The mission of the Connecticut Democracy Center (CTDC) is to inspire people of all ages to engage in civic life and strengthen their communities. We envision a society where everyone is empowered to participate in our democracy. We are proud to be raising money for two of our signature education programs: Connecticut History Day and Connecticut's Kid Governor®. Connecticut History Day (CHD), an affiliate program of National History Day, encourages students in grades 6-12 to explore local, state, national, and world history. CTDC has managed the CT affiliate for over a decade and annually serves over 4,000 students through this academic program. Students conduct research and create projects that are entered into a series of competitions, from the local to the national level, and evaluated by professional historians and educators. The program seeks to bring students, teachers, museums, and scholars together to support young people as they engage in history and research. CHD preparation often takes place over an entire school year, with workshops for students and educators focused on topics such as primary sources, project creation, topic shopping and research, historical arguments, and thesis statements. CHD consists of five regional contests across the state, culminating with a state contest, with winners attending a national contest hosted at the University of Maryland each June. Students can choose to create research projects in the form of exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites. Connecticut's Kid Governor® empowers 5th graders to change the world. This ground-breaking approach to civics education immerses students in a real election for their state’s Kid Governor, a fellow 5th grader who will represent them during a one-year term of active leadership. The program is more than a contest and is not just about the position of governor – students learn important lessons about state government, voting, elections, and civic participation. Timed to coincide with Election Day in November, this annual program provides 5th graders the experience of nominating one student candidate from their school and voting in an authentic statewide election. Classes can vote in the election, nominate a student to run for office, or both. Free, innovative, and state-specific lesson plans and digital resources guide teachers through the program and help students explore state government and active participation in civic life.