York Early College Academy Unveiled New Guidance Suite on Feb. 13

The suite will support a peer meditation program and will expand guidance and mental health services for students.

By Jacqueline Neber February 19, 2020

The York Early College Academy in Jamaica unveiled a new guidance suite that will host peer meditation and expanded guidance and mental health services on Feb. 13 at 9am. The suite enables students to seek mental health resources confidentially—previously, students had to seek services in classrooms filled with peers. The new office space will also host peer mediation sessions where kids will learn how to resolve conflicts and de-escalate crises through cooperation and communication. Zara Realty funded the building of the new suite, and announced it will provide three students with $1,000 college scholarships per year.

“Mental health support for students is so important because it provides the basis that enables them to achieve their dreams and thrive in whatever endeavor they choose,” said Jay Sobhraj, principal of Zara Realty. “Unfortunately, some young people are reluctant to speak about this issue or to seek the help they need. We hope that with this new state-of-the-art office suite, students at York Early College Academy will feel comfortable accessing these critical services.”’

Amir Sobhraj, financial controller at Zara, spoke to the firm’s ongoing efforts to support students.

“We have always made supporting education a priority,” he said. “From the SAT and SSHAT prep classes we sponsor, to the technology labs we have helped open throughout Queens, to the scholarships we announced today, helping young people prepare for their futures is one of the most valuable commitments we can make.”

The new guidance offices will be used for the rest of the year at York and scholarship winners will be announced toward the end of the year.

Main Image: Students join Jay Sobhraj and Jasmine Subraj of Zara Realty in cutting the ribbon of the new guidance center. Courtesy Jason Fink