Advocates, educators, and elected officials came together at the Harrison Meadows Country Club for the Westchester Children’s Association’s (WCA) annual Advocacy Breakfast. Held each fall, the event serves as a forum for community stakeholders to explore pressing issues affecting children and families in Westchester County. Attendees, including State Senator Shelley Mayer; Assemblymember Steve Otis; a representative from Assemblyman Nader Sayeg’s office; County Legislators Nancy Barr, David Imamura, Catherine Parker, Judah Holstein, Jewel Williams Johnson, and Emilijana Ulaj; gathered for a thought-provoking program themed “Advocacy in the Time of Change.”

Damali Peterman, author, mediator and conflict management specialist, delivered the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Child Advocacy Lecture. Drawing from her new book “Be Who You Are to Get What You Want,” she highlighted authenticity as the cornerstone of effective advocacy and encouraged attendees to remain grounded and purposeful, even in challenging times. Peterman asked the audience to close their eyes and envision an ideal world that they saw. She shared, “that advocacy is not only about confronting what’s wrong but daring to imagine what’s possible.”

The breakfast marked the first annual Advocacy Breakfast under the leadership of Adam Rabinovitch, WCA’s newly appointed executive director. “Each year, WCA brings together families, educators and advocates to examine the issues that shape children’s well-being,” said Rabinovitch. “This year’s program emphasized the importance of recognizing one’s own capacity to effect change and to lead with purpose, even in challenging times.” 

The event fostered thoughtful discussion around sustaining advocacy efforts amid shifting public priorities, strengthening collaboration across sectors and ensuring that every child in Westchester has the resources and support needed to thrive. Program and Policy Manager Angel Gray concluded the event by inspiring the audience to “show up and lean on each other as we continue to advocate for issues that are impacting Westchester’s children.”

Westchester Children’s Association is a multi-issue, child advocacy nonprofit that works to ensure that every child in Westchester is healthy, safe and prepared for life’s challenges, regardless of race or zip code. Since 1914, WCA has been the leading independent voice for Westchester’s children by identifying their needs, making those needs known to the public and ensuring those needs are met through advocacy and mobilization efforts.