He's ready to serve: Kid governor hopes to bring focus to preventing animal cruelty

Jan. 22—HARTFORD — Makhi Ettienne-Modeste, a fifth-grader at John F. Kennedy School in Windsor, officially became Connecticut's Kid Governor during an inauguration ceremony at the Old State House on Friday.

"I am excited to begin working with my Cabinet on my Protecting Our Pets platform," Makhi said after being sworn in. "I hope to make you all proud."

Makhi is the first male to be elected Connecticut Kid Governor since the Connecticut Democracy Center started the Kid Governor program in 2016. He is also the first person of color to assume the position.

Dressed in a navy blue suit, brown dress shoes, and a multi-colored bowtie, Makhi was sworn in by Deputy Secretary of the State Scott Bates, who then handed Makhi a sash that he proudly wore across his chest. Makhi also took his place behind his new desk in the Kid Governor's office, which was adorned with a mini-American flag and a custom nameplate.

Makhi will serve a one-year term alongside his six Cabinet members — who were also sworn in during the ceremony — working with them to address specific issues. Makhi's campaign focused on animal cruelty, an issue that felt pertinent because he has two dogs at home, including a pit bull.

Reese Naughton, the 2021 Connecticut Kid Governor, was on hand to wish Makhi luck in his upcoming term. She complimented Makhi's platform for being "so well thought out and personal."

Various state officials also took turns congratulating Makhi and his cabinet. Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz encouraged the students to continue working on issues that were important to them in their communities. Bysiewicz also said she was delighted to see such a diverse group of students representing the state.

"You remind me very much of the Cabinet that Gov. Lamont and I have because half of our Cabinet members are women and about 40% of them are people of color," Bysiewicz said.

Deputy Commissioner of Education Desi Nesmith, a Windsor resident whose two sons attend JFK with Makhi, extolled the virtues of the Connecticut Kid Governor program for providing an immersive student learning experience.

"This opportunity didn't exist when I taught fifth grade," Nesmith said. "So to see things come off the page for kids and be able to have opportunities like this to see their learning come alive, it's just a great experience."

Makhi is the second student from north-central Connecticut to become Connecticut Kid Governor, and first from Windsor. State Rep. Jane Garibay, D-Windsor, applauded Makhi for bringing the distinction home to Windsor, which has had a couple of student finalists, but never a winner.

Garibay said she looked forward to collaborating with Makhi and his Cabinet. State government work isn't flashy, she said, but it's the kind of work that has "real impact on our friends, families, and neighbors."

As part of his preventing animal cruelty platform, Makhi said he would be partner with experts from the Department of Agriculture for a live educational program conducted virtually that teaches Connecticut fifth-graders how to recognize signs of animal abuse. He said he would also work with the Department of Children and Families to hold a statewide poster contest in the spring where fifth-graders can "draw attention to the importance of showing kindness to companion animals through art."

Prior to the ceremony, Makhi held his first press conference as Kid Governor; he stood at the podium seeming poised and confident despite admitting he was a bit nervous. In response to a question about school safety, Makhi said it would be a topic to consider for his administration.

"It's not every day we'll be children, we're going to have to grow up," Makhi said. "I think we should also really keep our children safe and really just protect schools because it's a place to learn."

When asked a question about the two pieces of voting rights legislation recently rejected by U.S. Senate, Makhi didn't balk.

"If it really is helping more Americans vote, I think that's a good thing, and I think that should really be passed," the 10-year-old said.

Makhi's fifth-grade teacher, Megan DaCosta, who attended the ceremony, said the amount of support Makhi has received from his JFK classmates has been overwhelming. Of the 16 students in her class, DaCosta said about 13 or 14 of them voted for Makhi in the election.

Since winning the election, Makhi has become a role model for younger students in the school, who have written him letters expressing their excitement, DaCosta said.

"He has kids in third grade talking to him about how excited they are and how they want to do this when they're fifth-graders," DaCosta said. "I'm getting texts from teachers saying they're all tuning in and watching (the inauguration) throughout the school, so the amount of support he gets from JFK in general is amazing."

Austin Mirmina covers Manchester and Bolton.