Advocacy - Educational Programs

AEP sponsors outreach events that are designed to engage new individuals in advocacy. The Project hosts training and educational institutes that prepare participants to become powerful agents of change in the community. Past effort have been a Leadership Institute, to help people develop leadership skills for use in their personal and professional lives and a Public Policy Institute, featuring elected officials and policy makers, which teaches how our governmental system works and how people can create positive change within that system.

One of the new educational initiatives is the Parent Leadership Training Institute. It is a free twenty week program available to the community to train, inspire and empower parents to become effective advocates for change. Over 1,600 parents have participated in the program throughout Connecticut. More information about the program can be found at www.plti.org.

The program begins with a Saturday all day retreat to develop good group communication skills. There is 10 weeks of leadership and public speaking training and 10 weeks spent learning about local and state government and public policies. Participants must choose and implement a community project. Childcare and a family dinner are provided.