Folks, we’re so lucky to work with amazing organizations, advocates and partners in our mission to build peace in New York City and beyond. This is the first article in a series profiling our wonderful peace partners, written by our very own Emily Sernaker, Development and Outreach Officer.
A Special Thank You to Advocates for Children’s Ana Espada
By Emily Sernaker
Today we honor Ana Espada, an incredible education advocate! Ana has been providing specialized support and resources to children with disabilities and disciplinary issues since 1988. As a Co-Director and Parent Information Specialist at Advocates for Children, Ana changes students’ lives by helping them address educational challenges.
Advocates for Children’s mission is to protect every child’s right to education. The organization focuses on students from low-income backgrounds who are struggling in school or experiencing school discrimination. When a disciplinary issue emerges or a student with a disability is struggling, parents can reach out to the organization’s hotline for help. From there a specialist, like Ana, meets with the family to advocate for the child and develop a plan.
“Suspensions can mount up,” says Ana. “If you have a kid who keeps getting suspended again and again, you’re not going to see him in science and math… he’s going to fail those classes.” Ana also noted that students with disabilities are often overwhelmed with academic challenges.
In many cases, Ana recommends mediation through New York Peace Institute. New York Peace Institute’s Special Education Mediation Program creates a safe and neutral space to bring parents and educators together to make a plan to get the student back on track.
“Mediation can make a difference,” says Carol Himes, the New York Peace Institute Special Education Coordinator. “Parents and schools meet with the support of a neutral mediator and create a mutually agreeable plan for the student. Mediation can also help parents and schools repair their relationship.”
Mediations are often highly charged. Parents and schools may feel frustrated and the problem in play can be difficult to address. The first session is usually sufficient, but at times it serves as a starting place. Ana appreciates that sometimes the parties benefit from attending multiple mediation sessions, noting that rebuilding trust can take time. Interim agreements can be helpful in allowing the parties to try out potential solutions and to adjust them accordingly.
“I work with New York Peace Institute because they believe in what they’re doing and the process is effective,” says Ana. About 80% of the cases mediated end up reaching an agreement, which is legally binding.
Ana often follows the progress of her clients. She recently shared an email update from a parent regarding one of the students for whom a mediation was conducted. “Thanks again for encouraging me to still pursue my concerns in the mediation,” the parent said. “Now my child and I won’t have to stress about what will happen at the end of the school year.”
You’re unbeatable when you have love on your side. –Mark Ruffalo
Nonviolence is pretty ballsy, pretty advanced weaponry. — Ava DuVernay
To be alive is to be vulnerable. — Madeleine L’Engle
The only thing ruder than finger pointing is rocket pointing. — Aparna Nancherla
Anger is just, and pity is just, but judgement is not just. — D.H. Lawrence
Be grateful for the luck, pay the thunder no mind — listen to the birds. And don’t hate nobody. — Eubie Blake
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind. — Henry James
We’re all products of what we want to project to the world. — Cindy Sherman
One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team. But one man cannot make a team. — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
You cannot find peace by avoiding life. — Virginia Woolf
Gonna get through this world the best I can. — Woody Guthrie
Kindness eases change. Love quiets fear. — Octavia Butler
It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking. — Yogi Berra
In our hearts we are just human beings who want a dignified life. Is that too much to ask? –Tawakkol Karman
Curious is a good thing to be. It seems to pay off some unexpected dividends. — Iggy Pop
Service is the rent you pay for room on this earth. — Shirley Chisholm
The last time doesn’t exist. It’s only this time. And everything is going to be different this time. There’s only now. — Bill Murray
Don’t understand anything. That is, I think, the key to understanding everything. — Keith Haring
Sadness and anger can make you feel more creative, and by being creative, you can get beyond your pain and negativity. — Yoko Ono
Life is not a solo act. It is a huge collaboration. — Tim Gunn
I don’t let my mouth say anything that my head can’t stand. — Louis Armstrong
Goodbye sorrow, hello tomorrow. — Leon Russell (RIP.)
Changes comes from listening, learning, caring and conversation. — Gwen Ifill (RIP.)
When in doubt, zoom out. — Reggie Watts
All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal. — John Steinbeck
It’s just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let’s start tolerating first, but thne we need to celebrate our differences. — Billie Jean King
Think of something you can do, as opposed to all the things you can’t — and do that. — Kathleen Hanna
We are not by nature cruel. — J.M. Coetzee
Understaning is joyous. — Carl Sagan
It’s harder to make the glass than break the glass. — RZA
Peace begins with a smile. — Mother Teresa
A musican’s whole life is to listen. — Wynton Marsalis
There is nothing better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time. — Malcolm X
We don’t know how strong we are until we are forced to bring that hidden strength forward. In times of tragedy, of war, of necessity, people do amazing things. The human capacity for survival and renewal is awesome. — Isabel Allende
None of the supericial things that this world deems important. The real you is the energy force that created the universe. — RuPaul
Accept that you’re fragile, vulnerable and sometimes stupid. — Marc Maron
Act the way you’d like to be seen and soon you’ll be the way you act. — Leonard Cohen
Kindness eases change. Love quiets fear. — Octavia Butler
Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act. — Leonard Cohen
A musician’s whole life is to listen. — Wynton Marsalis
Accept that you;re fragile, vulnerable and sometimes stupid. — Mark Maron
Gonna get through this world the best I can. — Woody Guthrie
Goodbye sorrow, hello tomorrow. — Leon Russell (RIP…)
There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.
Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.
Love is the only engine of survival.
How can I begin anything with all of yesterday in me?
BTW, I’m training mediators in New Orleans this week, and Mr. Cohen was my co-trainer.
There is nothing better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time. — Malcolm X
There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in. — Leonard Cohen
In our hearts, we are just human beings who want a dignified life. Is that too much to ask? -Tawakkol Karman
The last time doesn’t exist. It’s only this time. And everything is going to be different this tie. There’s only now. — Bill Murray
We are not by nature cruel. — J.M. Coetzee
Peace begins with a smile. — Mother Teresa
Life is not a solo act. It’s a huge collaboration. — Tim Gunn
We are all products of what we want to project to the world. — Cindy Sherman
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind. 
Folks, below is a (baker’s) dozen of new sketches. Above are pics of a display of my stuff curated by the wonderful 
When in doubt, zoom out. — Reggie Watts
Treat all disasters as if they were trivialities, but never treat a triviality as if it were a disaster. — Quentin Crisp
One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team. –Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
I don’t let me mouth say nothing that my head can’t stand. — Louis Armstrong
It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking. — Yogi Berra
It’s just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let’s start tolerating first, but then we nee to celebrate our differences. — Billie Jean King
It’s harder to make the glass than break the glass. — RZA
Understanding is joyous. — Carl Sagan
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