Three new governors have been elected in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Oregon, but they may be a little younger than expected. Fifth grade students across the three states voted in November to elect their states’ Kid Governors! The winners were Makhi Ettiene-Modeste in Connecticut, Charlotte Cotti in New Hampshire, and Emerie Martin in Oregon. Each of the 2022 Kid Governors was sworn in during an official inauguration ceremony in January with state officials, dignitaries, students, and family members in attendance. The student leaders now begin their one-year terms in office and will work to implement change across their state.
Kid Governor® is an award-winning civics program for fifth graders created by the Connecticut Democracy Center. The program teaches students about state government, voting, and civic engagement through a real statewide election for their state’s Kid Governor. Each fall, students in classrooms across the three states participate in civics lessons and activities and have the opportunity to nominate one student from their school to run for Kid Governor. Nominees work with their classmates to create a campaign video about a community issue important to them as well as a three-point plan designed to help other students take action on the issue. In the end, seven statewide finalists advance to a statewide election and registered fifth-grade voters get to experience an authentic election by watching the finalists’ campaign videos, evaluating their platforms, and casting their ballots for the student who they want to be their next Kid Governor.
Connecticut’s 2022 Kid Governor, Makhi Ettienne-Modeste, is a student at John F. Kennedy School in Windsor, CT. Makhi ran on the platform of Protecting Our Pets and plans to educate fellow fifth graders about the signs of animal abuse and how to show kindness towards companion animals, create a poster contest to raise awareness of showing kindness towards companion animals, and encourage fellow fifth graders to donate to shelters to help animals that have been abused.
New Hampshire’s 2022 Kid Governor, Charlotte Cotti, is a student at Pollard Elementary School in Plaistow, NH. Charlotte ran on the platform of Helping the Homeless in New Hampshire and plans to collect necessities for food pantries and homeless shelters, hold a toy drive for homeless children, and speak to people who are homeless to create a video that educates people on the effects of homelessness.
Oregon’s 2022 Kid Governor, Emerie Martin, is a student at Pleasant Hill Elementary School in Pleasant Hill, OR. Emerie ran on the platform of preventing animal abuse and plans to volunteer in animal shelters, organize fundraisers and supply drives, and stop people who have been convicted of animal abuse from adopting another animal.
Kid Governors Makhi and Emerie will work with their Cabinets and Charlotte will work with her Executive Council to fulfill their platforms. Each of their Cabinets and Executive Council are made up of the six finalists for Kid Governor. Follow the Kid Governors across all three states as they create change in their states at kidgovernor.org and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@KidGovernor).
The Connecticut Democracy Center provides people with a lifetime pathway to active citizenship and the tools to take civic action in their own communities. The mission of the CTDC is to inspire people of all ages to engage in civic life and strengthen their communities. Learn more at ctdemocracycenter.org.
