Brooklyn Boro

Brooklyn court employees bring their kids to work

April 29, 2016 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Court officer Cynthia Bostick with her kids Joshua E. Naranjo and Jasmine A. Bostick with Gabrielle Rago (daughter of court officer Jerry Rago, not pictured).
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The Kings County Gender Fairness Committee hosted the annual “Bring Your Child to Work Day” event in the Brooklyn Supreme Court on Thursday, when 60 kids had the opportunity to see what their parents do for a living.

“This is the most enjoyable event all year,” said Daniel M. Alessandrino, chief clerk for criminal matters. “The kids have a great time, but the parents love it more than the kids. Usually if they ask me to come and say something at an event, I get nervous because I don’t know what to say, but not at this event. I love it and I have no problem coming down to talk to and meet the kids.”

The event is designed to keep the children busy all day, beginning with a morning breakfast. The kids then learn sign language from court interpreters Deanna Cantor and Hillary Cohen, participate in a mock trial, take a “field trip” to the green market on Court Street, and spend the afternoon with the court officers, learning about gun safety and CPR. There is also a lunch social with Hon. Michelle Weston. 

“Our theme for this year is ‘Spark an Aha Moment,'” said Yvonne R. Marin, who helped to organize the event. “We have lots of activities planned for them, including the field trip, where they can learn about recycling [and] a mock trial, where we have a fun case for them, including a colorblind man who accidentally steals a car thinking it was his.

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“For lunch, Judge Weston is going to come in and chat with the kids, and we’re going to teach them what networking is, how to meet people [and] how to talk to the other kids.”

The event is not easy to pull off, as it is difficult for parents to work while also watching their kids. But the committee organized volunteers to help look after the children. The event is also deliberately scheduled the same week as Passover and spring break, as the court isn’t as busy and the kids aren’t missing school.

“The kids love this,” Marin said. “A lot of them have off this week anyway, so they’d otherwise just be staying at home.”

The program has been a tradition since the 1980s, and there are even some current employees whose first experience in the courts was through this program.

“Every year we have this program, [and] it reminds me of bringing my niece here when she was very young. She wasn’t even in middle school, and now she’s 31,” said Charles Small, chief clerk for civil matters. “This program has been running successfully for many years.

“I’m happy that the kids get to come into work so they can see a little of what their parents do so that when they get home at night and they’re tired, they understand and appreciate how hard they work. Maybe this is the time that you find something in you that makes you feel like you want to be a lawyer or a court officer.”

 


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