Family Leader Spotlight
Stephan Palmer
Hartford, Connecticut
PLTI Graduate, Hartford Class of 2015
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Turning Lived Experience into Leadership
Stephan Palmer, a 2015 graduate of the Hartford Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), has spent the past decade transforming his lived experience into lasting change for children and families. From helping hundreds of youth and fathers in Hartford to shaping statewide housing and economic policies, Stephan shows what parent leadership in action looks like.
His advocacy also continues through Youth on Fire, the organization he founded to mentor youth, support single fathers, and strengthen families. As creative director, Stephan works to inspire young people and guide fathers toward stability, connection, and opportunity.
Building a Blueprint for Change
When Stephan joined PLTI, he was already active in his community but looking for the structure to make a deeper impact.
“PLTI showed me how to put things in order,” he explains. “It taught me to build a team, find funding, and partner with others to make the work sustainable.”
PLTI’s focus on civic understanding and networking left a lasting mark. Stephan learned how to collaborate with City Hall, agencies, and local stakeholders. These skills continue to guide his approach to connecting fathers and youth with resources that open doors for them and strengthen their communities.
Fatherhood, Housing, and Hope
Since graduating, Stephan has worked with more than 300 youth, helping them return to school, open bank accounts, prepare for college, and secure their first jobs. He has also supported more than 100 fathers in reconnecting with their children, understanding court documents, and accessing life-coaching supports.
Stephan’s leadership in housing justice has grown through NPLI’s collaboration with the Melville Charitable Trust. As a partner of Connecticut’s Parent Housing Table, he has played a central role in shaping conversations about housing policy and equity across the state.
He co-presented at the 2023 Partnership for Strong Communities Housing Conference and participated in a Parent Housing Table convening where then-Deputy Housing Commissioner Brendan McGhee joined as a guest speaker. Stephan also co-led a Community Café on Housing, where partners from the Partnership for Strong Communities shared data, and community members discussed how people with lived experience can have a voice on boards and commissions that make housing decisions.
Through this ongoing collaboration with the Melville Charitable Trust, Stephan helped contribute to a statewide housing policy agenda that prioritizes Housing the Houseless, Rent Stabilization, Home Ownership, and Affordable Housing.
“Working with one person at a time can bring change,” Stephan says. “That’s how community grows.”
From Hartford to the National Stage
Stephan’s advocacy extends across many statewide and national spaces. For more than a decade he has contributed to Connecticut’s Two Gen initiative, where he supported legislative reform designed to strengthen families and communities. He has served as a panelist in forums on juvenile justice, housing reform, and fatherhood, and has spoken at youth empowerment rallies, fatherhood conferences, and community healing events.
His national leadership includes roles as a Parent Consultant with the Children’s Defense Fund and a contributor to the Ascend at the Aspen Institute Post-Secondary Success for Parents Initiative. He also helped launch a fatherhood initiative in Mexico, sharing his experience and belief in community-driven change.
In Connecticut, Stephan has also been a consistent voice for family policy as a Parent Consultant on the Two-Gen Advisory Board, Co-Founder of the Two-Gen Parent Academy, and member of Hartford’s Mayor’s Cabinet. He also played a key role in statewide efforts focused on the Child Tax Credit and Guaranteed Basic Income, bringing a parent’s perspective to conversations about economic justice, which support positive economic impact for Connecticut children and families.
Honoring a Leader Who Continues to Rise
This past November, Stephan reached several meaningful milestones that reflect his dedication to Hartford’s families. He received the Circle of Hope Award from the Anna Kobylarz Hope Foundation and was also presented with a State Citation from Governor Ned Lamont, which recognized his outstanding dedication, compassion, and service to the community.
Two days later, he graduated from the Hartford Leadership Academy, a moment that marked the next step in his journey as a mentor, advocate, and community leader.
These honors celebrate the depth of his impact and his steady presence in efforts that bring hope, healing, and opportunity to his community.
A Lifelong Connection to PLTI
“PLTI isn’t just a 20-week course; it’s a lifetime of connection,” Stephan reflects. “You build friendships and partnerships that keep growing every year.”
To those considering joining, he offers simple advice:
“If you’re already doing the work, why not gain the tools to do it effectively?”
Nearly ten years after graduation, Stephan remains deeply connected, sharing his expertise, mentoring new parent leaders, and continuing to model civic leadership rooted in empathy, equity, and lived experience.
His journey also shows the long-term impact of PLTI. Many graduates continue leading years after the program ends, using what they learned to influence policy, strengthen families, and create opportunities in their communities. Stephan’s work is one example of how these ripples of leadership continue to grow over time.
Celebrating Parent Leadership in Action
Stephan’s story reminds us that meaningful change begins when parents see themselves as leaders. His dedication to fathers, families, and housing equity exemplifies the heart of NPLI’s mission: equipping parents with the civic tools to transform communities for the better.
Stories like Stephan’s show why the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) is such a cornerstone of NPLI’s work. The skills, relationships, and confidence developed through PLTI continue to ripple outward long after graduation, strengthening families, shaping policy, and transforming systems. This lasting impact is why we strive to bring PLTI to more communities nationwide, ensuring every parent has the opportunity to lead change where they live.
We are proud to celebrate Stephan Palmer and the countless parent leaders across the country who continue to prove that when parents lead, communities thrive.
To learn more about Stephan’s work, visit the Youth on Fire website or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.