It’s been a year since the Redfern Cornerstone Community Center reopened after abruptly closing its doors the spring before. In a spirit of gratitude and in keeping with The Child Center’s emphasis on giving back, the theme this summer has been dubbed Redfern Plan.

At The Child Center of NY, our primary concern is always for the whole family — and how it affects the children’s overall well-being. So when I hear about high-profile cases of domestic violence, my first thought is always how the situation affects the children: those directly involved (e.g., the abuser’s children) as well as those with no direct involvement but whose sense of the world is being formed by what they hear of it — especially from the people they love and trust.

A core principle of The Child Center of NY is that children learn best from relatable role models. Sometimes that takes the form of alumni sharing their journeys with current students.