The 74 Million, in their ongoing series of interviews with education innovators, recently spoke with Jessica Nauiokas of Haven Academy.
“At the core of our success, I truly believe our commitment to creating and maintaining a safe, predictable learning environment that holds kids to high expectations has helped anchor our work. That is coupled with our deep belief that understanding empathy, teaching empathy and showing kids how to practice empathy toward others has helped them not only make sense of their own challenges and struggles, but build relationships with important peers and teachers through the building,” Jessica says.
Raising five children on her own, Jennifer was used to juggling responsibilities and being a constant source of stability for her family – but this year’s pandemic turned her life upside down. Jennifer struggled to maintain virtual school schedules and procure enough technology and supplies for her children to stay connected with their teachers. Additionally, she found it difficult to keep her home stocked with groceries, medications, and other essentials.
In this time of stress and uncertainty, The Foundling’s Mott Haven Academy Charter School became her source of stability. Our K-8 charter school, which combines a trauma-informed curriculum with wrap-around social services, is uniquely positioned to support its community in times of crisis. Social workers and teachers stepped in to provide Jennifer everything she needed – ongoing emotional support, childcare coverage, and assistance with supplies and essentials at home.
“The pandemic was rough, but they made it easier – with food, essentials, hand soap, paper towels, coloring books, crayons, everything,” Jennifer shares. “At Haven Academy, the teachers, social workers, and staff are not just there to help students—like my children—they also help parents and families too.”
With the help of The Foundling and our supporters, Jennifer is back to being a beacon of support for her family. “I’m ready to go. I just can’t wait to see what the future looks like,” she says.
DID YOU KNOW: This year’s CARES Act makes a new charitable deduction available to taxpayers that do not itemize their deductions. Taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions may be able to deduct up to $300 for cash contributions.*
*Please consult your accountant or financial advisor to learn more about the CARES Act and your eligibility.
Your support can help mothers like Jennifer become heroes for their children. Join us in transforming the lives of our neighbors this holiday season.
This holiday season, Bronx public charter schools have launched a holiday campaign to thank teachers for their dedication during this challenging school year.
Jessica Nauiokas, Founder and Head of School at Haven Academy, participated in the campaign, saying “regardless of the situation, they have made it clear that they are committed to students’ excellence and education. They’ve proven that their impact on students’ lives goes beyond the traditional classroom. They are our children’s cheerleaders, role models and support systems. We’re so proud of all that they’ve done during such a difficult time.”
Closing out National Adoption Month, News 12 in The Bronx recently featured Janina MacLean and her story of becoming a foster mother – and later adopting – two siblings with The Foundling.
Jessica Nauiokas, Head of School at Haven Academy, shares her insight and expertise on educating young people during the pandemic in this op-ed. “As the pandemic has shown, schools are truly the anchors of the neighborhoods we serve,” she writes. “We have used this moment to reimagine our relationship with our parents. We’ve taken the time to gain an even deeper understanding of their individual situations. Did they lose a loved one? Are families facing tenuous financial circumstances? Did they have the social support they needed—food, housing, and more—in this time of urgent need? We’ve found that success at remote learning and supporting each child necessitates actively understanding those answers.”
BronxNet reports on our efforts to spread Thanksgiving cheer to the students and families at Haven Academy – while the school cannot celebrate together this year, the school provided turkeys, vegetables, and other food for families to cook at home.
“Unfortunately, we are not allowed to sit together as one. But we are still one in our hearts,” said one Haven parent.
https://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BronxNet.png7091407Elefant Designhttps://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/nyf-logo-wp.pngElefant Design2020-12-01 09:24:152020-12-02 09:25:50BronxNet: Mott Haven Academy Charter School Provides Thanksgiving Food for Students
Every year, The Foundling partners with 30,000 children, adults, and families as they strive to create transformational change in their own lives –this year, our neighbors need your help more than ever. Our New York and Puerto Rico communities were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. But through hardships and uncertainty, The Foundling has represented a source of strength and hope.
With help from our generous supporters we responded directly to new community needs, allowing those we serve to persevere and stand tall. But our work is not over. As new COVID-19 cases continue to rise in our community, we have a long road ahead. This Giving Tuesday, you can be a hero for our neighbors, and help them continue to move forward and work to keep themselves and their families safe. The time to act is now.
Rodney, a participant in Camp Felix and our Developmental Disabilities Community Habilitation program.
Make a donation today. Your gift will bring immediate support to people like Rodney, who has blossomed thanks to the partnership of his Community Habilitation therapist and his Camp Felix counselors, despite the immense challenges faced by children with developmental disabilities during the pandemic.
Your gift of:
$25 provides PPE for five children, adults, and families in our programs
$100 provides a full day of Camp Felix fun for a young person
$500 provides one month of weekly skills training and therapy for a person with a developmental disability
DID YOU KNOW: This year’s CARES Act makes a new charitable deduction available to taxpayers that do not itemize their deductions. Taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions may be able to deduct up to $300 for cash contributions.*
*Please consult your accountant or financial advisor to learn more about the CARES Act and your eligibility.
P.S. Interested in other ways to support The Foundling? Visit AmazonSmile and choose The New York Foundling as your AmazonSmile charity. The Foundling will receive a portion of every dollar you spend – a simple way to give back as you shop online, at no cost to you!
https://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NYF-AA20-Facebook@2x.png9221640Elefant Designhttps://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/nyf-logo-wp.pngElefant Design2020-11-30 14:43:092020-12-01 11:29:41Be a Hero this Giving Tuesday
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It’s a time when family and friends gather to continue old traditions, start new ones, and create memories that will last a lifetime. It’s a day filled with love, warmth and gratitude. Growing up as one of the youngest in my family, I didn’t get to see my older siblings a lot, because they were fairly independent and often out and about doing their own thing. Thanksgiving was the one day where we all stayed at home – watching the Macy’s parade while prepping the family feast together. Those cherished, warm memories from my youth inspire me today—that food and love go hand-in-hand.
When we cook together and for one another, we’re doing so much more than sharing a meal: we’re sharing a bit of our hearts.
Even though Thanksgiving this year is going to be very different—with smaller tables and more Zoom calls—we can still find creative ways to stay connected to our loved ones even when we are miles apart. After leading a cooking demonstration for The New York Foundling’s Fall Fete, I’ve heard much about the special ways The Foundling is celebrating Thanksgiving this year.
In The Foundling’s Mother and Child Program, staff and young moms will prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal, bringing together their own customs and cultural dishes. It’s also an opportunity for young mothers to create special traditions with their children that can last a lifetime. The same is true in The Foundling’s residences for people with developmental disabilities. Here, Direct Support Professionals and the men and women in Foundling homes will prepare feasts to enjoy together.
And as a chef writing about Thanksgiving, I would be remiss if I didn’t share a recipe!
You’ve got to try Sausage Pasta with Pumpkin Parmesan Sauce (recipe below)! I love this dish because it’s the season for all things pumpkin, it’s the perfect comfort food, and it’s quick and easy to make! While your turkey is in the oven, you can whip up this dish in under 45 minutes.
No matter how we all celebrate Thanksgiving this year, or what food you prepare, let’s be thankful for the community around us. Even if we can’t be together in-person, our hearts can still bring us together around the table.
Sausage Pasta with Pumpkin Parmesan Sauce
Ingredients
I pkg. bowtie pasta (or pasta of choice)
6-8 Italian sausage links, casings removed
2 tbsp olive oil
1 shallot, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup hot water or pasta water
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/3 cup grated parmesan
Garnish
chopped parsley
grated parmesan
red pepper flakes
Cooking Equipment
Pasta Pot
Pasta Strainer
Cooking Utensils (Spoon, Knives)
Zester (optional)
Directions
Cook pasta per box instructions until al dente. Reserve 2 cups pasta water. Drain pasta, rinse with cool water and set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pasta pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage and sauté until browned. Transfer sausage to a bowl and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium. Return pot to heat and add remaining tablespoon of oil. Add shallots and garlic. Stir until onions become translucent and garlic fragrant. Add pumpkin puree, half and half, parmesan and 1 cup pasta water. Stir sauce while simmering until thickened (approximately 4-5 minutes).
Add pasta and sausage to sauce and toss until well mixed. Season with salt to taste. Add additional pasta water if sauce is too thick. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Serve warm garnished with parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes and/or parsley.
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In the New York Times’ recent feature – which explores the effects of pandemic-induced isolation on the mental health of teenagers – Nandini Ahuja, a therapist in our School Based Mental Heath program, shares some of the coping strategies she has shared in her work.
https://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/merlin_177927552_4fe9ce26-254a-4a0f-81d4-7f24d6024440-superJumbo.jpg13652048Elefant Designhttps://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/nyf-logo-wp.pngElefant Design2020-11-13 12:16:442020-11-13 12:17:21The New York Times: Teens in Covid Isolation: ‘I Felt Like I Was Suffocating’
This year’s virtual Fall Fete honored our community of heroes—the children, adults, and families who weathered the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic and are paving their way forward towards achieving their personal goals. Special celebrations spanned the month of October with three mini events leading up to our large virtual gala held on October 27, and totaled nearly 1,000 views across all four events!
Our mini events provided an inside look at the work being done by The Foundling and celebrated our courageous community as they found strength and resilience amid the challenges they’ve experienced this year. The Foundling’s Legacy of Adoption paid tribute to those who helped create our longstanding legacy; Cooking With Mark Bailey provided guests with an exclusive cooking program and taught viewers how to prepare a delicious seasonal dish of sausage pasta with pumpkin parmesan sauce; and our Fireside Chat provided a meaningful conversation about this past year between Foundling President and CEO Bill Baccaglini, ACS Commissioner David A. Hansell and other special guests.
Our Fall Fete grand celebration was hosted by author and NY1 news anchor Cheryl Wills, who shared messages of perseverance, strength, and the importance of The Foundling’s work across the community. Among out featured stories, viewers were inspired by Rodney, a teenager in our Developmental Disabilities program and his eagerness and energy to participate in Camp Felix at Home.
And our guests met Denisha, a young woman in our supportive housing program who shared these words when reflecting on what it meant to finally find her own apartment and a dream job as a teacher:
“I don’t want being a foster child to define me. I want to define what it means to be in foster care. That this is not it. Things will get better if you trust your goal.”
Others who found ways to stand strong through the pandemic included Gianni, who faced homelessness and wasn’t sure he’d be able to continue plans to stay in school. Gianni remarked:
“The Foundling saved my life. I have a stable place to call home and now see myself going to a four-year college.”
The evening included a performance by Haven Kids Rock and the night was made extra special through video messages from Michael Conforto of the New York Mets, Judge Michael Corriero, NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan, Prom Series co-founders Cabernet Burns and Tori Murphy, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan of Catholic Charities, and more.
Thank you to our generous supporters and our Fall Fete Host Committee! In total, we received nearly $550,000 that will support The Foundling’s vital programs and services. These funds will go directly to uplifting our heroes and supporting the tremendous work they do each and every day.
To watch any of the events from Fall Fete, please click on the links below.
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And our guests met Denisha, a young woman in our supportive housing program who shared these words when reflecting on what it meant to finally find her own apartment and a dream job as a teacher:
“The Foundling saved my life. I have a stable place to call home and now see myself going to a four-year college.”
