Partnership with Children

Last week, PS 38 in East Harlem opened its doors to the community for something truly special — a Community Resource Fair that brought families together with the services, support, and connections they need to thrive. Families came and left with access to resources spanning mental health support, immigration services, summer enrichment and camp opportunities, food pantry access, adult education classes, notary services, and Fair Fare application assistance. Real, tangible support all under one roof, all in their school community. And the day was made even brighter by two incredible performances: the Isaac Newton Chorus and the PS/MS 57 Band, who brought joy, pride, and energy to every corner of the room. This is what a Community School looks like in action! Not just a building where children learn but a hub where entire families feel seen, supported, and connected. At Partnership with Children, this is exactly the kind of work we show up for every single day. Special shoutout to our school staff at P.S. 38: Dr. Barbara DeLaleu M., Monica Suarez, LMSW, Samantha Levy, LMSW, and Milenny Almanzar, as well as Principal Carlina Santos-Barton! #communityschools #newyork #mentalhealth #schoolsupport

Behind every student supported, every school strengthened, and every milestone reached, there is a group of people who believe deeply enough in this work to champion it, invest in it, and show up for it year after year.   Our Board of Directors is that group. And as we build toward our 2026 Inspiration Gala on June 2nd at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers we want to take a moment to recognize the leaders who make our work sing every single day.   With profound gratitude, we thank our dedicated board members:   Helena Willner (President) · Jed Finn (Executive Vice President) · David Cohen (Vice President) · Alexandra Murray (Vice President) · Ramneek K Rikhy (Vice President) · André Branch (Treasurer) · Andrew Bettwy (Secretary) · Nelly Akoth · Dan Benardette · Tom Booker · Jill Braufman · Jonathan Fassberg · Omino Gardezi · Patrick Grandinetti · Nancy Hall · Pinar Kip Williamson · Helen Lin · Freddy Rolon · John Walsh · Anu Willoughby   Your counsel, your energy, and your unwavering commitment to New York City's children are what make Partnership with Children's mission not just possible — but powerful.   We are endlessly grateful.    #PartnershipWithChildren #NYCSchools #StudentWellbeing #Leadership #CommunityImpact

Last Friday, the students of P.S. 18 didn't perform someone else's story. They performed their own! Inspired by the theme of "Heroes and Friendship in Television and Movies," students wrote the scripts, composed the lyrics, and choreographed the moves, bringing their own language, their own style, and their own voices to the stage in a school-wide performance that reminded everyone in the room exactly why this work matters. THIS is healing-centered arts education in practice. The goal was never a show but the journey it takes to get there: the collaboration, the creative risk-taking, and the courage it takes to stand in front of your community and say "This is what I made, and it came from me." That process is where the real growth happens. These students showed up for every step of it. None of it happens without the right people in the room. We are deeply grateful to Senator Julia Salazar for funding this work and for staying for the entire performance — that kind of presence means everything to students and staff alike! To Principal Victor Garcia for his steadfast support, and to the PS 18 PTA for showing up for their community. And to our extraordinary teaching artists — Ashlee Doyle (theater), Brian McQueen (music), and Tais Szilagi (dance) — thank you for holding space for these students with such skill, care, and joy. #PartnershipWithChildren #HealingArts #TeachingArtists #PS18 #NYCSchools #StudentVoice #ArtsEducation #SocialEmotionalLearning #CommunitySchools

Four years of showing up. Four years of building trust, centering students, and proving that transformation is possible when a school community truly commits to the work. We are so proud that Origins High School in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn — and the people who make it what it is — were featured in the March 2026 Spotlight by the NYS Community Schools Technical Assistance Center, Fordham University The Center For Educational Partnerships. Community School Director Ericka Tapia Hunter, LMSW has been the steady, visionary force behind four years of growth at Origins. Under her leadership alongside Principal Ahmed E., the school has built something rare: a culture where students don't attend and they LEAD. Grade-specific advisory boards generate and implement ideas that shape school life. Students survey staff, gather peer input, and publish their findings. Last year, their advocacy directly resulted in new clubs, curricular enhancements, and expanded programming. Partnership with Children's own Clinical Director Katie Nicholson was also recognized in the spotlight — a reflection of the deep, sustained partnership PWC has built at Origins. Our staff support crisis de-escalation, restorative practices, and transitions for students returning from suspension. We are embedded in the school's weekly Care Team, working side by side with school counselors, social workers, deans, and administrators to ensure no student falls through the cracks. The work goes even further. Students at Origins have traveled on HBCU and Freedom Ride tours. They've celebrated their communities through an Arabic Café and a Kindness Campaign. They've cooked vegan crab cakes and "moxtails" in culinary sessions rooted in cultural knowledge. They've been seen, challenged, and celebrated — every single week. As Principal Elmaliki put it simply and powerfully: "Without our team, we couldn't do any of this." This is what the Community Schools model looks like when it works. This is the crux of our mission. And we couldn't be prouder to be part of it. 🔗 Read the full spotlight here: https://lnkd.in/ekzBBtd5 #CommunitySchools #NYCPublicSchools #StudentWellbeing #MentalHealth #TraumaInformedCare #WholeChildEducation

We love seeing our team show up beyond the school building — and two weeks ago, two of our own did exactly that! Magan Mccarthy-Hayes, Social Work Director at IS 49, joined a powerful panel of real-world social work practitioners at the 2025-2026 Elizabeth Dubovsky Fellowship in Social Work celebration — a collaborative event hosted by Person Centered Care Services, THE STATEN ISLAND FOUNDATION, and the City University of New York-College of Staten Island. The panel brought together community leaders to discuss what social work looks like on the ground, with young people, in real communities. Also on the program: our very own teaching artist Traci Molloy, whose work needs very little introduction (but we'll try!). Traci has exhibited collaborations with young people at the United Nations, the Pentagon, the The Bronx Museum of the Arts, and the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. Her session guided attendees through identifying their own "superhero" strengths — exactly the kind of healing-centered, youth-focused practice that defines her work and ours. We love seeing upcoming social workers recognized and our trailblazing colleagues lead the way. #SchoolSocialWork #TeachingArtist #StatenIsland #StudentWellbeing #HealingArts

What happens when you put an award-winning author in a room with middle schoolers who have something to say? Magic, apparently! Students at John Ericsson Middle School (MS 126) recently sat down with Mark Oshiro, author of the 2019 Schneider Family Book Award winner "Anger Is a Gift," co-author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller "The Sun and the Star" with Rick Riordan, and, most recently, "You Only Live Once, David Bravo". They came with questions about publishing, the writing process, and what it really means to lean into your differences — and Mark delivered. For young people still figuring out who they are, hearing an author talk openly about embracing what makes you different is the kind of affirmation that sticks and we're so excited experiences like this get to shape our students' lives. #AuthorVisit #MarkOshiro #NYCSchools #StudentVoice #LiteracyMatters

At MS 126, Partnership with Children’s Social Work Director Amanda Padilla, LMSW, SIFI recently wrapped a multi-week restorative circle training designed to help students show up more fully in advisory — for themselves and for each other. Week after week, students learned to open up, share their feelings, and build the kind of trust that doesn’t happen overnight. Restorative practices aren’t just a social-emotional tool — they’re a skill set. When students learn how to express themselves, listen actively, and engage in honest dialogue, they carry that capacity into every classroom, every relationship, and every challenge they face. This is what it looks like when we invest in the whole child. Not just academic outcomes, but the emotional infrastructure that makes those outcomes possible. We are so proud of the students at MS 126! 🧡 #RestorativePractices #StudentWellbeing #SocialEmotionalLearning #NYCSchools #WholeChildEducation

We are thrilled to announce Ryu Yokoi as a 2026 Inspiration Gala Honoree! As Chief Media and Marketing Capability Officer for Unilever NA, Ryu brings more than two decades of leadership across the media and retail marketing industries — shaping some of the world's most recognized names, including Dove Men+Care, Hellmann's, and Degree. He's spent his career at the intersection of culture and commerce, building campaigns that don't just reach people — they move them. But what makes Ryu's story uniquely meaningful to us is where it begins: growing up in Queens, finding his footing in NYC Public Schools, and discovering early on that creativity and confidence are two of the most powerful tools a young person can carry. That belief never left him. As a leader in the media industry who has spent two decades proving that bold, culturally resonant ideas create real impact, Ryu knows what becomes possible when young people are given the space to develop their voice — and the support to use it. A Japanese Colombian American and proud Queens native, now a father of two, Ryu's commitment to Partnership with Children is both personal and purposeful. We're excited to be partnering with him and bringing him home to invest in students who are just beginning their own journey — because at the end of the day, Ryu is and always will be the Queens kid who never forgot where he came from. 🧡 Join us on June 2 – register or make a donation today! #mentalhealth #honoree #announcement #marketingleadership #newyorkschools

Austin was just the beginning! Last week, we took the SXSW EDU stage to talk about four years of healing-based arts education in 4 Brownsville schools...and what it proved about what kids can do when they're given the tools, the space, and the stage. The full Student Voice and Engagement (SVE) program outcomes report drops soon and it's going to change the game on showcasing what healing arts can do in schools. Follow along so you don't miss it. #ArtsEducation #HealingArts #SXSWedu #StudentVoice #ComingSoon Tal Bar-Zemer Camille Simone Thomas Wesner Pierre

Lunch period doesn't sound like much. But for a middle schooler navigating a full day of academics, emotions, and social dynamics, that 30-45 minutes can make or break the rest of the day. At Fannie Lou Hamer Middle School, PWC Community School Director Romaine Kelly figured that out and built something beautiful around it! Romaine and her team created Community Hour: a dedicated space during lunch where 6th - 8th graders can decompress, connect, and just be kids. Board games. Raffles for superb attendance. Genuine one-on-one support for every student who walks through the door. It sounds simple. But anyone who works with young people knows that a consistent, caring presence in the middle of the school day is anything but simple. This is the kind of programming that doesn't always make headlines, but absolutely shapes outcomes. When students feel settled at lunch, they return to class ready to learn. When they feel seen, they show up differently. This is Partnership with Children at its best! #CommunitySchools #SocialEmotionalLearning #NYCSchools #StaffSpotlight