In 2005, a year after inaugurating the The Ella Tambussi Grasso Center for Women in Politics, the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame launched the First Ella Grasso Youth Action Conference in honor of Ella Tambussi Grasso, the nation’s first woman Governor elected in her own right. The Ella Grasso Youth Action Conference is an educational initiative which targets 10th and 11th graders from around the state, with special focus on the under-served youth in Connecticut’s urban centers. The conference is designed to inspire young people toward civic and political leadership. 

Conference Mission:
The Ella Grasso Youth Action Conference is a program on civic engagement for high school sophomores and juniors.  This educational initiative is held at the state capitol and is a day-long conversation with community leaders focused on mobilizing and inspiring the next generation of engaged citizens. 

Though women continue to be underrepresented in positions of political leadership, Connecticut is a fitting place to encourage civic engagement in young people regardless of gender – we live in a state that currently boasts its second female governor, 4 of 6 constitutional officers are women, and the percentage of women who serve as state senators and representatives is higher than in many other states.  Over the course of the day, young people will learn that our future depends upon the intelligence, creativity, leadership, and energy of all of its citizens, men and women alike.

Over the past years this conference was made possible by the generous support of our Lead Sponsor Travelers

We’d also like to thank other corporations who have contributed to this event:
Aetna
Bank of America
Citizen’s Bank
Connecticut Light & Power
Hartford Courant
Phoenix
Southern Connecticut State University