creativity. I also have a huge interest in history, particularly learning about the Titanic. I believe this shows my curiosity and commitment to learning.

When I’m not studying or building, I enjoy sports such as football, basketball, kickball, and hiking, as well as seeking out the thrill of fast rollercoasters.

At home, I live with my mom, dad, sister, and our large rescue dog, Bubba. Bubba offers plenty of love and companionship to me as I embark on this exciting new journey. He is always by my side, and I always do my best to take care of him since we rescued him. Sometimes I feel like we rescued each other. My commitment to my family, my dog, my community, and my school has always been and will always be my priority.

As part of the Kid Governor Cabinet, I will work alongside other student leaders to drive change and expand the voices of young people across Connecticut. My focus on school safety is something that will resonate with many students, teachers, and families throughout the state. I also cannot wait to work and corroborate with the other student leaders on their platforms. I am so excited to see the positive impact we will make as part of the 2024-2025 Cabinet!

Cabinet Member Warona Sekgoma’s First Blog Post!

My name is Warona Sekgoma. I recently moved to East Hartford with my mom. I enjoy living here but it is still hard for me to find friends and learn all new things. I ran for Kid Governor on the platform of Self-Confidence and am now a part of Kid Governor Keudy’s Cabinet!

I chose building Self-Confidence as my community issue because I felt inspired by how my grandparents described growing up. My grandparents worry about how kids nowadays see themselves and they want me to be confident in who I am. As I have gotten older, I see a lot of insecurities in my friends and these insecurities make them hide. I want my friends to show themselves and feel confident about who they are and what they look like. To achieve this goal, I made this three-point plan:

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.

Since the election, my school has created a Positivity Box! At the end of every month, every 5th grader writes a new positive message to refill the box. This month, I am going to my principal to begin affirmation announcements. Fifth graders already do the announcements every morning in my school and I would like them to be in charge of picking the affirmations every morning.

If you would like to support my platform in your school, you can:

Design and send me a photo of your school’s Positivity Box.
Create a list of affirmations and speak to your principal about saying them at important school events.
Send in topics or advice that you would like to be discussed in self-esteem videos.

I would love to see all the amazing work you are doing around self-esteem! If you would like to, please email me at Warona@CT.KidGovernor.org. To learn more about the other Cabinet Members and their platforms, go to CT.KidGovernor.org/cabinet2025. Hope to hear from you!