It only takes one voice to make a change. At this month’s family festival, we will explore how our voices combined can make a difference. Explore changes through sound and space with music, architecture, signs, movement, and the natural world.

This program is geared towards toddlers and children up to 12 years old.

Accessibility
We encourage all persons with disabilities to attend. To request additional information regarding accessibility or accommodations at a program, please contact
programs@thehighline.org or 646.774.2482. Program venues are accessible via wheelchair accessibility points, and ASL interpretation can be arranged two weeks in advance.

Schedule of Events:
10:30–11am
Storytime in American Sign Language
Especially for toddlers

Dr. Gary Wellbrock and Onudeah (Oni) Nicolarakis will perform an interactive story time in American Sign Language. Families of all abilities are encouraged to attend this performance and learn new words and phrases in ASL.

11:30am–12pm & 12:30–1pm

Music Performance
All ages
Classically trained violinist Mathew Silvera (MattViolinist) will perform a variety of songs from traditional pieces to pop songs to Calypso. He lives by the motto that music is a powerful tool that brings people from various cultures and walks of life together.

10am–1pm

ArchForKids Art Making
Art making is appropriate for families of all ages and abilities. Children with special needs are encouraged to come make art with us.

What do music and architecture have in common? Make a 3D tessellation and patterning project that draws on the things that connect the two: rhythm, harmony, proportion, pattern, and dynamics.

10am–1pm

On View
Each month, artists from Superhero Clubhouse will create an installation to transform our space based on our monthly theme. Look for surprises on every corner — they pop up for one day only!

10am–1pm

Mobile Garden
All ages

Learn about plants from a High Line Gardener! Each month we will have a new, hands-on activity based on our theme. Families will also be able to observe and touch our worms!

10am–1pm

Interactive Walking Guide
All ages

Todd Shalom of Elastic City created an interactive, participatory walking guide of the High Line for all ages. The guide is complemented with beautiful illustrations by Carla Torres. Pick up a printed guide at any of our family festivals this season.

All children must be attended by a caregiver at all times.

This program is held rain or shine.

About the Artists:
Dr. Gary Wellbrock is an early childhood educator at a dual language (American Sign Language and English) school in New York City teaching deaf, hard of hearing and hearing children from diverse backgrounds and the founder of Broadway Books First Class. His program celebrates literacy and the Arts by inviting members of the Broadway community into the classroom to read children’s books and share stories about the life of a theater professional.

Gary earned a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, a master’s degree in Deaf Education from Teachers College Columbia University and later became a licensed reading specialist due, in part, to his work with the Hello Friend Foundation. He recently graduated with his doctoral degree from the Language, Literacy and Learning program at Fordham University.

Onudeah (Oni) Nicolarakis has been an educator for 10 years, serving Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing students ranging in ages from 3 to 10 years old, using American Sign Language (ASL) and English bilingual methodologies to provide access to grade level curriculum materials. She received her BA in Early Childhood Education and her MA in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Oni has taught at California School for the Deaf, Fremont, Texas School for the Deaf, Lexington School for the Deaf, LaGuardia Community College, P.S. 347: “47” The American Sign Language and English Lower School, and the New York School for the Deaf (Fanwood).

Outside of the school setting, Oni has been involved in numerous organizations/committees in order to elevate Deaf/Hard of Hearing education: National Association of the Deaf Education Strategy Team (teacher representative), National American Sign Language and English Bilingual Early Childhood Education (northeast region representative), Empire State Association of the Deaf education committee (chair), and Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf-Kids New York (point of contact).

Social justice is a passion of Oni’s and she has made it a life long goal of hers to ensure every child is given equity, access, and an even level playing field to thrive in this world. She believes it all starts with early childhood education. This encouraged her to pursue her Ph.D, focusing on social justice, and bilingual education at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City.

Mathew Silvera (MattViolinist) is a Bronx native who used music as an escape from all the negativity that was prevalent in his community, giving him a sense of pride and accomplishment when he struggled academically. Mathew studied music at an early age in school, and furthered his music education with a full scholarship to William Paterson University. His work as MattViolinist has established him as a staple artist at universities, clubs, political events, and more. Mathew was a three-time first place winner at the Apollo Theater, and has given a halftime performance at Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks. He was the featured artist in the American and Russian tour of The Hip Hop Nutcracker with Kurtis Blow and the off-Broadway production of Death Boogie. He was also featured on The Voice contestant Felicia Temple’s latest EP “The Balancing Act.” MattViolinist recently broke barriers by incorporating an unconventional orchestral instrumental with the sweet sounds of Soca music, which he performed during Miami Carnival, and later shared a stage with legendary Soca artist Alison Hinds during Soca On The Seas.

With the evolution of the music business, MattViolinist continues to live by the motto that music is a powerful tool that brings people from various cultures and walks of life together. His goal is to enlighten, empower, and influence by creating unity through music.

Superhero Clubhouse unites ecology and theater to enact justice, inspire hope, and activate a thriving future. This New York-based community of artists, scientists, and environmental professionals is invested in a long-term experiment to understand how theater can help shift consciousness in the face of global crises.

ArchForKids provides young people with dynamic, hands-on, minds-on learning experiences grounded in architecture, design, engineering, and urban planning. Young designers brainstorm, sketch, estimate, design, calculate, and construct. They create parks and dream houses, go on “I Spy” architecture walks, build model skyscrapers and bridges, and so much more, while applying academic concepts to real-world situations. In addition, young people gain a deeper understanding — and appreciation — of their own communities and the wider world.

Todd Shalom works in visual media and participatory performance. He is the founder and director of Elastic City, a non-profit organization that produced over 200 participatory walks and events for the public between 2010 and 2016. In that time, he collaborated with over a hundred artists in a variety of disciplines to adapt their sensibilities to the participatory walk format, in addition to developing and leading numerous walks of his own. Todd collaborated with illustrator Carla Torres to create this season’s family guide.

Carla Torres is an illustrator born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. In 2006 she moved to New York City looking to expand her mind, her soul, and her vision as an artist. Since then her work has been exhibited in several galleries locally and internationally and she has won several illustration awards. Carla has previously illustrated our two family guides in 2016 and our Haunted High Line family guides in 2016 and 2017.