Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities

The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities stands with the 28 protected classes under our law. Read our op ed at https://ctmirror.org/2025/02/04/chro-full-steam-ahead-on-civil-rights-enforcement/ and read our statement on Transgender Students' Rights in CT here. #CivilRightsUnites

Kids Court Academy

This year was the fourth year of the Kids Court Academy! The Kids Court Academy (KCA) is a series of online workshops and experiences for middle and high school students to learn about civil rights and engage in deep discussions with their peers from around the state. 

More information about the Kids Court Academy can be found here.

Kids Speak and Kids Court 

The Kids Court Essay Competition provides an opportunity for students to write a short essay on one of five civil rights topics.  Students are not required to participate in Kids Court Academy in order to compete in the Kids Court Essay Competition. Students with the top essays from Middle School and the top essays from High School will be selected as finalists to present their papers before a panel of judges. 

Last year's winners were:

Middle School, Grades 6-8

  1. Varan Arjun Tamilselvan, from Renbrook School, Farmingon 

  2. Leila Chaar, from Roger Ludlowe Middle School, Fairfield CT

  3. Aakash Kumar, from Irving A. Robbins Middle School, Farmington CT

High School, Grades 9-12:

  1. Lalitha Papanasam, from Farmington High School, Farmington CT
  2. Henvika Reddy Ramireddy Gari, from Farmington High School, Farmington CT
  3. Jacqueline Pena, from New Britain High School, New Britain CT

The 2026 Kids Court topics are:

  • Unhoused: Help!
  • Immigration Crises Emergency (ICE)
  • Hands up, See me, Protect my peace
  • Speak to me!!
  • Don't Bully, Be a Buddy
  • LGBTQIA+ - We Hear You!!

More information about 2026 Kids Court can be found here. 

The scoring rubric for the essays can be found here. 

 

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