Young minds and young bodies got a workout when a special visitor dropped in on BCC’s Early Childhood Center. Chirlane McCray, activist and wife of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, came to campus on November 29, which also happened to be her birthday. A chirping chorus of “Happy Birthday To You!” greeted the happy First Lady, who declared the morning “The best birthday I ever had!”

The visit marked the third anniversary of ThriveNYC, a program led by First Lady McCray that is committed to creating a mental health system that works for everyone. The EEC was specifically chosen by City Hall as an ideal example of the iniative in action — the entire staff of ECC has participated in Thrive NYC’s “Trauma Smart” professional development, where they received training in Trauma Informed Practice for children and families.

The First Lady read “The ABCs of Yoga for Kids” and led BCC youngest scholars in various alphabetically-themed yoga poses — the favorite being L for Lion, which gave her audience the opportunity to roar impressively. Homemade cupcakes were served as the children presented their guest of honor with a Thank You card they fashioned themselves. You can see the fun here.

The Early Childhood Center offers an accredited preschool education to the sons and daughters of BCC students while their parents are studying elsewhere on campus.