MPA student Sincere Valentine explores the lasting impact of his grandfather’s legacy in shaping policy and policing in Connecticut. For much of his childhood, Valentine understood that his grandfather had been a respected public servant doing important work in Bridgeport. But it wasn’t until his teenage years that he began to grasp the scope of that legacy. As a participant in the Bridgeport Junior Council Program while in high school, Valentine had the opportunity to shadow town council members, attend public meetings and engage with community leaders. During the program’s closing ceremony, his lineage to Penn was mentioned. “Once people found out, it was like everything shifted,” he says. “Person after person came up to me saying, ‘Your grandfather was a great man.’ That was the first time I really realized how much his name meant.” (click to read more)
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Fast-Track Student Focuses on Youth Civic Engagement
UConn junior and 4+1 Fast Track student Ryan Engels promotes civic engagement among Connecticut youth through CYPAC, the non-partisan advocacy group he founded from his freshman year dorm room. He doesn’t just suggest students get involved in local government – he models it. Ryan is the youngest chair of a town committee in his hometown of Westbrook. He’s also interning this semester with the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy.