The Building Blocks of Bloomingdale
At the top of the Bloomingdale block tower are its most important work, the children and their families. Under them are the teaching and therapy staff. Then come the family workers, who keep things running smoothly. Next, the kitchen staff provides the meals and snacks that keep the classrooms going, along with the custodial staff that makes those classrooms shine. The administrators are the foundation blocks, navigating the many outside agencies that work with Bloomingdale. They oversee the curriculum. They pay the bills and cut the paychecks, and they raise the funds for all the extras the children need. They find and interview new staff. It’s a lot of work, and there aren’t that many of them. They can use some help, and now help has arrived in the person of Juleika Solano, our new Deputy Director.
Juleika grew up here in New York City, living in the Bronx River Projects with her Dominican-American family. She majored in Public Administration at John Jay College, with a concentration in Human Resources. Her previous jobs have been with the Harlem Children’s Zone, Bellevue Hospital, and the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens. She loves music, animals, and learning, so she is in good company here. What surprised her about Bloomingdale? That many on staff started their relationship with Bloomingdale as parents with children in the program. Welcome, Juleika, and a warm welcome as well to everyone who has joined us this year. All of you enrich the Bloomingdale family!