Celebrating our Second Friendsgiving

Last November, At the Table introduced a new tradition: a Friendsgiving celebration. Friendsgiving was the idea of our board member Nicole Wong, who hosted the event at her place of work at Paul Hastings LLP’ midtown Manhattan offices.

Nicole was inspired to propose this event because, from her own personal experience with foster care, she knew how important it is for everyone to have a warm, welcoming place to come together around the Thanksgiving holiday. We’re so grateful to Nicole for helping us put together this event, because it was so wonderful to bond with our students over great food (once again from City Beet Kitchens) in an atmosphere of joy and spontaneity. We are determined to make this an annual custom.

We also heard loud and clear from our students that they want to have even more events, so we are convening a Fun Committee of staff and students to plan our future gatherings!

This January, At the Table upheld an old tradition, our annual Winter Social, in a new venue: Café Flor in Chelsea.

The event featured remarks from our College Access Advisor, Laura Simpson. Here’s what she had to say about her important work helping students through challenges outside the classroom.

Student Successes

✨ C received a Bachelor's degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Forensic Psychology! C was also accepted and has started grad school at John Jay for Forensic Mental Health Counseling.

✨ R paused his time in school at the end of December 2023. He had not realized he passed his other courses in the Fall 2023 semester and only had one single class left. Samrin reengaged him a year later especially because the holidays can be really hard. She helped him sign up for a last class over the winter. He got an A and successfully applied for graduation!

✨ A came back from a personally-challenging fall semester to pass an intensive winter math immersion workshop with flying colors, which fulfilled his developmental math requirement and set him up for a more manageable workload in the Spring!

✨ J received an A+ in Biology. It was her first successful science class in general too!

✨ A became our first-ever At the Table intern in September. She worked with our Community Development Coordinator, Juan to update our Resource Guide and build connections to mental health support partners! The internship fulfilled one of the final requirements for her bachelor’s degree in Africana and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies at Hunter College and she graduated in Fall 2024!

Creative Corner

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Creative Corner 〰️

I, Too

Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.