RyeCity REVIEW THE
November 9, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 46 | www.ryecityreview.com
Early childhood advocates share their vision
On Oct. 29, Cerebral Palsy of Westchester held their 13th annual A Taste of Westchester: Food and Wine Tasting Event. More than 300 attendees came out to West Harrison to sample scrumptious eats and treats in the culinary showcase. For more, see page 6. Photo/Raphael Gibbs Jr.
Manhattenville to screen award-winning documentary “Celling Your Soul,” a film written and directed by Manhattanville professor Joni Siani, will be screened to the public with a discussion following on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 6:45 p.m. in the Berman Theater at Manhattanville College. Parents have long grappled with the problem of digital overuse and the negative consequences of social media, but don’t know what to do. Siani is offering real tangible solutions with the issues associated with digital dependency, and the fallout of the digitally socialized generation. As a professor on the front line
of the digital revolutions, Siani observed her students struggling to adapt to the emotional and social demands of life “online” and shifted the conversation from “what do you think” to “how do you feel?” Siani and her students were determined to find solutions to the unintended consequence of digital connectivity that have affected an entire generation. The result is a book, “Celling Your Soul,” and the film. To view the trailer, visit noappforlife. com/. “This is a unique solution-oriented film and program, a forum that goes beyond ‘good or
bad’ because it focuses on a productive conversation and offers clear strategies to implement in schools, home and life,” Siani said. “Parents need to hear how kids really feel about their digitally demanding world from the kids themselves and kids need to learn how to feel better, happier, more fulfilled and truly connected.” A winner of the Boston International Kids Film Festival, Director’s Chair Film Festival NYC and other awards, and featured at the 2018 NYC Independent Film Festival, “Celling Your Soul” is an examination of our love/hate relationships with digital devices
from the first digitally socialized generation, and what we can do about it. “Manhattanville [College] wants to offer tools and conversation around the challenges of the digital age to the community at large,” Manhattanville President Michael Geisler said. “While technology has brought so much value to society, we are well aware of the perils of digital overuse and the need for irreplaceable human relationships and connection for people of all ages to thrive as individuals. ‘Celling Your Soul’ is a good DOCUMENTARY continued on page 8
More than 150 social workers, educators, health practitioners and advocates gathered at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Tarrytown to learn new methods and share best practices on the crucial time in a child’s life, which is zero to age three. Westchester Children’s Association, WCA, hosted the event, which included their annual advocacy breakfast, but this year extended it to a full-day conference on Tuesday, Oct. 16. Dr. Matthew Melmed, executive director of Zero To Three, an organization that promotes the health and development of infants and toddlers, started the day by delivering the Kathryn W. Davis Advocacy Address. Melmed’s talk focused on the critical importance of the zero to age 3 stage of life in the social and emotional development of a child. A panel discussion followed and included Dr. Farhad Ameen, professor of Economics at Westchester Community College; Umran Beba, Global Diversity, engagement and talent officer at Pepsico; Dr. Lillian Berdichevsky, an Ob/Gyn with Westmed Medical Group: and Kate Breslin, president and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy. “Investing in 0-3 more than pays off in the long run due to the decreased spending in later years on high ticket items such as
remedial education and criminal justice systems,” Ameen said. “It is not only the right thing to do, it is the economically efficient thing to do.” Breslin drew attention to the collective impact model, stating, “Kids don’t exist separately from their parents. If mom has untreated depression, it has a tremendous impact on her kids.” Collective impact brings together all the actors that impact a child’s life to work toward a goal, rather than focusing on individual parts of the situation. Allison Lake, executive director of the WCA said that Melmed’s work in the 0 to 3 stage of life is critical. She went on to say, “We were thrilled to have Dr. Melmed as our keynote speaker. All our panelists offered unique perspectives, which I believe helped attendees to see the big picture, and the idea that there is a role for all of us to play in creating solutions.” WCA will release a follow-up report highlighting recommendations from the innovative working sessions which will inform the agency’s action plan. To find out more about the needs of Westchester’s children, view WCA’s latest series of Community Snapshots, which present data that impact a child’s life, as compared by Westchester County school districts. (Submitted)
Follow us on
Twitter @ryecityreview Like us on
facebook.com/ryecityreview