Social Skills in Motion

Our Mission

 Our mission is to enhance social-emotional well-being through sports and movement-based programs. Our programs use a unique and interdisciplinary approach that values being trauma-informed, person-centered, and pro-neurodiversity. We believe that everyone has the innate desire to move and that young people learn best through play. Our programs use a variety of movement-based activities to engage and empower young people in social and emotional learning that is fun.

About Us

We believe that everyone has the innate desire to dance and move and that kids learn best through play. Before we could talk, we could move to communicate, connect and explore the world. Our therapy and community programs use a variety of movement-based activities and art forms to engage and empower young people through their authentic movements. Our recreational movement and play spaces are the mediums we use to expose youth to movement forms where they can become artists in their own healing and wellness journeys. In our groups, young people come together to work toward kinesthetic empathy and somatic connection. The movement group themes are inspired and created by diverse members of our community. We honor individuals as movers and allow their natural and cultural movements to influence our work. Dance and movement break cultural and language barriers that allow for cross-cultural connection among members.  

How you can Help

 Our dream is to have our own space where we can become a holistic, one-stop shop for wellness through movement and provide more expansive classes and services. Additionally, at SSKIM, we understand the value of embedding into the community. We use creativity and play to enhance social-emotional awareness in the community. We are seeking funding to obtain a lease for a new space, build out our wellness center, and purchase equipment and necessary furnishings. Our expansion project will enable us to offer more services, provide space for young people to gather, play and explore, and for us to host more community events and collaborations. In our vision and design, this space allows for center to run multiple groups at the same time, have community members participate in recreational activities, exercise, etc, and be able to seek out mental health support. All of the young people we work with within our community partnerships will be able to come to this space for additional support. In our dream space, we will be able to build a team of additional therapists, youth workers, wellness professionals, and trainers to provide a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to services.

This is our perspective space with 8,000 sq feet to customize to meet our needs. Below is a drafted floor plan that demonstrates the design for our space. The floor plan identifies areas of the space that will provide holistic opportunities for wellness including, a Sensory room, open studio/group space, cheer/gymnastics/recreational play space, fitness area, individual and group counseling rooms, and more!

Build Out Plans by Room/Area

  About Our Founders

Cofounders Giana Quinterno LCSW and Sarah Czworniak LCSW.  Sara worked to provide innovative services to facilitate development, support, and vocational opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum and with developmental challenges. She designed and implemented movement-based activities to empower young people to develop healthy coping strategies in an effort to bring emotional and social change.  With a BA in psychology and Social Work and a Master in Social Work, Giana’s previous work experience includes working in classroom and school settings from Pre-K through elementary school focusing on providing support in Social Emotional development and Mental Health for the Deaf, hard of hearing and others dealing with developmental and behavioral challenges. While in NYC, she made the jump to provide counseling services in NYC High Schools through a few community-based organizations until 2019.

With a goal in mind of accessibility, all of our community programs are free or low-cost to participate. We understand the importance of daily movement and providing education to a wider community to come and learn about different movement forms, the benefits of daily movement and to have fun!

We are asking that you GIVE or GIFT, and SHARE with your networks. 

GIVE

We are thankful that you have decided to support our campaign by giving. You can see the options of how you can choose to give. You will be impacting the next generation of young people by providing an opportunity for a Wellness Center. 

GIFT

Interested in gifting movement sessions to young people? Contact us today at [email protected] to learn how! You can gift group or 1:1 classes to young people today.  If you'd like to gift equipment or furniture to our Wellness Center, please contact us to learn how.

SHARE

Share the word about our campaign with your network so others can hear about our Wellness program and its positive impact on our community. The more people we are able to reach with your help, the better. It takes a village...be a part of that village today! 

Thank you for giving, gifting, and sharing! We appreciate your time in reading our story & support our mission.