Author Archives: tdintrone

At the Tribeca Film Fest, a Big Debut

July 15, 2014 | Leave a reply

“There were three of us at first,” said Beatrice Winston, 18. “We were freshmen, all shy and scared.” The three girls, each struggling with her sexual identity, felt very alone in their new school. But they found courage in each other and decided to start an LGBTQ club. One by one, other teens joined. A social worker at their school agreed to facilitate the club, which
became a safe haven.

When the club had the opportunity to make a short film, through a partnership between The Child Center of NY’s Beacon Center in Far Rockaway and The Tribeca Film Institute, they knew exactly what they wanted it to say. Continue reading →

Getting in the Spirit of College

July 8, 2014 | Leave a reply

Banners, school songs, mascots: Kids at the Beacon Center at MS226 invented all of these to stage a mock “homecoming” recently.

According to site director Angelika Peacock, this is just a small step at getting college into the kids’ psyche.

“Kids in this neighborhood don’t picture themselves at college,” says program director Angelika Peacock. “Most don’t even know anyone who has gone to college. This is just a fun activity. But it’s part of a much bigger effort to get kids thinking seriously about their futures.” Continue reading →

Preparing for 21st Century Jobs

July 8, 2014 | Leave a reply

“All the boys wanted to build websites about sneakers and basketball,” laughs Adrianna Rodriguez, a youth counselor and tech whiz, who recently taught a class on computer coding at our Parsons Beacon Center.

While sneakers might have gotten the kids interested in making a website, only hard work made it happen. “Coding really
taught them attention to detail,” said Adrianna, an undergraduate at Devry University, who grew up in Jamaica, Queens. “If one line was messed up, the whole thing wouldn’t work.”

Seeing the end result got them hooked. Continue reading →

Roger Altman Honored at The Child Center Annual Gala

July 8, 2014 | Leave a reply

Israel Cortez, whose two children attended our Head Start programs, was a special guest and speaker at The Child Center’s annual gala, held in Manhattan on April 23.

He told guests that our program not only helped his kids, but also helped him be a better parent who was more involved with his kids’ lives at home and at school.

“Without The Child Center’s coaching, I don’t think I would have had the confidence to be that kind of dad,” Cortez said.

Roger Altman, was the gala’s honoree and David Faber of CNBC was master of ceremonies.

The highlight of the evening came when Head Start alumnus Sergio, age 5, his sister, and mother Delia, presented Altman with his award. Step dancers from PS 223 performed an original piece called “Hopes for the Future.”

Going Straight to the Top

July 5, 2014 | Leave a reply

Q: How do you get to CBS Studios?
A: Start your own YouTube channel.

That was the advice from CBS staff to students in the service-learning program at August Martin High School, who recently toured the studios.

“They suggested that students interested in a career in broadcasting create commentaries on the news, and make PSAs,” says program director Brian Davis. Continue reading →

Recent Media Coverage

May 15, 2014 | Leave a reply

The Child Center has had some wonderful media coverage recently, on NY 1 and in the New York Times.

On NY 1
When NY 1 did a segment on cyber bullying, they interviewed one of our therapists and also featured our after-school Tolerance Project.

The New York Times
An Aid Program all too Often Neglected

The Child Center offers families help access services that can make all the difference to their lives. In this story, New York Times journalist Paula Span interviews our Single Stop director Diane Gonzales about she helps people sign up for food stamps in 20 minutes.

Recent Media Coverage

May 15, 2014 | Leave a reply

The Child Center has had some wonderful media coverage recently, on NY 1 and in the New York Times.

On NY 1
When NY 1 did a segment on cyber bullying, they interviewed one of our therapists and also featured our after-school Tolerance Project.

Continue reading →

The New Giving: Celebrating a Birthday by Helping Children

May 13, 2014 | Leave a reply

When Morris Bankston was a kid in Queens in the 80s, life was good. “I grew up in a middle-class African American family,” he says. “My father was a software engineer and had a well-paying job.”

But when his parents divorced, life got much harder. His mother took custody of him and his younger sister, and for more than a year, the three lived on welfare, barely making ends meet. Bit by bit, their lives improved. Morris did well in school went on to college at Purdue, then got an MBA. Today, he has a good job and a good life.

Continue reading →