Urban Tech Offers Online Exercises to Promote Social Growth

A former child actor, Janina Casey graduated with a degree in finance from St. Johns University. In her charitable work, Janina Casey serves on the board of directors for Urban Tech, an agency that promotes emotional and social growth for children of low-income families.

A major part of Urban Tech’s mission is its Youth Leadership Academy. The YLA offers 12 online courses that develop social skills for children ages 8 and up. Programming includes bullying, conflict resolution, and financial education. Teens learn about relationships and avoiding STDs and drugs.

All sessions begin with narratives that explore values and problem-solving. Team leaders then replay animations that help participants identify problems and draw conclusions in group discussions. 

Next, students write their thoughts in an electronic journal, stimulating critical thinking and language skills. Then they take part in role-playing and games in order to reinforce their lessons and work as a team.

Finally, they participate in quiz-show style programs that provide enjoyment while measuring their progress. The application also defines unfamiliar words and links students to relevant web material.

How Educational Television Shapes Learning

Managing director at BTIG, Janina Casey has over two decades of experience working with some of the most successful brokerages in New York City. An alumna of St. John’s University, Janina Casey had a successful acting career in her youth and was on the iconic children’s educational television program The Electric Company. 

Educational television programs are a vital tool for teaching children positive social behaviors and basic numeracy and literacy skills. Additionally, children can learn about the wider world through educational programs focused on nature, travel, and other cultures. Children’s programming has also been shown to develop school readiness in young children, including skills such as following instructions and learning simple songs through repetition. 

This can have a long-term impact in a child’s academic performance. When compared to children who watch entertainment television regularly, preschool children who watch a large amount of educational television attain higher scores on achievement tests. For this and other reasons, experts advise parents to be selective about the type of programming their children watch.

Supporting Disadvantaged Youth through Mentorship Programs

Beyond her work as an equities and sales professional, Janina Casey is committed to addressing issues facing disadvantaged youth. In addition to her board position with the educational nonprofit Urban Tech, Janina Casey has coordinated fundraising events to help underserved schools purchase computers and spent several years mentoring high school students. 

Well-designed mentoring programs can help counteract many of the negative circumstances impacting disadvantaged youth, such as poverty, substance abuse, and violence. Studies have shown that at-risk students who spend time with a mentor are more likely to graduate high school and attend college. 

Mentors can help youth in a number of ways. Some mentorship programs provide one-on-one academic and homework support and tutoring. Other programs focus on college readiness and identifying a career path and match students with mentors working in their desired field. 

Besides the attention and guidance of a caring adult, youth benefit from the safe environment mentorship programs provide. A number of programs also train their mentors in conflict resolution and building relationships.

Urban Tech Bullying Prevention Program

New York City-based managing director Janina Casey has extensive experience working in research and equity sales at some of the world’s largest financial institutions. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Janina Casey is a long time advocate for social programs for at-risk youth and serves on the board for Urban Tech, a nonprofit curriculum developer.

Urban Tech's Dignity for All (DFA )program is a comprehensive bullying prevention curriculum designed to increase empathy, respect, and other soft skills among adolescents. The program incorporates Common Core standards of grade-relevant English language arts and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) lessons.

DFA uses a holistic model that supports the development of safe and accepting school environments. Evidence has shown that students are less likely to experience bullying in schools staffed with supportive adults. 

The DFA curriculum is divided into three learning stages and combines readings, digital tools, and interactive activities to inspire discussion around important topics such as the dangers and signs of bullying and the concepts of mindfulness and restorative justice.

Ways to Stand Out When Auditioning for a Commercial

Philanthropist and finance professional Janina Casey graduated from St. John's University and has since led a career in research equity and sales. During her childhood, Janina Casey was involved in the acting world and appeared in several television commercials. as well as the television show The Electric Company.

Standing out during a commercial audition is challenging for actors of any age. Listed below are a few things to help young actors be more memorable during a casting call.

1. Dress appropriately. Casting directors audition young actors because they want actors who look the age they’ll be playing. For this reason, actors should always dress appropriately for an audition and avoid applying too much makeup, wearing provocative clothes, or doing other things that don't suit their age.

2. Make adjustments. During an audition, it’s not uncommon for the director to request that the actor do something differently than the sample script says. For example, directors may try changing which word is emphasized in a line. Directors often do this to figure out how well a young actor takes direction when it comes to their performance. Those who are unable to take direction well are more likely to be passed up for someone with more range.

3. Create a moment. While rehearsing, young actors can craft a scene that happens right before the section they are auditioning for. The creation of some backstory will help the actor get into character and demonstrates to the director that the actor understands the idea that scenes are a slice of life.

UrbanTech's Dignity for All Program

Janina Casey is a New York-based financial professional with over 15 years of experience. She is currently involved in research and equity sales. An active participant in community-based programs, Janina Casey has been supporting fundraisers for Urban Tech, a non-profit organization in which she is a board member. 

Founded in 1995, Urban Tech is a social corporation with a mission of revamping the education scene through several strategies which include digital storytelling, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning. The organization hosts several programs that aim to improve the educational experience, among which is Dignity for All (DFA), a bullying prevention program.

DFA is a part of the Safe and Supportive Schools program aims to build a more compassionate society. The program utilizes storytelling, role-playing, and even popular culture to instigate a collaborative effort towards breaking down the issues that accompany each step of the bullying cycle. DFA helps instill the necessary skills to sustain a safe and supportive culture in schools. 

DFA is divided into three quests:

1. Knowledge acquisition - this is where students are made to understand the foundational elements of bullying, including the roles in the bullying cycle.

2. Attitude shift - during this quest, students are required to critically reflect on their own belief systems and their essential needs.

3. Behavior transformation - after a series of theoretical activities, students complete tasks that entail practical application of what has been learned thus far.

The Financial Education Network from Urban Tech

New York-based financial executive Janina Casey supports a wide range of community efforts. Besides mentoring and sponsoring two underprivileged high school students through private school, Janina Casey serves on the board of the National Urban Technology Center (Urban Tech).

A social enterprise, Urban Tech uses social emotional learning and critical thinking to alter the educational landscape. The organization uses interactive curriculum that includes programs such as the Financial Education Network (FEN).

Formed through collaboration between Urban Tech and Wells Fargo’s Hands on Banking, FEN is an online learning destination being tested through partnerships in Miami, Seattle, Atlanta, and Dallas. The program is available through colleges, organizations, and schools dedicated to building a community around financial education. Once tested in these areas, FEN will expand across the nation.

FEN offers a variety of online modules for students, including money management, buying a home, and banking services. Through each module, individuals learn about everything from the basics of savings and checking accounts to the step-by-step process of purchasing a home as a young adult. They also have the opportunity to learn about dealing with debt problems, creating a spending plan, and reading a credit report.

Three Benefits of Traveling

New York finance professional Janina Casey graduated from St. John’s University with a BS in finance. More recently, she has completed programs in management training at, among other institutions, Princeton University and developed a successful career in equity research and sales. Outside of work, Janina Casey enjoys traveling.

Below are a few benefits of traveling:

- Reduce stress and boost mood. Many people experience sleep deprivation in their daily life. When combined with high levels of stress, this makes you more irritable and decreases your cognitive performance. By traveling, you experience a break in your routine and can catch up on your sleep, thus making you feel rejuvenated when you return home.

- Explore new interests. Traveling to new locations gives you a better idea of how others live and what their cultures are like. Through this exposure, you may learn about new interests or ways of living that you can develop upon your return home.

- Expand your comfort zone. Regardless of whether you travel with a group, as a volunteer, or on your own, you are placing yourself in a new location and new situations that can help you expand your comfort zone. As a result, you will experience a boost in confidence and be more willing to accept new challenges.

Urbantech NYC Initiatives

Since 1999, Janina Casey has been working in executive level positions at financial institutions in New York City. Janina Casey supports Urbantech NYC fundraisers and was recently elected to the Board of Directors. 

Urbantech NYC is a company dedicated to fostering an entrepreneurship ecosystem that supports both innovation and entrepreneurs looking to make cities more sustainable and livable. To this end, Urbantech focuses on four main areas: work, build, demonstrate, and connect. 

Urbantech NYC offers more than 10,000 square feet of affordable private and co-working spaces at Urban Future Lab, Hub @ GCT, and Hub @ New Lab, providing areas for innovators to create and connect. The company has also teamed with New Lab and the Regional Economic Development Council to develop a prototyping center and commercialization program so that Urbantech members have the tools they need to build and create. 

Further, the company is also looking for ways to help its members demonstrate their innovations and technologies on New York City infrastructure, to show in a concrete fashion how their work can solve problems. To learn more, visit www.urbantechnyc.com.

Teaching Children to Read with Educational Television

With a bachelor of science in finance, Janina Casey has almost 20 years of executive experience in equity research and sales. Before her professional career in finance, Janina Casey was a child actress and was nominated for her role in the children's educational television show The Electric Company. 

While many experts agree that today's children spend too much time with electronic media, a number of them including Milton Chen, who helped launch an educational programming partnership between the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the U.S. Department of Education, believe that educational programming for children has positive effects. In a statement made in 2009, Chen concluded, "I come out on the side that specific television programs and experiences can very much support literacy."

Chen believes that well-designed television and media programs can contribute greatly to learning to read by enhancing a child's recognition of letters and sounds. These programs can also help children develop a love for reading. When working on shows like Sesame Street and The Electric Company, Chen helped to design and test teaching methods that promoted literacy. Still, expert research shows that excessive television viewing may be detrimental to children under two years of age, and that there needs to be a balance between watching literacy programming on television and practicing reading for children to become fluent readers.

Improving Hiking Endurance

New York executive Janina Casey focuses her work on the equity sales and research industry. Outside of her professional pursuits, Janina Casey enjoys hiking.

Although it very possible to improve hiking endurance, it must be done over the course of several weeks to ensure the body is properly trained. For those working Monday through Friday, most gradual increases will occur during the weekdays. If possible, hike three or four times each week, and periodically increase the length of the hike until you reach the desired distance. Meanwhile, the weekends can serve as marathon sessions. 

In addition to gradually increasing distance, it is important to stay active throughout the year. Depending on your location, there may not be an offseason for hiking. In that case, engage in activities that are more suitable to the weather in order to maintain stamina.

Finally, hikers looking to improve endurance should work on their strength and toughness. Outside of hiking, performing lunges, crunches, and calf raises will boost the strength of the leg and core muscles. In terms of increasing toughness, hikers can vary their workouts by completing hikes of differing intensities. They can also string together workouts so they are hiking multiple days in a row.

Dignity for All - Urban Tech’s Tool to Combat Bullying

Janina Casey is a financial executive based in New York. Outside of work, Janina Casey serves on the board of Urban Tech, an organization that provides students and schools with computers. In addition to its primary mission, Urban Tech has developed various programs for schools, including Dignity for All, which aims to combat and prevent bullying.

Dignity for All provides both offline workbooks and interactive digital components to teach children empathy and mindfulness. Materials were designed to inspire reflection and discussion about compassion. The program includes three distinct quests for students, based on acquiring understanding, altering attitudes, and reforming behaviors. 

National surveys have shown that 70 percent of secondary students have experienced bullying, including cyberbullying. This staggering figure makes it extremely important to bring programming to schools to stop this behavior. Dignity for All inspires students to become more reflective and compassionate in their relationships with other students as a means of stopping this problem at its root.

Four Tips for Improved Hiking Stamina

Janina Casey, the managing director of BTIG in New York City, has nearly 20 years of experience in equity sales and research. In her free time, Janina Casey enjoys the outdoors, and especially likes hiking. 

A great way to explore new places and stay in shape, hiking can seem taxing and difficult at first, but by following four simple tips, it can become easier and more enjoyable. 

1. Exercise often and well. Many hikers can be fooled into pushing themselves to the breaking point, only to be sore for days after. It's better to train slowly and consistently than in large bursts. Walk a bit more each week, and don't take on too much. 

2. Stretching is key. Both before and after a hike, stretching can greatly decrease the risk of injury. It can also improve balance. It's best to focus on the quadriceps, hamstrings, hips, and calves. Yoga can also be a benefit, even once a week. 

3. Drink the right amount of water. Many hikers believe that one can never drink enough water on a strenuous hike, but drinking more than 28 ounces per hour without salt can be life threatening. Between 16 and 28 ounces an hour is plenty. 

4. Resting is important for both the body and the mind. Making progress is important, but going farther or faster without giving the body a chance to rest can be dangerous and debilitating. If training for 12 weeks, take one week off completely. This is physically vital, and also gives the mind a break.

Urban Tech’s Dignity for All Program Addresses Bullying

New York-based financial executive Janina Casey possesses more than a decade of experience in research and equity sales. A dedicated philanthropist, Janina Casey mentored and sponsored two underprivileged high school students and was recently added to the board of the National Urban Technology Center (Urban Tech).

As part of its effort to help students realize their value to society, Urban Tech maintains Dignity For All (DFA), a bullying prevention and supportive schools program. Through the use of role-playing, storytelling, and popular culture, this program inspires critical reflection and discussion among students to create a more compassionate society.

DFA consists of three quests: Attitude Shift: How Reflection and Empathy Can Change Your Life, Knowledge Acquisition: Understanding Bullying, and Behavior Transformation: Creating Reflective and Restorative Communities. These three quests help students break down the issues surrounding bullying. Each quest also teaches skills that promote a supportive and safe culture in students’ schools through a combination of interactive tools and workbooks.

In addition to these three quests, DFA hosts regular panel discussions for students. During these panels, students are free to talk with their teachers, classmates, and facilitators about bullying problems. Students are encouraged to share their own experiences with bullying and talk about possible solutions to bullying problems. Meanwhile, panel facilitators use guided questioning to help students recognize the relationship between their decisions and views, and learn to modify their behavior.

Springsteen on Broadway - an Intimate and Intense Performance

Janina Casey, a respected presence in the New York financial community, engages in fundraising with the technology- and education-centered nonprofit Urban Tech. An actress in her youth, Janina Casey has performed in musicals and still enjoys seeing theatrical productions. 

One sell-out Broadway show that has garnered recognition in the New York Times as an “overwhelming and uncategorizable” Critics Pick is Springsteen on Broadway. Performed in an intimate theater, the show presents the legendary American singer/songwriter virtually solo and singing songs from his pop, rock, and folk catalog.

In a meditative performance described as "burning with quiet intensity," Springsteen unearths obscurities and transforms his chart-toppers, as with a downbeat acoustic rendition of Dancing in the Dark. In Born in the USA, instead of emphasizing the chorus, Springsteen sings with an emphasis on the bleak lyrics of a veteran having trouble adapting to civilian life after serving in Vietnam.

New Stage Adaption of Frozen Presents a Darker Vision with More Music

New York professional Janina Casey has an extensive background in equity research and sales and appeared in a number of commercials and theatrical productions as a child actor. To this day, Janina Casey maintains an interest in the theater and current Broadway productions. 

A recent New York Times review brought focus to a new “pre-Broadway tryout” production of Frozen at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Following in the footsteps of successful Disney film-to-Broadway productions such as the Lion King, the musical is based on Frozen, a $1.3 billion behemoth that stands as the world’s highest-ever grossing animated feature. 

One major change is that a dozen songs written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez have been brought into the theatrical production. These songs were not included in the movie, which featured seven of the songwriters’ compositions. This results in a “nearly sung-through” first act that uses music to flesh in characters and relationships that were not delineated in as many fine strokes in the movie. 

As reviewed, the adaption faces struggles in capturing the magic that seemed effortless on the screen. In another change, the movie presents a darker take on the central narrative, with gloomy sets mirroring the harsh Norwegian landscape and the inner turmoil portrayed.

Urban Tech GHGS Module Components

An equity research sales professional in New York City, Janina Casey stands out as an active philanthropist who has has mentored and sponsored two high school students through four years of private school. Janina Casey also supports fundraisers for Urban Tech and was recently added to the organization’s board.

Urban Tech, also known as the National Urban Technology Center, prepares students for the 21st century by improving education through unique learning strategies. The organization accomplishes this through numerous programs, such as Get Healthy, Get Smart! (GHGS), a holistic wellness program that increases awareness of childhood obesity in middle schools and high schools in New York City. The program operates under the rubric of Urban Tech’s Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) and consists of lessons related to self discovery, conflict resolution, and personal relationships.

Each module within GHGS consists of several activities. Most students first watch an animated short film about the theme. These videos feature characters that students can relate to and provide questions about personal growth and problem-solving. Once students have watched the video, they can review specific parts that have been chosen by YLA Team Leaders as a lesson focus. These portions highlight specific issues and help students learn strategies for effective communication. 

GHGS also features a writing, game, and quiz component. The writing activity serves as a journal that allows students to express their views and reinforce the lessons. The game activity uses role playing and puzzle games to encourage group work, and the quiz component measures how well students retain the information they learn over the course of the module.

Hitting a Golf Ball Out of a Bunker

New York-based financial executive Janina Casey possesses more than 15 years of experience in equity research and sales. She holds a finance degree from St. John’s University and completed management training programs at Princeton and Harvard Universities. In her free time, Janina Casey enjoys golf.

The process of getting out of a sand bunker in golf begins with selecting the right club. If golfers do not have a lot of green outside of the bunker, they should use a high-lofted wedge club. This type of club prevents the ball from rolling on the green too much, thus reducing the risk that it rolls off the green. However, a low-lofted wedge, such as a gap or sand wedge, is ideal when there is plenty of green for the ball to land on.

Once golfers have the right club, they can focus on their set-up. For most bunkers, the ball should be played off the front foot to promote a high trajectory and better backspin. Meanwhile, the feet should be placed at roughly shoulder-width apart and be dug into the sand to increase golfers’ stability. This type of open stance may feel a bit awkward, but it helps golfers hit the ball upwards and more softly. Further, the clubface should be pointing almost directly up so that it has an easier time getting under the ball.

Finally, golfers can try taking a swing. At the beginning of the swing, most of a golfer’s weight should be on their front foot. They should then use a half back swing to hit roughly a credit-card length behind the ball. Leaving this small distance gives the club a chance to get under and scoop the ball out of the bunker. Golfers should then employ a full follow-through the ends high up.

A Look at a Handful of the Must-See Broadway Shows of 2017

With more than 15 years of professional experience, Janina Casey serves as a New York-based financial professional. Outside of work, Janina Casey nurtures a longstanding passion for the theater, which promises to be rather exciting this year with a number of excellent plays having already opened on Broadway.

A case in point, War Paint stars Christine Ebersole and Patti LuPone and tells the tale of Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein, who were cosmetics industry rivals at the beginning of the 20th century.

Produced by J.J. Abrams and the people behind Avenue Q., The Play That Goes Wrong relates the story of an amateur production of a murder mystery that goes terribly wrong. It has already won an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

Bette Midler stars in a revival of the 1964 classic Hello, Dolly!, which tells the story of a widow who tries to spark romance between several couples and find love for herself. Kate Baldwin, David Hyde Pierce, and other Broadway veterans round out the cast.

Theatergoers in search of a thrill should consider Oslo, which brings the true story of the husband and wife duo that led the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords that attempted to settle tensions between the Palestinians and Israelis to the stage.