WWBA September 2020 Newsletter - M

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○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ UNCERTAINTY IS THE NEW NORMAL from page 5 7. Connect with your school district to address any concerns you might have regarding your child with a disability and/or the provision of services listed in their IEP or Section 504 Plan. 8. If you notice marked changes in your child’s behavior, especially changes in sleep, eating and anxiety levels, contact the school district or seek out other resources for support. 9. Reach out to your school district to discuss the supports available for your child. 10. Create a “cozy corner” in your home where your child can go when feeling upset, anxious, or frustrated. You can build into the daily schedule 15 minutes of your undivided attention in the cozy corner with the certainty that they can voice their concerns at a set time during the day. Dr. Bond offers strategies for teens and young adults, many of whom are also navigating decreased socialization at a stage in their development when social circles and interactions become very important. Teens and young adults who moved into a developmentally appropriate phase of independence before COVID-19 have seen their autonomy and individual decision-making slide backwards. The abrupt changes and disruptions to the social lives and autonomy of teens and young adults can bring on depression and sadness. Dr. Bond suggests the following to support and encourage teens and young adults and help them take ownership of caring for themselves physically, emotionally and socially. 1. Offer empathy and listen, while being mindful not to tip into victimhood or dramatization of the circumstances. 2. Be present-focused, and teach your child to do the same. Being present-focused requires you and your child to stay in the “now” and be mindful of the present rather than focusing on what has been lost in the past or the anxiety that may arise in the future. This way, you and your child can practice being flexible and avoid rigid expectations of what the future may hold. The only certainty is the present, and focusing on the present generates a healthier view. 3. As students enter a college campus either for the first time or to return, parents may suggest the following to their child to assist them during this transition: ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ a. Reassure your child that that it is completely normal to experience the array of feelings they may have - uncertainty, anxiety, etc. Encourage them to communicate with you and others how they are feeling. If these feelings worsen or if they just aren’t feeling like “themselves,” encourage them to call the College Counseling Center. b. Stress the importance of having a routine at school. Encourage your child to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, waking up around the same time every day. Most colleges are incorporating virtual classes into their regular schedules. It is important to speak to your child about not attending virtual classes on their continued on page 11 ➥ A Leader in Serving the Legal Services Community. That’s Sterling. Expect the highest caliber of personal service and banking expertise. Expect extraordinary. Contact banking professionals experienced in serving your unique needs at 914-367-9000, or email team556@snb.com Jamie O’Connell Wealth Director 701 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604 T 914 299 3050 F 955 498 2839 jamie.o’connell@bnymellon.com www.bnymellonwealth.com Larry McElroen, Senior Managing Director Michael Henderson, Senior Managing Director Anthony Forgione, Managing Director Moira Kiernan, Managing Director Luis Rivera, Associate Managing Director To learn about Sterling’s full suite of services, visit snb.com. Member FDIC Page 8 Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ An Interview with Angela Morcone Giannini from page 7 knowledge and skills not only with other members in our association but with our Westchester community. Our Annual Law Day / Take your Children to Work Day is a perfect example. Despite COVID-19, with the help of Past President Deborah Scalise and President Lisa Margaret Smith we were able to host a virtual event. In collaboration with the SDNY, we presented a live webcast program to students throughout our county which included a Mock Trial team presentation on U.S. v. Phoenix Jones. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith presided, the Rye Neck High School Mock trial team played the roles of prosecutor, defense attorney and witnesses and the student attendees throughout the county participated as jurors and casted a live electronic jury vote at the end of the trial. In addition, there were presentations by civil and criminal attorneys on the practice of law and an FBI agent on federal investigations. The program concluded with participants being presented with a Proclamation as a remembrance of their participation in the “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment.” The program was recorded with closed caption for the hearing impaired. It was huge success with over 300 attendees and will be stored in the 2d Circuit Educational Archives. Another example of our collaborative effort involved the WWBA’s Wellness and Domestic Violence Committees hosting a virtual program via ZOOM: “Intimate Partner Violence and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Westchester - A Panel Discussion from Legal, Law Enforcement, and Mental Health Professionals.” The presenters included the WWBA, Putnam Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center, White Plains Police Department and Pace Women’s Justice Center. The program was sponsored by Sterling National Bank. The panelists addressed the effect of “shelter in place orders” on partner violence and family custody and support issues. The WWBA’s program not only provided very important and timely information to our members, it permitted the panelists to have an opportunity to collaborate with each other and share their resources to help victims in our community. Having been raised the daughter of a History professor, I was constantly reminded of the privilege of living in a democratic society where one is afforded the right to vote. It was instilled in me that we can never take the right to have our voice heard for granted. So when WBASNY called upon Chapters to take on a voting initiative, I was committed to our Westchester Chapter working hard to promote voter registration. With the help of student member Megan Farrell, Westchester registered the most voters statewide among all the chapters in WBASNY and achieved 1st place in the Voter Registration Initiative! Q: What do you believe that the WWBA should be focusing upon in the future? A: I believe that the WWBA must continue to focus on the education of our members and the WWBA’s involvement in our ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ communities. We must continue to increase our membership, encourage mentorship and develop creative ways to use the virtual platform to engage our members and remain a strong presence in their lives. Q. Tell us about your legal background, and the various accomplishments of your career? A: I am a graduate of Pace Law School and had the privilege of interning for the late Honorable Judge Isaac Rubin at the Appellate Division Second Department. I also was a summer intern at the prestigious firm of Clark, Gagliardi & Miller, PC. and later hired by the firm. I was fortunate to become a partner at CGM and worked there for 28 years learning each day under the guidance of renowned trial attorney, the late Henry Miller and esteemed plaintiff’s attorney, Lucille Fontana. On May 1st of 2017, Lucille and I started our own firm, Fontana Giannini LLP. Starting a law firm is an exciting and challenging endeavor and thanks to my law partner, it has proved to be very rewarding. Over the years, I have mentored many law students and have truly enjoyed helping them learn about the practice of law and establish their own careers. I have been fortunate to have been selected as a Super Lawyer for the past 11 years and inducted as a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Just this past January, I was honored to receive the New York State Bar Association Professionalism Award, having been nominated by the WWBA and WCBA. Q: Tell us about your professional and personal goals. A: I look forward to continuing to represent victims of accidents in the areas of personal injury, premise, auto, labor and medical malpractice for many years. I also look forward to participating in the newly established Court Mediation and ADR programs and using my learned negotiation and settlement skills to help others resolve their disputes. I plan to continue my mentorship of law students and one day, I would like to return to the classroom and teach a law class. Q: How have you balanced your family and career over time? A: The balance question remains a topic of discussion not only for those practicing law, but for all individuals who work and have a family. I was very fortunate to have a great family network who encouraged and supported me during my early career years especially when my children were very young. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not have been able to achieve the successes in my career if it were not for my supportive and loving spouse, Robert who always supported my career and encouraged all my efforts in the practice of law. Now having practiced over 30 years, I can share with you that I have learned that balance involves “sway.” There is never true equilibrium of family and career. Better to embrace “the sway” and realize that career and family will never at any given time be completely balanced. Doing so gives you the freedom to do both well and in fact, for most of us, very well! ◗ Westchester Women’s Bar Association News Page 9
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WWBA September 2020 Newsletter - M

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