{"id":118580,"date":"2025-08-04T16:17:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T16:17:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/118580\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T16:17:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T16:17:58","slug":"the-2025-above-beyond-social-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/118580\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2025 Above & Beyond: Social Services"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n


\n \"Permalink\"
\n <\/a>
\n Valerie Agostini<\/p>\n

Educational Director, Grand St. Settlement<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Valerie Agostini
\n \/
\n Paul Frangipane<\/p>\n

When New York City budget cuts loomed earlier this year, Grand St. Settlement\u2019s early childhood program was on the chopping block.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

But families enrolled in the program rallied and submitted letters of support to save the nonprofit\u2019s Bushwick Child and Family Center \u2013 and it worked.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u201cCity officials came in and they saw the engagement of families in our program, they saw the level of high-quality learning that was happening in this program and the families themselves sold the program based on their own feedback,\u201d Valerie Agostini says. \u201cI found that to be an incredible win for us.\u201d<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

The organization\u2019s educational director serves vulnerable populations, including children with special needs, who are facing housing instability or other challenges.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

She began her career at Grand St. as a pre-K student teacher, and teaching is still at the core of her work.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u201cI live, love and breathe early childhood,\u201d Agostini says. \u201cIt\u2019s very important to me that families feel welcome and they feel part of this initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

The nonprofit also offers youth services, benefits assistance and food pantries. It\u2019s now expanding to the Bronx, with more programs in the works.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here to be able to support that child that doesn\u2019t have the voice to express themselves to demonstrate the need that they have, and that family that really doesn\u2019t have the tools or the skills to know how to navigate the systems here,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019re here to support them. We\u2019re here to be their voice. We\u2019re here to be their strongest advocate.\u201d<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u2013 Amanda Salazar<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n