CWK Network

I sat down with NY1 news anchor, Cheryl Wills on March 28th. It was a cold evening and the sun was starting to set. When I arrived at the 6th floor of the Chelsea Market building, Ms. Wills was waiting for me at the front desk of the New York 1 News Studio. Wearing a bright smile, she welcomed me and gave me a quick tour of the news studio. After a few pictures, Cheryl and I sat down to talk. Many of our students and ESI Liaisons will remember Cheryl Wills from the ESI Day of Action, where she Read More >

Ramon Abreu, Jr., Senior Since the time I joined the Restorative Justice League, I can say my mindset changed for the better. From being a hothead and not caring about the situations I would get myself into with my group of friends, to now thinking two steps forward and having self-control, Restorative Justice gave me a perspective on what it is like being on the peace-making side of the situation because problems should not be dealt with violence. Restorative Justice taught me to not fight with violence but speak your mind and find a solution to the problem in a Read More >

ESI is committed to eliminating the school-to-prison pipeline. Several studies have shown that students with higher numbers of suspensions are more likely to end up in prison, with young men of color disproportionately suspended relative to other groups. To combat these statistics, several ESI schools have implemented Restorative Justice (RJ) practices. The goal of restorative practices is to create school unity, reduce conflict, and foster a safe environment where students can speak their mind. The Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction is one of several ESI schools that have put these practices in place. This year marks its third Read More >

On March 5, 2015, First Lady Michelle Obama announced the Change Direction campaign, a new mental health initiative designed to raise mental health awareness. This builds on President Obama’s call two years ago where he urged educators to help “bring mental illness out of the shadows.” This national spotlight on mental illness, in conjunction with a number of tragic incidents of violence at schools, increases the need to clearly communicate to students about mental health. Here are three powerful messages every school needs to share to create an open environment for students to talk about mental health at school: It’s Read More >