Keeping Our Kids Healthy & Safe

On March 23rd, I was honored to testify before the NYC Council on behalf of Morningside Center. “We are living through catastrophic times,” I stated. “The emotional and mental health needs of our young people are overwhelming. And the neuroscience is clear: our brains are hard-wired for connection because connection is safety. Without safety, learning simply cannot happen. Yet too often, we are asking children to learn in environments where they do not feel safe, seen or supported. We need to be in relationship, but often we don’t know how.” 

Why did Morningside Center need to testify?

New York City is considering a $58M reduction to the Education budget that cuts funds for restorative practices and mental health services. These are not extras. They are lifelines.

If these cuts stand, the consequences for students—and Morningside—will be devastating.

Here’s more of what I said:

“Let me share a few calls from school staff that I field every day…

• At a mostly white and Asian school with a tiny population of Black and Latine/x students some white students are calling brown peers the N-word—and the principal does not know how to respond.
• At another school, fourth and fifth graders are caught in cycles of cyberbullying, with real harm taking place and no clear path forward.
• At a third school knife fights outside the building have harmed young people who are also now no longer safe inside the building.”
   

And yet—BECAUSE OF SUPPORTERS LIKE YOU—we are also making incredible change that is only possible when students are given the tools to connect, be heard and heal:

• “First graders at an integrated co-teaching school—including several neurodiverse children (e.g., autistic, etc.)—now share in Circle; read books and talk about the characters’ emotions; and can say to a neighbor, ‘that hurts my feelings when…’ Their first-year teacher didn’t receive training for these SEL skills in graduate school—but she has them now because of MSC and you.
• At schools where Muslim and Palestinian students are carrying anger, grief and isolation from what they see on their phones, our Staff Developers and the school RJ Coordinators held spaces for students to process feelings and needs safely. Students were then able to speak directly with educators about classroom practices that unintentionally deepened their sense of alienation—opening the door to real understanding and change.
• In a District 75 school serving students with significant disabilities, non-verbal children can now participate in Circle thanks to an expert MSC coach. Imagine the joy of a child who cannot speak being able to connect—to see and be seen—while sitting alongside peers they watch laughing and playing every day.”
   

This is transformation. This is what your support makes possible.

Morningside partners to co-create schools where our students connect, feel safe and have voice. Young people are seen and embraced for who they are. Then, and only then, the amygdala relaxes, the fight-flight-freeze instinct evaporates and real learning—and joy—bloom.

If you have given to Morningside before, we are deeply grateful—and I am asking you to stand with us again at this critical moment.

If you can consider a generous first time—or second—gift this year, thank you.

Now is the time. Your gift today is not just support—it is protection, possibility and hope for thousands of young people.

Together we will change the future for our children and communities.

With warmth and in solidarity,

Cassie Schwerner l Executive Director

P.S. As always, I am delighted to meet with you to share more about the joy and transformation your generosity make possible!