Brooklyn Family - March 2024

MARCH 2024

NEWYORKFAMILY.COM

Spring Fun Blossoms!

Our bucket list guide to getting the most out of the season

Big City Dreams

Joelle Garguilo, mom of two and Emmy-winning reporter, on her love for small businesses, why you should give your dreams a chance and why there really is no place like New York

Why Kids Learn Lasting Lessons at

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March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

3

CONTENTS

MARCH 2024

NewYorkFamily.com

pg. 24

pg. 28

pg. 14

pg. 26

FEATURES

STORIES & COLUMNS

8 | Tech Staying safe online

6 | Editor’s Letter

10 | Money The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act

FAMILY FUN 28 | Calendar All the fun activities for March

19 | Sports Sports for Girls 22 | Family Fun Spring NYC bucket list

12 | Mom Stories Raising Jewish kids 14 | Camp 20 lessons from camp we use every day

pg. 22

ON THE COVER

DIRECTORIES 16 | Camp Listings

Photo: Yumi Matsuo | yumimatsuostudio.com Hair & Makeup: Ammy Chan | ammychan.com Cover Story: Cris Pearlstein | crispearlstein.com

20 | Education The advantages of Charter Schools

Produced by: Donna Duarte- Ladd

24 | Career Pivots How to (re)light your fire

Wardrobe credit: White dress & brown jacket @ ExclusiveTagsNYC

26 | Cover Joelle Garguilo and her big city dreams

4 NewYorkFamily.com | March 2024

Shot on location at: Edge, 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

Jewelry credit: Poetry of Material Things, Katherine Lincoln Jewelry

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March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

5

EDITOR’S NOTE

Nina Gallo Photography

Blooming

Winter finally showed up in New York, and while we still have chilly days ahead of us, March is a season of transition where warmer temperatures take us out of hibernation, and the city starts to bloom.

Warmer weather means summer will soon be here (really, remember when we were just talking about Back to School?!). We have a helpful list of Summer Camps (page 14) worth checking out for the kids!

There is little debate that sports plays a pivotal role in girls’ lives. Sports contribute to their physical, mental, and social development. Check out our picks of some cool classes (page 19) and programs in your neighborhood.

This month, it is International Women’s

Day on March 8th. We celebrate women every day, and in the spirit of transitions, we have a helpful piece (page 24) on Career Pivots and making changes, small or big.

Speaking of career shifts, our cover mom for March, Joelle Garguilo (page 26), WABC’s new Entertainment Reporter and mom of two, started her journey as an Emmy-Winning reporter with a wish she would whisper to herself her dream to work in television while working as an accountant.

Joelle also shares about parenting her two daughters, supporting local businesses, and why you should give your dreams a chance.

Donna

PUBLISHER: Clifford Luster EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Donna Duarte-Ladd ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Erin Brof ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Stacie Goldberg DEPUTY EDITOR: Jeannine Cintron DIGITAL EDITOR: Kaitlyn Riggio EVENTS MANAGER: Shara Levine EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Shara Levine PARTNERSHIP MANAGERS: Lauren Alperin, Lauren Anchin, Joan Bergman, Mary Cassidy, Suzanne Cirigliano, Chris Cunnington, Lori Falco, Shelli Goldberg-Peck, LynnMarie Hanley, Lisa Herlihy, Nicole Miller, Janine Mulé, Nina Spiegelman, Gwen Tomaselli MARKETING & STRATEGY DIRECTOR: Rosalia Bobé MARKETING & EVENTS ASSISTANT: Ashley Rivera SALES & MARKETING ASSISTANT: Elana Cantor MARKETING ASSISTANT: Tilejah Gilead MEDIA SALES ASSISTANT: Anastasia Aktipis ART DIRECTOR: Leah Mitch WEB DEVELOPER: Sylvan Migdal GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Arthur Arutyunov, Connie Sulsenti EDITORS AT LARGE: Serena Norr, Cris Pearlstein EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Jana Beauchamp, Mia Salas

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6 NewYorkFamily.com | March 2024

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March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

7

tech

A Guide to Staying Safe Online

Make Use of Parental Controls Learn about the parental controls available on different apps, web browsers and devices.

Turn on options like SafeSearch on Google to limit what search results get kicked back to your child, or teach them about child-friendly search engines like Swiggle or Kids-search.

Look into options like YouTube Kids, which offer more contained environments.

Save your child’s favorite websites to the favorites tab so they can navigate to them on their own. While not foolproof, using these controls can make the internet a little more contained for your kids.

By Kaitlyn Riggio

I

n this day and age, the internet is pretty inescapable. Kids are starting to go online at younger and younger ages. With this in mind, staying safe on the internet is more important than ever.

The idea of letting kids go on the internet can be pretty nerve-wracking, especially when the internet is so huge and there’s so much out of our control. But there are ways to make surfing the web safer for kids and steps you can take as a parent to make the experience safer.

Here are some tips for parents to help their kids stay safe online.

Set Guidelines For Your Child’s Internet Use In your house, you’re the internet service provider for your young children. When your children are first starting to use the internet, set guidelines for what sites or programs they’re allowed to use, when they’re allowed to be online and who they’re allowed to connect with.

This can (and should) become more flexible as they get older, but it’s good to have a framework when young children are first starting to go online.

Review Apps and Sites Before Your Kids Use Them It’s a good idea to vet websites and apps before your young children use them. Establish an expectation that young children ask permission before visiting a website or downloading an app and then review them before giving them permission.

Many app stores, like Apple’s App Store or Google Play, have the ability to passwordprotect app downloading. This can add an extra layer of security to make sure you can review apps before your kids download them.

Put Limits on Screen Time Limits on screen time can be beneficial for everyone: children, teens and adults. Many devices come equipped with features that track and limit screen time.

Encourage your kids to have fun with

8 NewYorkFamily.com | March 2024

Emphasize Password Safety As your children get old enough to have their own passwords, teach them about the importance of keeping their passwords secure.

Explain to them why passwords are important tools against identity theft and that they shouldn’t be shared with anyone, even someone who you think is your best friend. Try to avoid saving passwords to devices when possible.

activities that don’t involve a screen, and try to phrase screens out before bedtime every night.

And lead by example by encouraging family time that doesn’t revolve around a screen.

Establish an Open Line of Communication Have conversations with your kids about what they’re doing and who they’re communicating with online, and keep these conversations going as your kids get older.

If you establish this open communication now, your kids will be more likely to come to you for help later if they need help with a situation online.

Monitor Internet Use When Possible A simple way to monitor internet use for young children is to set up the family computer in the living room or another common space. But if your child has a tablet of their own, this can get more complicated.

Depending on the age of the child, you can establish rules about where they’re allowed to use the tablet. There are also apps you can install to monitor the tablet’s usage.

While these rules will ease as your kids get older, it’s a good idea to monitor their internet use when they’re young.

Use Social Networks Safely When your child gets old enough to have their own social media accounts, help them make them to ensure they’re set up for a safe experience. Have your children use privacy settings, and add your children as friends from your own profile. Occasionally take a look at your kid’s friend’s list to make sure they aren’t being added by strangers.

Watch What You Post Teach your children to not post personal information online, like their full name, age, birthday, phone number, where they live and more.

And this is a good rule to follow as an adult, too. Lead by example by checking to make sure the things you post online don’t contain any identifying information.

Watch Your Family’s Digital Footprint It’s important to remember that the internet is forever, and that anything posted can’t be truly erased. Children and teens need to be taught to be smart about the information and images they post online.

And this is also true for parents who post pictures of their children online regularly. Stay in control of your digital footprint by only sharing things online with people you know and trust, and teach your children to do the same.

Helpful resource kidshealth.org/en/parents/ net-safety

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March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

9

Money

What is the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act? We break down the 2024 plan

By BaBara russo

W

e all are experincing higher grocery bills, kids’ clothing costs have increased, many essential cost of living expenses continue to go up. With inflation still increasing and not many families receiving pay raises to cover the cost of living, many parents wonder if a new federal child tax credit may return. The tax relief you may be hearing about is similar to the one from 2021 that helped struggling families across the country, and it might return, maybe, if a new bipartisan proposal comes to life. For many families, this will provide some much-needed financial assistance. Here’s what parents need to know.

The proposal is a joint Democrat and Republican effort (yes, you heard that right) to help lower-income families, but it also includes support for businesses. At press time the bill was passed by the US House of Representetives. The next step would be for the Senate to pass the bill. If it goes into law, it would revive the child tax credit from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, according to The Economic Times.

Here are some highlights of the plan, which is called the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, according to a press release from the U.S. Senate: • Supports working families with an enhanced child tax credit • Expands innovation and competitiveness with economic policies like research and development expensing • Rebuild communities struck by disasters with tax relief • Enhances the low-income housing tax credit • Eliminates fraud and waste by ending the Employee Retention Tax Credit program

10 NewYorkFamily.com | March 2024

“American families will benefit from this bipartisan agreement that provides greater tax relief, strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China, and creates jobs,” Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, (R-MO), said. “We even provide disaster relief and cut red tape for small businesses, while ending a COVID-era program that’s costing taxpayers billions in fraud.”

How will it help families?

The proposed tax credit most likely won’t be exactly like the original. But there are elements to the plan that will help lowerincome families.

First, the deal would expand access to child tax credit. There would be phased increases to the refundable portion of the child tax credit for 2023, 2024 and 2025. There would be no penalties for larger families (thus ensuring the credit phase-in is applied fairly to families with multiple children).

Under current law, the maximum refundable child tax credit is limited to

$1,600 per child for 2023. This proposed deal would increase the maximum refundable amount per child to $1,800 in tax year 2023, $1,900 in tax year 2024, and $2,000 in tax year 2025.

The plan also details that there would be flexibility for taxpayers. They could use either current or prior-year income to calculate the child tax credit in 2024 or 2025.

The credit would also be adjusted for inflation starting in 2024.

“Sixteen million kids from low-income families will be better off as a result of this plan, and given today’s miserable political climate, it’s a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), said.

For more information, visit senate finance website, which provides technical information about the plan.

Additional reporting by Donna DuarteLadd

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11

MOM STORIES

Raising Jewish Kids

BY DANIELLA RABBANI

M

y son’s name, “Ness,” means “miracle.” He’s six and a half. His existence, like that of many Jews alive today, is miraculous. And I know that sounds like hyperbole. But when you look at my family line, it’s clear.

My maternal grandparents survived the Holocaust. How? I’ll never know. Their stories of survival, having each lost their mothers to the war, was something they kept inside their entire lives.. In the nearly 100 years of each of their lives, they couldn’t ever utter their own stories. My father is a Yom Kippur War veteran who lost his best friends and first cousin fighting for Israel. He narrowly survived. When I say my life and my children’s lives are miracles, I mean it. The other miracle is that my son is steadfast in his Judaism, even though I often waver.

Ness is proud of his name. And his Judaism. He’s proud of his Sabba, my father, who speaks English with a thick Israeli accent. He is proud to celebrate Chanuka instead of Christmas. He has always been that way. He never seemed to struggle with

12 NewYorkFamily.com | March 2024

religion the way I did and the way I still do today. (A very Jewish thing indeed. The very name “Israel” means to struggle with God.) I wish I had his conviction.

As a toddler, my son used to play with a small Israeli flag. Waving it and dancing.

I don’t know where he got it, but it was his favorite toy. In May 2021, amidst ongoing fighting between Gaza and Israel, he sweetly tried to bring it into his Montessori preschool. I didn’t realize it before but when the pink-haired school teacher opened the door to greet us, I panicked. A week earlier this teacher felt like my people — progressive, liberal, wildly creative. And now, with the rise of blatant antisemitism on my beloved Left, this pink-haired young teacher could be someone who hates me, a Jewish woman of Israeli descent. So, I ripped the flag out of his little hand. He cried, and I joked, “the Jewish people have been through worse!” I was afraid for him, my then four-year-old.

At the time, during this flare-up in Israel, I was seeing on social media (where I do much of my work) what the world really thought of us: “colonizers,” “baby killers,” “evil Zionists,” etc., etc. etc. I just didn’t want

my little boy associated with any of that.

How would they treat him in school if they believed his family to be the absolute worst of society?

That year, we went to the craft store Michael’s to get art supplies. They had a Star of David Wreath, and Ness begged me to buy it. I did. His enthusiasm was so cute! But when he asked me to put it up on the front door of our apartment, I drew the line. I had to do this for our safety.

Nessy’s affinity for Judaism, Hebrew, and Israel has remained strong even when my own faith has wavered. In fact, his Hebrew school teacher confided in me, saying we may have a Rabbi on our hands. I think he may be right.

The boy’s got charm and an understanding of life like he’s been here before. But most of all, he has Jewish Pride.

I picked him up from school the other day. He goes to public school now. He pointed to a painting he made in class. A Chanukia (8 candles and the Shamash) with four Stars of David in the background. I asked him why he made it. “Because we’re Jewish!” he said as two assistant teachers passed wearing Kafiyas.

The naches (a Yiddish word that means a special brand of heart-clenching Jewish pride and joy). And slight panic. I was raised on the stories of the Holocaust. I knew all about Chanoch, my father’s 19-year-old cousin who

died in his arms in the Yom Kippur War. The television stayed on for weeks when Rabin was assassinated. There is enough Jewish trauma to last lifetimes. I know that Ness will find this out for himself in time. And when he does, it will be a shock either way, won’t it? I’m 39 years old and I still can’t wrap my head around antisemitism. It just doesn’t make sense, despite the fact that I know very well that it exists. There are parents, I know, who tell their kids early and often that people don’t like Jews. And they are so smart, and I envy their ease in that conversation. But for me, I’ll wait to break the news, which I know could take his innocence from him. For now, Ness is working on his foundation. His core.

He is rooted in the love of his culture, and I’m just not ready to rip the flag out of his hand again.

One practical bit of advice I can relay is that I don’t allow Ness to wear his Star of David necklace anymore. The one my dad gave him. Or the necklace with his name in Hebrew. I’m not with him all day, so I can’t protect him from the crazies. And I haven’t told him why. I know some parenting experts

I’ll let him know that his love and pride, and joy in being Jewish is the important thing. might scoff at that but I’m not regulated enough around this issue to convey a sense of calm and safety. When I do I’ll let him know that antisemitism is a “them” problem. A sickness, like any deep-seated hate, that is not his riddle to solve. I’ll let him know that his love and pride, and joy in being Jewish is the important thing. And that he has in spades.

In the Vedas, the ancient Indian texts, I learned about something called “valid inquiry.” The teaching suggests not sharing precious knowledge until an individual expresses “valid inquiry,” meaning they’re ready, willing, and able to receive the download. In the case of antisemitism and my young children, I’d add, “is it necessary?”

When they see cop cars outside of the synagogue, do they ask questions about our

safety? No. We live in New York City. Cop cars don’t phase them. Ok. Well, what if they see antisemitic graffiti, and I’m visibly upset?

Well then, perhaps it’s time to have an ageappropriate chat.

For the non-Jewish reader: first, thank you for your care in reading. You may not know the cellular feeling of having been hunted down like prey for thousands of years.

Likely you do not. I do though. It isn’t present for me all the time. It turns on when I hear Hamas leaders tell the world of their mission to rid the world of Jews. And it’ll turn on for my kids when they learn of the Holocaust in their fifth-grade public school class. This is how epigenetics work. Epigenetics is the study of inherited trauma as well as inherited resilience. So I have a few years to marinate in the joys of Judaism with Ness. And since I know he is with safe adults at all times at school or camp, I’ll let him be blissfully ignorant. So that his brain and body can feel as safe in the world as humanly possible.

That, I believe, will set him up for success in life. Not the awareness of threat but the solid sense of safety.

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March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

13

Camp

20 Lessons from Camp We Use Every Day

By Stacey eBert

I

f you’ve ever been a camper, counselor, worked at a camp, or knew someone who did, you know there’s something special about the anticipation of summer camp.

Many live 10 months for two, waiting for the minute they can fling off their school backpacks and run full speed ahead toward their summer home. Sleepaway evenings are spent around a campfire. Day camp afternoons are filled with special activities and snack-time galore. There’s canteen and cabin nights, swimming and sports competitions, whimsical adventure and waterfront fun.

Ask those of us who went to camp (no matter how long ago it was) and you’ll find smiles, friendships cultivated, and words to songs that we can sing at a moment’s notice.

We can tell you about our beloved counselors, reminisce about a shared past, and recall our fondest camp memories. We went to camp, our lives have been enriched, and we want others to share the same experience. There’s wisdom in summer camp and it seems that it’s not until we leave that we realize the weight of so many of its gifts.

Today, there are lessons from camp I use every day. There were, of course, the tangible lessons, such as learning to swim and clearing your plate from the table, but the most important lessons may be the ones you can’t see.

Be the Change Spending time with people from different places provides a time to share stories and hear various ways of life. At camp, kids learn that if there is an unfair practice somewhere (whether it’s how the captains for a team are picked or that a friend might struggle with a difficult home life), the way to make a difference is to listen, get involved, and act with a kind heart.

Have Patience In my Counselor-In-Training program, we did many activities that continue to apply to life

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today. One was an exercise in giving directions. While some had to write directions, others had to draw a map. It showed us how people view things, learn, and deliver information differently.

Include and Value People Whether it’s day or sleepaway, camp showcases fun and inclusivity for all. Regardless of the activity or role, kids quickly learn there is a vital place for everyone. There are the experts at storytelling, acting, geocaching, swimming, arts and crafts, sports, and ropes courses, and others who are able to have their firsts in these experiences. There are cooks and maintenance workers, nurses and swim staff, directors and CITs, bus drivers and office staff, and campers and counselors from every walk of life—and everyone plays a vital role in making camp the special space it is. Knowing she is valued and that she matters is something your child takes with her when the camp gates close at the end of the summer.

Embrace Diversity and Don’t Judge At camp, I met counselors from Camp

America (a camp counselor exchange program) whose accents and histories were different from mine. My friends and fellow campers all had different religions and came from varying socio-economic backgrounds.

Whether listening to stories around the fire or having snack time chats with counselors, the message gets across: Each upbringing is different and each struggle or triumph should be valued equally.

Laugh, Sing, Dance, and Dream Whether he’s laughing at a friend’s story, finding his feet in a new choreographed move, working his lungs in the talent show, or staring at the lake dreaming of what’s to come, camp offers your child the magic of creativity, wonder, and imagination. With much needed downtime away from the stressors of school and the pull of screens, parts of the brain awaken that foster the artist and dreamer in him.

Cultivate Independence Camp helps kids find themselves. She’s away from home, but cared for, fed, and provided

with a safe space. Little by little, she takes her first steps at independence. With each summer, the scary becomes less so and her confidence builds. Cultivating your child’s independence in a safe environment at an early age leads to strong personal development and continued growth.

Step Outside Your Comfort Zone Whatever it was that seems different, terrifying, or impossible is achievable at camp. I learned to swim at camp and later became a lifeguard and aquatics director. I was petrified of spiders and have subsequently gone bush camping in subSaharan Africa and the Australian Outback.

Leaving home for camp was difficult the first time, but it made going away to college that much easier. He’ll learn that although experiences may be filled with nervous anticipation at the start, what he gets when he reaches the other side of that fear is priceless.

Be True to Yourself My three closest friends (from camp) and I are each incredibly different. In our youth, we were an equitation lover, a farm fanatic, a waterfront fiend, and a fan of arts and crafts, and we rarely chose the same activities. There were four different religious beliefs, four different hometowns, varied socio-economic backgrounds, unique style senses, each with a different conglomeration of immediate family, and yet, 30 years later we’re still on each other’s speed dials.

The Simple Things Matter Most of All Camp is ghost stories and campfires, beach days and arts and crafts, free swim and nature hikes and sea glass hunting and searching for shooting stars. Without the need for high tech screens, the camp experience reminds kids that it’s the simple things that matter most.

Treat Others How You’d Like to Be Treated At camp, as in life, kindness matters.

Campers learn lessons of working as a team, sharing kindness, and trying to lift others up on a regular basis. The overall message of treating others as you’d like to be treated flows through the day’s activities from cabin chores to sharing the last bits of chocolate for a s’more.

Take Time Out for Yourself Day camps have snack time and many sleep-

away camps have canteen or time to relax, recuperate, and rejuvenate. This translates years later to a community of people who know they need to listen to their bodies, take a break at times, and care for themselves.

Believe in Yourself Staff members believe in campers and often propel them to believe in themselves. Knowing someone believes in him at a young age stays with a child—it’s what he will grab onto as an adult when things get tough. People believing in you so fiercely makes you believe in yourself.

Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Things I learned to silkscreen, went on my first hike, took my first horseback ride, and took a fearful plunge off of a 10-foot boulder into open water—all for my first time at camp.

Knowing there is always someone there to encourage her to take the plunge, hold her hand, and catch her if she falls (literally and figuratively) makes the anticipation of trying new things easier. Later in life, being scared but plunging ahead anyway takes many different forms. Whether it’s starting a new school, a first job, learning to drive, or going away to college, those lessons from camp stay with her—always.

We All Have Talents He might be the best at finding bugs along the nature trail. She might love to build things, create stories, or solve problems. He might be the best listener, give the best hugs, or love to help others find their smile. Camp provides outlets for all to find their talents, embrace them, and continue to thrive.

Life Is What You Make of It Sometimes at camp it rains for a week straight. Here she learns she can be miserable, sulk in her cabin, and be negative about the weather. Or she can learn to dance in the rain, find the joy of splashing in puddles and playing in the mud, and listen to the soothing sounds of the water as it hits the leaves. Life is what you make of it—be mindful, turn the negatives into positives, and always leave the place you’re in a little better than how you found it.

Show Compassion and Learn Empathy At camp, I met people who were different from me, which helped shape my perspective of the world and my place in it. For two weeks each summer there were kids living in foster

care in New York City who came to camp.

For many, it was their first time to see a large body of water or to work on a farm. For those two weeks we all had a fabulous time at camp—just like any other two-week session.

Camp allowed relationships to grow, people’s stories were shared, and we learned that people most certainly do change people.

Share What You Have I’ve officially been borrowing my best friend’s clothes since the age of 12. Flip flops made their rounds and whatever sweatshirt one could grab in the morning became yours for the day. We shared hair dryers, stories, canteen money, visiting day treats, memories, and experiences. Sometimes sharing meant your bed when a friend had a nightmare.

Sometimes sharing meant your family when someone else’s wasn’t around. Sometimes sharing meant your experiences to put someone else at ease. Camp showcases that sharing is necessary, teaching us to build bridges, not walls.

Always Try Your Best The only failure at camp is in not trying.

Putting your best foot forward, jumping in, and trying your best is one of the hallmarks of camp. New campers learn there is no harm in coming in second, not getting the lead in the camp skit, or missing the goal. This lesson transfers through the decades, keeping camp’s positive attitude afloat in all of us.

Nature is Good for You Whether it’s sleepaway camp or day camp, each day kids return to their cabins or homes dirty and tired after an energetic day.

Inspired by nature’s ability to flip a mind switch, lower blood pressure, and change our perspective, kids who go to camp turn into adults who appreciate the magic of nature.

Relationships Matter Friendships forged at sleepaway camp are some of the best I know. Camp teaches kids to meet new people and get to know one another. Counselors from 20 years ago continued to be my mentors for years after camp, and today we share travel advice and are willing to meet up all over the world. My best friends from camp have been a part of my story for more than 30 years. We’ve been there for the happy and the sad, both around the corner and across the globe. Today we may utilize social media and technology to communicate, but these friendships stand the test of time.

March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

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CAMP DIRECTORY | Special Advertising Supplement

Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp 3159 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn 718-758-7510 aviatorsports.com/camps/ summer-day-camps/ camps@AviatorSports.com Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp is located in Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn. The expansive indoor facility boasts NHL-sized ice rinks, a gymnastics center, a rock wall, turf and courts. Beyond, two pools, turf fields, and pedal-karting offer outdoor adventures. With divisions for ages 4-15, campers enjoy diverse activities like arts, sports, and field trips to places like the Museum of Natural History and Laser Bounce. An unforgettable summer awaits amid thrilling experiences and enriching adventures.

(Upper School) 917-473-1615 x191 biblsummerprograms@ basisindependent.com basisindependent.com/nyc Get ready for an epic summer filled with unforgettable memories! The opportunities and options are endless: day camps, sports camps, specialty camps, virtual academic camps, and more. Explore program offerings today and secure your camper’s spot; space is limited, but the fun is unlimited!

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Basis Independent Brooklyn

DNA Learning Center One Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor 516-367-5170 summercamps.dnalc.org Hands-On Science Summer Camps! Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center (DNALC) provides biology-focused lab enrichment programs to students entering grades 6-12. Week-long in-person

Citypoint, 405 Gold St., Downtown Brooklyn (Lower School) 556 Columbia Street, Red Hook

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science camps are held at three locations: at the Dolan DNALC in Cold Spring Harbor, the DNALC NYC at City Tech in Brooklyn, and the Regeneron DNALC in Sleepy Hollow. Led by experienced instructors, campers learn to use sophisticated laboratory and computer equipment to perform advanced experiments at grade levels beyond their peers.

Scholarships are available!

The Park Slope Day Camp Traditional Camp Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, & Carroll Gardens 718-788-7732 parkslopedaycamp.com camp@parkslopedaycamp. com Since ‘92, Park Slope Day Camp has provided an environment and staff that empowers Brooklyn kids to be social, active, and engaged!

Campers will make friends and have kick-butt-fun!

Sign-up for an info session and learn about what makes Park Slope Day Camp so

special. From camp activities to swimming and trips, PSDC delivers a one-of-akind experience. Flexible schedules, extended hours, and transportation from most Brooklyn neighborhoods.

Register while discounts are at their highest.

Park Slope United Soccer Camps Prospect Park & Downtown Brooklyn 347-301-9613 parkslopeunited.com/club/ summer-soccer-camp All summer long, Park Slope United hosts soccer camps for kids of all skill levels.

Whether a child has been on a travel team for years or has never kicked a ball before, PSU has a camp perfectly suited to your child’s level of playing experience. Camps include: Tot Footy: ages 2-4, Developmental Camp: ages 5-11, Select & Kickstarters Camp: ages 5-12, and for travel-level players - PSU Elite Training Camp and BKU Elite Training Camp. At PSU

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SCHOOL OF ROCK | BAY RIDGE 6901 3rd Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11209 (718) 516-5055 bayridge.schoolofrock.com

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MUSIC CAMPS SCHOOL OF ROCK | WILLIAMSBURG 294 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (718) 210-1720 williamsburg.schoolofrock.com

SCHOOL OF ROCK | BROOKLYN 175 6th st Brooklyn NY 11215 (347) 844-9363 brooklyn.schoolofrock.com

Get ready for an epic summer filled with hands-on activities where your child can explore new skills, have a blast, and make new friends.

SUMMER SOCCER CAMPS

Brooklyn’s #1 Summer Soccer Camp!

March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

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CAMP DIRECTORY | Special Advertising Supplement

Summer Camp, kids have fun while developing as a soccer player and athlete in general.

School of Rock

Discover the ultimate summer haven where every camper's dream comes to life – all under the roof of Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp.

Your one-stop destination for an unforgettable summer packed with excitement!

Bay Ridge 6901 3rd Ave, Brooklyn 718-516-5055 bayridge.schoolofrock.com Williamsburg 294 Graham Ave, Brooklyn 718-210-1720 williamsburg.schoolofrock. com Brooklyn 175 6th st Brooklyn 347-844-9363 brooklyn.schoolofrock.com School of Rock music camps are an excellent way for young musicians to get the revolutionary School of Rock experience. This summer, your neighborhood School of Rock is offering camps for every interest and skill level. Through METHODTM, their patented performance based music education system, students practice in a band and learn the value of teamwork while learning

some of the greatest rock songs. Most music camps end with an epic, live show where you’ll see your future rock stars in action. Use coupon code MARCH15 by the end of March to get 15% off.

YMCA of Greater New York Summer Day Camps 20+ Locations Across All 5 Boroughs in NYC 212-630-9720 ymcanyc.org/camp rho@ymcanyc.org 100+ Camps. 20+ Locations.

100+ Years of Camp Magic.

Best. Summer. Ever. The YMCA of Greater NY is gearing up to help kids create lifelong memories and friendships at Summer Camp in 2024! Through the Y’s day camps and specialty camps in all five boroughs, families can trust the Y to give their kids a fun, enriching, highquality camp experience this summer — out of the house and learning new skills.

Register today and save!

DNA LEARNING CENTER

SCIENCE

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D • Entering grades 6–12 • Brooklyn, Long Island, & Westchester DI NG • Week-long day camps CHNOLOG TE • Authentic lab experiences • Real-world applications I • Dynamic instructors FORENS • Knowledge and skills GENET EN IC CE for the classroom TICS A RM and beyond!

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Aviator Sports

3159 Flatbush Ave. Brooklyn NY 11234 Contact Us (718) 758-7510 | Camps@AviatorSports.com AviatorSports.com/summer-day-camps

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Bus Transportation is available throughout Brooklyn!

On the web:

summercamps.dnalc.org

ACTIVITIES

Sports for Girls in Brooklyn Programs worth checking out

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here is no debate that sports plays a pivotal role in girls’ lives. Sports contribute immensely to their physical, mental, and social development. Outside the physical activity aspect – immersing in sports encourages essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience, a vital learning experience for young girls that will help them navigate life challenges on and off the field.

In Brooklyn, many sports opportunities and classes provide these values in their programs. Here are some worth checking out!

Park Slope United Soccer Club

Prospect Park & Downtown Brooklyn 347-301-9613 parkslopeunited.com

Park Slope United is a full-service youth soccer club, with programs for girls of all skill-levels. Whether it is skills-based beginner lessons in their Developmental Class program, joining up with your first team in their intermediate-level Select League recreational program, or striving to be the best travel soccer player in Brooklyn with their affiliate club, Brooklyn United Academy, PSU has a program perfectly suited for any girl who loves soccer. The club’s player development model emphasizes the development of great people – not just great players. This philosophy is actively applied to every PSU program offered. Join PSU for a class and stay for a lifetime of fun, friendship, and of course, the best soccer in Brooklyn!

SKATEYOGI Williamsburg, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn skateyogi.com

Skateboarding’s popularity among girls has grown in recent years due to more role models at popular events such as the Olympics with female skateboarders.

Skateboarding is a great activity for girls seeking a creative outlet that combines balance, coordination and lots of persistence. Even if they are not into athletic sports, the individual nature of skateboarding allows each student to set their own goals and make progress at their own pace. With safety gear and obstacles designed for beginners, skaters can learn little by little without taking big risks. Many of the students at SKATEYOGI, a Brooklynbased skateboarding school, are girls where classes are taught in an open-level format with an emphasis on fun and creativity.

Skateboarding is for everyone!

Aviator Sports Mill Basin/Marine Park AviatorSports.com

Aviator Sports offers a diverse range of sports programs tailored for girls ages 3 and up, catering to their interests and skill levels. In Gymnastics, Figure Skating, Basketball, Hockey, and Soccer, girls can find avenues to explore their athletic abilities and passions. Partnering with FC Copa for girls-only soccer classes underscores Aviator Sports’ commitment to providing inclusive and empowering opportunities for girls in sports. These programs not only focus on skill development but also foster a supportive environment where girls can build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills.

Whether it’s mastering a routine on the ice or fine-tuning shooting skills on the basketball court, Aviator Sports empowers girls to thrive in sports while creating lasting memories and friendships.

March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

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EDUCATION

The Advantages of Charter Schools

BY NEW YORK FAMILY

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significant advantage of living in New York is that we have fantastic school resources. One education choice for New York students that continues to grow is Charter Schools. What is a Charter school, and how do they work?

What is a Charter School?

Charter schools are independently-operated public schools accountable for advancing student achievement. This combination of freedom and accountability allows charter teachers to adapt their classrooms based on their students’ needs while pushing for high academic achievement.

New York City’s 274 charter schools are independent of the New York City Department of Education, but they can be closed if they don’t meet certain student achievement standards.

Charter schools offer students opportunities for academic success that are an excellant education source for children.

NYC Charter School Specialized Programs Prospective Charter school parents can find programs that are specialized for students. Among them, 51 schools have enforced programs specifically designed for students with Autism or have a student body where more than 25% of students have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for Special Education.

And while public and private take the lead in dual language immersion programs Charter schools are starting to add thse programs to ther schools. Currently there are 9 schools that boast dual language programs.

The same goes for adding more Pre-k classes to Charter Schools , currently there are a a total of 34 charter schools with pre-K programs.

NYC Charters Do Not Succeed at the Expense of District Schools A common myth is that as New York’s charter schools succeed, the city’s traditional public schools fail as a result. A 2018 study by the Manhattan Institute concluded that “compe-

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tition from New York City charter schools has either no effect or a positive effect,” on the city’s traditional public schools.

In fact, district schools have improved significantly as charter schools have spread throughout New York City’s five boroughs.

Funding for district schools has also increased as the student population at charter schools has increased over the years.

Charter Schools are Specialized, with No Tuition Costs Charter teachers adapt their classrooms and teaching methods to the current needs of their students. This freedom in the curriculum, teaching style, school missions and policies resembles that of private schools, enabling charter schools to provide the very best approach to academics that fits their students. Though teachers have flexibility, charter schools are held accountable for high academic achievement levels.

Charter School is a Lottery System New York City’s charter schools admit students through a lottery system; they cannot select their students. This process gives students from all backgrounds and education levels an equal opportunity to attend and achieve academic success at charter schools.

Charter Students have had Access to Great Schooling. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York, charter schools

across the five boroughs immediately transitioned to remote learning that adapted to the students in each classrooms’ needs.

75% of New York’s charter schools had created a remote learning procedure before the March 2020 lockdown. Charter students only had to wait an average of three days to begin remote learning after in-person learning was closed.

Both charter students and teachers had the tools to continue learning and teaching from home. 80% of New York charter schools provided students with devices for remote learning before schools were closed and 98% of New York’s charter school teachers had the technology to conduct remote instruction.

Charter schools have been able to keep students accountable and maintain a high level of learning despite COVID-19 and its ramifications on education. 85% of New York’s charter schools continued to introduce new learning content to students through the pandemic and charter schools were three times more likely to take attendance during remote classes compared to traditional schools.

Charter schools also expanded nonacademic programs such as social-emotional counseling and family outreach during the pandemic. 75% of charter teachers increased their office hours during remote learning and 91% of charter teachers increased their time spent on communication with families during the pandemic.

broomestreetacademy.org 121 6th Ave, New York, NY 10013 • 212-453-0295

Charter high SChool

Free, public, and open to all Serving K-12 in Districts 13 & 15 Brooklyn, New York The full K-12 Experience Students have a seat with us from kindergarten through high school graduation Global Education A student-centered, diverse learning community built on the tenets of the International Baccalaureate program.

Experienced Educators Teachers and staff with vast experience help ALL of our students succeed

Excellent Enrichment Extracurriculars include: • Spanish and Mandarin language classes • Sports and Arts programming • STEM Activities • Leadership Groups 100% Of students who start with Prospect Schools in the 6th grade enroll in a 4-year college or university – they also score an average of 100 points higher on the SAT

APPLY TODAY to begin your K-12 journey with us!

enrollment@prospectschools.org • prospectschools.org • 718-643-1086 x4006

March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

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family fun

Bucket List Spring in NYC

By Jeannine Cintron, Donna DuarteLaDD anD Shara Levine

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pring brings a little step to us New Yorkers. It is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, such as strolling on one of our majestic bridges, heading indoors, and visiting one of New York’s iconic cultural institutions. The best part is you can mix it up with some of the many free things New York has to offer. Happy Spring!

1. Stroll through the New York Botanical Garden’s outdoor grounds and collections, including the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. On Wednesdays, there is *Free* admission all day for NY residents -nonresidents can obtain gratis admission from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. (on Wednesdays.)

2. Head to Goshen, NY, and enjoy the Spring season of Legoland New York, a Certified Autism Center since last year.

3. Head to Long Island City MoMA PS1’s where you’ll find exhibitions, performances, events, and more. Admission is FREE for all New York residents. For visitors: $10 for adults, FREE for kids 16 and younger, and $5 for seniors and students.

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4. Enjoy exhibitions, immersive experiences, and more at the new Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation- part of the American Museum of Natural History and part of your admission. Some exhibitions cost extrawe recommend reserving tickets in advance.

9. If looking for stunning NYC views -the Edge NYC has the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Located at Hudson Yards, make time to shop around or eat some delicious foods before or after you get your panoramic views in

5. Speaking of AMNH, swing by The Secret World of Elephants exhibit! It’s all about the different elephant species and their relatives, and they tell their whole story with life-size models, videos, graphics, and a bunch of other cool stuff

10. Walk over to Gansevoort Street and Washington Street and enjoy a free Highline tour. Visit the site for days and hours.

6. Enjoy Long Island’s Vanderbilt Museum in Long Island and enjoy the estate exploring the Memorial Wing, Habitat Wing, Nursery Wing, and Hall of Fishes.

7. Travel to The Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park with a gorgeous view of the Hudson River. You’ll be captivated by medieval art, renaissance Europe, and more at this beautiful museum.

8. Check out the Cherry Blossoms throughout the city in spots such as Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Riverside Park, Central Park, and the famous New York Botanical Garden Cherry Blossoms trees.

11. Climb the giant sturgeons at the Pier 26 Science Playground, a brand new 4,000-square-foot marine science-focused play area in Hudson River Park.

12. Rainy afternoon? Stop by one of NYC’s cat cafes to meet some friendly felines while you wait for the clouds to pass. Popular spots include The Meow Parlor on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and the Brooklyn Cat Cafe near Brooklyn Bridge Park.

13. Jump on a ferry for the full New York experience and head to Brooklyn Bridge Park -don’t forget to visit Jane’s Carousel, have a picnic, and take a selfie with the bridge as a background.

14. Head to Coney Island for a wild day! See live sharks at the New York Aquarium and stop to

21. Whether you live near or make a day trip of it, head to Shadmoor State Park in Montauk, which features a vast ocean, hiking trails, and birdwatching. Pack a picnic and enjoy.

ride the Cyclone on your way home.

15. Tour real Naval ships and meet our country’s Armed Forces members during Fleet Week, which kicks off just before Memorial Day Weekend.

16. Travel to the islands! And by “islands,” we mean Roosevelt Island, Governors Island, and Little Island. Have a barbeque at Lighthouse Park on Roosevelt Island, visit The Yard for unique unstructured play on Governors Island, and see the flowers in bloom on Little Island.

18. Catch a ballgame! The Mets home opener is set for March 28, and the first home game for the Yankees is April 5. Minor league games are easier on the wallet; the Brooklyn Cyclones’ and the Staten Island FerryHawks’ also start the season in April.

16. Go for a stroll on Gansevoort Peninsula, Manhattan’s very first public beachfront! The largest standalone recreational space in Hudson River Park just opened in October 2023, so New Yorkers will finally have the opportunity to explore it this spring.

19. Enjoy one of the unique carousels in New York of fiberglass fish illuminated with colorchanging LED light fixtures. The SeaGlass carousel is at the Battery Conservancy, located at the park’s southern end.

17. Walk through the streets of DUMBO and discover the diverse art. From the famed DUMBO Walls to the stained glass Watertower sculpture on top of 20 Jay Street, there is something to discover at almost every turn.

20. Go wild at the Bronx Zoo when you visit with animals from around the world! Plus, take in unparalleled views of the park when you add the Nature Trek to your visit filled with wooden bridges and tunnels to cross.

Piano Lessons For Everyone 135 Eastern Parkway

across from the Brooklyn Museum Experienced, friendly teacher with MA in Music Student recitals twice a year t Six foot concert grand piano Near 2, 3, 4 & 5 Subways

Call me and let’s talk about what you or your child would like to learn

Call Beth Anderson-Harold: 718-636-6010 or Email: beth@beand.com www.beand.com

22. Spend the day at Far Rockaway Beach and enjoy the boardwalk; bring your skater (and safety gear)- enjoy the 15,700 square feet concrete park of stairs, rails, ledges, and more.

23. Visit waterfalls in Central -there are five in total, and you can find them in the Ravine, the stream valley section of the North Woods.

24. Plan a staycation at the TWA Hotel, whether you grab something to eat before or after a flight or stay a night or a few; this hotel is truly a New York adventure perfect for families.

25. Visit the TheSeaport NYC and spend the day at The Imagination Playground New York City Police Museum, hop on a NY Water Taxi, pack a picnic, and head over to Governor’s Island; the list is endless on all there is to do at this fun spot.

Now accepting lottery applications for Kindergarten through Eighth grade for the 2024-2025 school year!

Apply online by April 5th at communityroots.org!

Lottery will take place on April 9th 2024 at 9:30am Any child who is eligible for NYC Public School is eligible to apply!

CRCS is an exceptional K-8 inclusive and diverse public school option. It welcomes all learners and centers an anti-bias approach and social justice curriculum.

Please email dforsythe@communityroots.org or call 718-858-1629 for more information.

Community Roots Elementary School 51 Saint Edwards Street, Third Floor Brooklyn, NY 11205

Community Roots Middle School 50 Navy Street, Third Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201

communityroots.org

March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

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Career Pivots How to (re) light your fire!

By Drew IsserlIs -Kramer

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onging to move but standing in place, I see you. At the crossroads of the wrong direction and the one you don’t currently know, it is easy to remain right there. If you are stuck in a job that feels like work, wander with me for a moment. I can see the way forward because I have been at this intersection before. In my career journey, I transitioned from stifled lawyer to burnt-out ad woman to passionless pandemic parent to today’s emerging artist and writer because I learned to be brave, talk to people, and try things.

And I am not special. According to Pew Research, 53% of employed U.S. adults who quit their job in 2021 changed their occupation or field of work. In that year,

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47 million Americans quit their jobs — an unprecedented mass exit from the workforce sparked by Covid-19. While resignations have slowed since their peak in 2022, the current workforce continues to demand work-life balance and fulfillment from employment.

As companies grapple with incentivizing employees to return to the office five days per week, the work-from-home lifestyle gives colleagues the freedom to grow side hustles into self-supporting businesses. It is easier for hustlers with a clear passion point and target market to cut the cord from corporate America. However, for many, the nagging desire for change is the only identifiable message from the voice of intuition. Without a clear destination, we linger.

Trapped in the wrong direction? Be bold and ask for help Connecting to people with jobs I admired

helped me to understand my options and how to get there. In my current exploration, one such advisor is Dara Astmann. A Westchester-based career coach, Astmann helps clients from around the country evaluate what works best for their families while discovering their own fulfillment needs. Astmann understands because her career story is a lesson in navigating the circuitous route of a modern career. After 20+ years in advertising media and sales at Viacom (now ParamountGlobal), Astmann made a slow and deliberate shift to coaching to embrace her excitement for helping friends and colleagues navigate career shifts.

For clients who long to make a big leap, lead with realism “Many clients think they need to leave immediately, but it helps to find your way when you are still at your job.” Astmann

encourages clients to work with their companies to create what they desire, helping them position themselves for part-time or job-sharing roles as they transition to what comes next. In Astmann’s experience, clients sometimes think they want a big change, but “after learning how to ask for the flexibility they need, they realize they don’t need a huge change to feel satisfied.” Not everyone needs to make a career pivot.

Still longing for an identity shift?

Take baby steps In my own career and Astmann’s, success is the sum of the small steps you take every day. As Astmann puts it, “The point is not to pick a path, but to identify potential paths.”

She advises clients to “take one step forward to learn more about each option.” Talk to someone. Research online. Take free classes.

Call it a project or an experiment. It will feel a little bit less scary.

Surrender to the story as it unfolds For writer and marketing consultant Serena Norr, career development comes with hustle

“Many clients think they need to leave immediately, but it helps to find your way when you are still at your job.” and flow. As a college student in the early 2000s, Norr’s interests oscillated from writing to acting to elementary education. Her first editorial positions at Time Out New York and Playbill prove prescient today while building her reputation as a playwright. In the twenty years between then and now, Norr learned how to hustle, building a freelance writing and marketing career, starting her own soup blog and raising three young girls. Like many career shifters, Covid-19 opened the door to rediscover old dreams. Balancing work, the demands of her young family, and Zoom Theater, Norr churned out inventive plays featuring characters that are equally quirky and deep. Unconnected to the New York

theater scene, Norr carved a name for herself by entering her plays into contests and saying yes to the opportunities that come from it.

When asked what her best advice for career shifters is, Norr’s answer is twofold: “1) say yes, and 2) keep all the channels open. Even if you are in your corporate job, keep doing your art. Do it for the joy of it and have blind faith.”

At her suggestion of joy and faith as a guide, I say, “Amen.” In my own nonlinear route from law to writing, I continue onward because of the joy I feel for creative work and my faith that my words might propel even just one person forward in a search for passion and purpose.

To that end, if you feel a stir in your heart that you need a change, acknowledge it. If you feel lost without a sense of excitement or passion, play and experiment. When you find yourself stuck, take one small action that deviates from your usual routine. If you get scared or lose your way, begin again when you feel the call. It is OK to pause or fall on your face–as long as you get back up and keep trying.

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Follow us @newyorkfamily on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and tag us #newyorkfamily in your NYC adventures!

March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

25

Big City Dreams

Mom of 2 and Emmy-Winning reporter Joelle Garguilo, loving New York, small businesses and their stories. Learn about her journey from accountant to entertainment reporter.

By Cris Pearlstein

O

ver the course of a week countless DMs were exchanged and many texts were sent between two moms trying to schedule one uninterrupted hour-long conversation. First, there was work to contend with: I was commuting to the city 4 days in a row when I am usually remote, flexibility suddenly out the window. Then there was sickness because, well, kids. Her daughter came down with something first, then the stomach bug that seemed to attack the entire city made its way to my house. Finally, we landed on a Friday night. After kid bedtime.

In our sweats. Does this sound familiar? If you’re a parent, I’m going to guess yes. For Joelle Garguilo, Emmy-Award winning and WABC’s new Entertainment Reporter, finding pockets of time that work with her nontraditional schedule is not only par for the course, but something she’s gotten very, very good at. “It’s what moms do best,” she told me.

“We just figure out a way.” I don’t know about you but I’ve never heard truer words spoken.

In our conversation Joelle says things I feel deep in my bones as a mom of 2 myself. Things like, “The juggle is real” and “You make it work, however you make it work”, because isn’t that what we’re all doing, all the time? She embraces the chaos and imperfection, and talking to her on that Friday night at the end of a long week was like venting to one of my mom friends. Full disclosure: I’ve known Joelle since before we had kids, before we were married, back when she was still an accountant dreaming of being a broadcast journalist. I watched from the sidelines as she became a mom and then an on-air reporter, and was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to ask her simply…How? How did she do it? How did she know it was the right path for her? And how does she do it all now? This interview was part work, part personal catch-up sesh, but it’s chock full of everything that will make Joelle feel like your mom friend, too.

26 NewYorkFamily.com | March 2024

CP: I want to cover your career change. Because first of all, it’s like going from one end of the spectrum to the total opposite end.

And also, having sort of seen it happen, I feel like you willed it into existence. It was just sheer will. So, how did you know working in accounting and finance was not for you?

Was there a specific moment you remember where you were like, I gotta get the hell out of here?

JG: You want to know something? I feel like everybody around me used to tell me…I remember auditing these Fortune 500 companies and some of the CEOs or CFOs would call me and be like, Is this really for you? And I would do a good job, but they would all say, Really? You want to be an accountant? I loved numbers. I was great at math as a child. Also, I think growing up, sometimes you want to pursue a career that makes your parents proud, right? So I just always thought with accounting I’d always have a job. And I was great at math. So I majored in accounting, but then I switched my degree, and I actually graduated with a degree in finance and marketing. Then I went back to school to finish my accounting degree. I got a job offer at KPMG then I went to New Line Cinema. And when I was there, I’m telling you, I’m a worker, I am someone who will do the work, do the work, do the work, but I always had this thing in the back of my head where I wanted to pursue a career in TV. Ever since I was little, I would whisper it. I remember the Today Show when I was working in accounting; they did this call out for the next anchor.

CP: I remember.

JG: I did a video submission for it while I was working in accounting. I forget about these things, it’s so funny that you asked that. I always would whisper it and I remember when they were closing the New York office of New Line Cinema my boss took me out to lunch.

She said to me, What do you want to do? I was

getting job offers at other places to do finance.

I said, I really want to pursue a career in TV. CP: How old were you at this point?

JG: Oh my gosh, I was 27.

CP: That’s young in the grand scheme of things, but when you’re…

JG: I had a full-fledged career! I was already established. And up until that point, anybody who I told I want to be on TV said how few people make it. Because also the landscape was very different back then.

Nobody had really encouraged it, except my mom encouraged it for sure. But she was the first one who said, I think you should do it and I think you’d be great. So I decided since I got a severance package I’m going to take classes, and I’m going to learn how to do this TV stuff. So I took a class at NYU, I took a program at the New York Film Academy, and I learned everything. You know, the in-frontof-the-camera stuff was always fun and it came naturally to me, but I had no idea how to shoot a camera. I had no idea how to edit. I didn’t know how to produce. And you learned all that in these classes. And I had a great teacher who would become a mentor and a friend. I wound up getting a job interview while I was finishing up school and I had to pick between taking the last part of the CPA exam—I had three parts passed—or going on this job interview to get my start in TV. I went on the job interview and I got the job.

And so I started my career, making cell phone videos before people were even using iPhones.

I was in first thing in the morning shooting, I would do my regular shift, and then I would stay late and edit. I worked my buns off. And then from there I got noticed. They started taking my packages on this one show, then this other show, then I opened up a New York show, then I did a national show. And honestly it’s been a dream. It’s been a dream ever since.

Yorker, really. Because once you hear these stories, you can’t help but share them. If you have an outlet, social media, or TV, how do you not tell these stories? Some stories are meant to be shared. You never know who needs to hear your story, who might be inspired by your story, even. There’s this vintage shop on 25th Street called TTH Vintage. You go in and you think it’s just a vintage shop, but this particular store serves to help the homeless community. The owner has helped thousands and thousands of homeless women and children in New York City. But if you just walk on by, it’s just a store.

CP: But you stopped, you didn’t just walk on by. I feel like it’s because you stop to talk to people, and you listen.

JG: I don’t know if my girls are old enough to understand it yet, but I’ve had a part in saving a bunch of small businesses and that means a lot to me. I brought them to some of these stores, but I don’t think that they fully grasp it. To them it’s just like, this woman who has a candy shop is giving us free candy. But I think they’ll remember it. I’ll be proud one day when they understand it.

CP: Why do you think small businesses are such an important part of the fabric of the city?

JG: They are the city. Small businesses are the heartbeat of New York City. When you’re walking around Brooklyn, what makes it so charming is that almost every single business is a small business. There’s something about the people, you connect with people on a different level. I feel like New York City would not be the same without them.

Photo by Yumi Matsuo

CP: I feel like you’re drawn to stories and to storytelling. And what better place to do that than New York City.

JG: There’s no better place.

CP: Your love of New York is so palpable,

and so is your love of the small businesses that make up the city. How did you first get into the small business beat to begin with?

JG: I have no idea. I cover entertainment, film, TV, Broadway—and also small businesses. I think from just being a New

CP: So you have these two little girls. What lessons do you hope to have them absorb when it comes to being women?

JG: Well, every morning, we say, I am smart, I am beautiful, and I can accomplish anything I want. I’ve been doing that since G was little. And it’s important. I want them to be confident. I wasn’t a confident kid at all.

I’m finding my confidence as a woman. The biggest thing that I want to impart on them is to be kind. I always say good things come to those who hustle and are kind. It’s so much better when we’re lifting each other up.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity, please visit newyorkfamily.com to read the story in its entirety.

March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

27

calendar

BY SHARA LEVINE

BROOKLYN

Wake Up & Dance with Suzi Shelton WHEN: Saturday, March 2, 10 – 11:30 am.

WHERE: ShapeShifter Lab, 837 Union St., Park Slope AGES: 8 and younger WHAT: Kick off your weekend with musical fun by Suzi Shelton and Friends featuring a story time, music, and dancing!

WANT TO GO?: $15. shapeshifterplus.org

The Other Side WHEN: March 2-3, Saturday and Sunday, 11 am & 3 pm.

WHERE: BAM Fisher, 321 Ashland Place, Boerum Hill AGES: 7 and older WHAT: Based on Jacqueline Woodson’s picture book The Other Side, this moving dance performance teaches us about overcoming barriers that keep us apart.

WANT TO GO?: $18. bam.org

Brooklyn Nets Kids Games WHEN: Saturday, March 2, 6 pm.

WHERE: Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Boerum Hill AGES: All WHAT: Watch the Brooklyn Nets take on the Atlanta Hawks at this game featuring exciting half time entertainment perfect for the young fans!

WANT TO GO?: Tickets start at $41. nba.com

The Rock And Roll Playhouse Plays The Music Of Billy Joel + More For Kids WHEN: Sunday, March 3, 12 – 1 pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg AGES: 10 and younger WHAT: This is the Time to

Wake Up & Dance with Suzi Shelton at ShapeShifter Lab on March 2. introduce your little ones to the sounds of Billy Joel at this concert for kids.

WANT TO GO?: $16. brooklynbowl.com

Weekend Art: Sunday Art Hang WHEN: March 10-24, Sundays, 2 – 4 pm WHERE: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy, Prospect Heights

28 NewYorkFamily.com | March 2024

AGES: All WHAT: Explore the galleries and exhibitions and create art inspired by what you see.

WANT TO GO?: Included with pay what you wish admission. (718) 638–5000, brooklynmuseum.org

Spring First Discoveries WHEN: March 13-June 14, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm.

WHERE: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave., Crown Heights AGES: 0 - 4 WHAT: Pot up a plant, create a craft, read a story, and use your senses to explore nature at special activity stations designed for early learners.

WANT TO GO?: $12-$18; free for children younger than 12. bbg.org

MARCH

calendar

Purim Party

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

WHEN: Thursday, March 14, 4 – 6 pm WHERE: The Craft Studio Brooklyn, 295 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn Heights AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Purim in style with dancing, crafts, sweets, games, and a party under the disco lights!

WANT TO GO?: $62.50.

(347) 463–9249, thecraftstudiobrooklyn.as.me

WHEN: March 23-30, Saturdays, 10 am – 2 pm WHERE: Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, 895 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park AGES: All WHAT: Bring your own basket to hunt for chocolate filled eggs, make a spring-inspired craft, and have photos taken with the Easter Bunny.

WANT TO GO?: $15. (718) 885–1461, bartowpellmansionmuseum.org

HERstory with Flor Bromley WHEN: Thursday, March 21, 3 – 3:45 pm WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave, Crown Heights AGES: 12 and under WHAT: Celebrate Women’s History Month with this special performance by bilingual musician, Flor Bromley!

WANT TO GO?: Free. (718) 735–4400, brooklynkids.org

29th Annual Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade WHEN: Sunday, March 24, 1 pm WHERE: Marine Avenue and 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Irish culture and heritage at this parade featuring bagpipers, floats, marching bands, community leaders, Irish dancing, and more.

WANT TO GO?: Free. brparade. com

Town Square BK’s 11th Annual Spring Egg Hunt WHEN: Saturday, March 30, 10 am – 3 pm WHERE: FourFiveSix, 199 Richardson St., Greenpoint AGES: All WHAT: Go on an egg hunt, say hi to the Easter Bunny, and rock to fun music.

WANT TO GO?: $10-$50. townsquarebk.org

MANHATTAN Girls in Science and Engineering Day WHEN: Saturday, March 9, 11 am – 3 pm WHERE: Intrepid Museum, Pier

QUEENS Once Upon a Zoo – Había una vez un zoológico WHEN: Friday, March 8, 5 – 8 pm WHERE: Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th St., Corona AGES: 2 and older WHAT: Explore the captivating world of animals through fairy tales , experience up-close encounters, create your own craft mask, and more.

WANT TO GO?: 430; $24 members. queenszoo.com

The Brooklyn Museum presents HERstory with Flor Bromley on March 21 86, W 46th St., Hell’s Kitchen AGES: 5 and up WHAT: Celebrate women, girls and youth involved in STEM with hands-on experiences, exciting demonstrations and captivating discussions.

WANT TO GO?: Free. intrepidmuseum.org

Family Purim Concert WHEN: Sunday, March 10, 10:30 am WHERE: The 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., Upper East Side AGES: All WHAT: Wear your favorite costume and celebrate the holiday with singing, dancing, guest performances, and more!

WANT TO GO?: Tickets start at $36. 92ny.org

NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade WHEN: Saturday, March 16, 11 am WHERE: Begins at Fifth Avenue at East 44th Street and ends at East 79th Street.

AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Irish culture and pride at the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world.

WANT TO GO?: Free.

nycstpatricksparade.org

BRONX The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion

Giraffes Can’t Dance – The Musical

WHEN: Tuesdays – Sundays, 10 am – 5 pm, through April 21.

WHERE: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Belmont AGES: All WHAT: Catch the bold new designs of New York’s rising stars of the stitch at this fashion-inspired celebration of all things orchids.

WANT TO GO?: $15-$35. (718) 817–8700, nybg.org

WHEN: Sunday, March 10, 1 – 2 pm & 4 – 5 pm.

WHERE: Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave South, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Corona AGES: 3 – 8 WHAT: This heartwarming performance featuring puppets, African rhythm, and lots of dancing, shows us that our differences are what make us special.

WANT TO GO?: $20. queenstheatre.org

National Girls & Women in Sports Day: She’s on Point WHEN: Saturday, March 2, 12 – 3 pm WHERE: Kwame Ture Recreation Center, 1527 Jesup Avenue, Highbridge AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Month with fitness programs, sports clinics in soccer, basketball, volleyball, group games, arts and crafts and much more!

WANT TO GO?: Free. nycgovparks.org

WFUV Garden Party WHEN: Saturday, March 23, 12 – 4 pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Take a break from the winter doldrums with a music-filled garden party featuring family-friendly DJ’s and performances, crafts, a storytime, and more.

WANT TO GO?: Free. queensbotanical.org

March 2024 | Brooklyn Family

29

Highlights from the 2024 Brooklyn Camp Fair & Activity Expo sponsored by Urban Air Brooklyn & the American Camp Association of NY & NJ

Where FUN Takes Flight! //

// Open Play and Parties Everyday!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR

UrbanAirBrooklyn.com // 347-732-5438 30 NewYorkFamily.com | March 2024

Where FUN Takes Flight! //

// Open Play and Parties Everyday!

info@UrbanAirBrooklyn.com