St. John’s Hosts Annual Parent Conference and Resource Fair

Education was never meant to be a one-size-fits-all endeavor. As an institution committed to equity and excellence, we must forge relationships and protocols that move beyond accommodating differences as an afterthought and instead design learning environments where students of all abilities are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.

On March 26, The School of Education at St. John’s University, in partnership with the nonprofit Community Inclusion and Development Alliance, hosted its annual Parent Conference and Resource Fair—a day dedicated to learning, connection, and empowerment for families of children and young adults with disabilities.

The day started with a warm welcome from Rev. Aidan R. Rooney, Executive Vice President for Mission at St. John’s University. The fair was held in the D’Angelo Center on the Queens, NY, campus. Attendees participated in expert-led workshops on Individualized Education Programs, self-direction, and transition planning. There was also information provided on networking possibilities and community resources. Helping to meet the diverse needs of the community, sessions were held in English, Korean, and Chinese.

“St. John’s University was founded on the principle that the best education is done in and with the community,” said James D. Wolfinger, Ph.D., Dean, The School of Education. “It is always exciting to see so many people gather and bring such energy to campus as we work together to advance education in New York City.”

Besides families, the fair was attended by professionals, community partners, St. John’s alumni and faculty, as well as Mary Carole Schafenberg ’70ED, ’80P.D., a member of The School of Education Dean’s Advisory Board, and Nadia Giannopoulos ’08M.S.Ed., ’23Ed.D., ICS Board Member & Executive Director of Marie Pense, Center which provides intervention services to children.

“Partnerships between universities and community organizations are vital, as they allow our faculty to transform research into meaningful action that addresses the strengths and needs of our communities. The parent conference and resource fair provided an opportunity to extend our long-term collaboration with CIDA, enabling us to work together to promote access to important community information and resources aimed at improving care and services for children with disabilities and their families, “said Ishita Khemka, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education, Department of Education Specialties.

As the needs of our young learners continue to grow in both complexity and urgency, universities can no longer work in isolation from the communities they serve. Meaningful partnerships with community-based organizations create powerful bridges between research, practice, and lived experience—ensuring that families receive timely, relevant, and culturally responsive support. Events like the Parent Conference and Resource Fair exemplify what is possible when institutions collaborate with intention, keeping lines of communication open and trust at the center. In this critical moment, strengthening these partnerships is not optional; it is essential to building inclusive systems where every learner and every family can thrive.