FIND YOUR VOICE  

You Are a Parent. You Are a Leader.   

Be a positive change maker for the lives of children in your community.  

PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE   

ONE PARENT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 

This is a 20-week training experience that changes the lives of individuals and entire communities. Parents learn the links between culture, change management, and innovation. They launch, lead, and realize successful change initiatives, all while growing their own personal network!

What is PLTI?  

The Greater New Haven Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), facilitated by United Way of Greater New Haven, equips parents and caregivers, ages 18-24, to effectively advocate for their children and their communities. Throughout the 20-weeks, participants learned about legislation, policy making, advocacy, how the government works, among other areas of government and advocacy.

This institute is a community-driven collaborative focused on cultivating healthier, more inclusive communities and systems in which all communities thrive. Participation in the Greater New Haven PLTI is free of charge. Your time, commitment, and the successful completion of a community project that reflects your passion is what we ask for in return.  

PLTI is a growing movement, with 30 years of experience across the country and is locally sponsored by a partnership between Workforce Alliance and the United Way of Greater New Haven. 

We welcome parents who see themselves as positive changemakers for the children in their lives and community. This can include those who are: aunties/uncles, foster parents, co-parents, older siblings taking care of younger family members, parents to be, and teachers/youth workers, childcare providers, and babysitters.  

Have questions? Call or text JoAnne Wilcox at 203.952.4743 or email jwilcox@uwgnh.org.  

2025 Graduating Class
 

What is the Commitment?  

• A kickoff full-day retreat (required), to build relationships and develop goals for the cohort. 
• A 20-week series of 3-hour weekly sessions:   
  • Weeks 1-10 focus on personal leadership, who you are as a parent leader.   
  • Weeks 11-20 focus on government, policy, and media, and how to claim your voice in these arenas.  
• Each participant creates a community project that addresses a community issue the participant is passionate about. Projects are completed with support from the PLTI Coordinator and community mentors.  

What is provided? 

In addition to 20 weeks of leadership experience, participants receive:  

• Training Supplies & Support! Each participant receives weekly class materials, supply packets, and support from the Site Coordinator.  
• Childcare! We provide childcare stipends during weekly sessions for toddlers, infants, or young children.  
• Food!  We provide each weekly session with a family meal.  
• Transportation! Assistance for transportation to get to/from each session is available, if needed.  
• Employment Resources!  Additional resources, supports, and services through the American Job Center.
• Participation Stipend! A stipend of $500 for those who successfully complete PLTI.  
• Certificate & Graduation Celebration! An event to acknowledge and celebrate PLTI participants from across the state of Connecticut! 

What is the selection process?  

Candidates are selected from a pool of diverse applicants. The Civic Design Team look at each application and consider each interview to choose participants who are interested in developing their leadership skills and who are able to commit to the program.   

What is the impact of PLTI?  

• Graduates of previous PLTI cohorts have pursued community projects such as: making sure 3- and 4-year-olds get access to pre-school; ensuring school calendars reflect the holidays for their expanding communities; developing an education and training program by and for refugees; and facilitating cooking classes for elementary-aged youth through local schools.  
• Nationally, PLTI’s thousands of graduates have gone on to write letters to the editor, testify before local and state governments, start nonprofit organizations, and even run for office.  
• Each class of leaders will join a PLTI Alumni Group where they may continue their community projects and mentor the next class, creating an enhanced effect of community caring and developing a coalition of parent leaders.  

Have questions? 

Feel free to reach out to JoAnne Wilcox at jwilcox@uwgnh.org or feel free to call/text her at 203.952.4743.  

 -PLTI Partners-

Thank you again for your interest in developing your skills as a parent leader!  

“We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.”