Brooklyn Supreme Court hosts annual Bring your Child to Work Day

April 6, 2018 By Edward King Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

All the kids excited to join their loved ones for Bring your Child to Work Day. Eagle photos by Edward King

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The Kings County Supreme Court Gender Fairness Committee, in conjunction with the Bring Your Child to Work Day Committee, hosted the annual “Bring Your Child to Work Day” event at Brooklyn Supreme Court on Thursday, coordinated by Charmaine Johnson. Initially started by the late Izetta Johnson in the 1980’s, the longstanding event has been a hallmark of the court’s initiatives, giving the youth a small glimpse into the lives of their parents.

“I want to welcome all the kids here today. I think this is a wonderful occasion: It’s the occasion that you get to see what your parents and the significant people in your lives do for a living,” Chief Clerk Charles Small said. “Now you know that when they come home and they’re tired and when you ask a question and seem a little distant, that’s because we’re working hard around here.”

With a record number of 75 children registered to attend the event, up from 34 children in attendance in 2016, the joint committee had their work cut out for them. Luckily, a long list of carefully planned interactive activities including an appearance from Ready Girl from New York City Emergency Management, a brilliant display from the Dynamic Dancers, a crash course in sign language and more proved to be more than enough for the kids.

The one activity that both the adults and kids were looking most forward to was the mock trial, in which beloved cartoon character SpongeBob Squarepants sued Abercrombie and Fish for sending the aquatic denizen round pants instead of his signature square bottoms.

While the kids had a hearty day of fun with their loved ones, the parents seemed to have enjoyed themselves the most.

“Seeing kids inspired to continue their education [and] see that there are new possibilities out there for what they can aspire to become — future lawyers, future judges, future court officers and future court reporters — is the most rewarding,” said Supreme Court Justice Miriam Cyrulnik. “Seeing what the adults do, what their parents do, what their relatives do on a daily basis and maybe inspiring them to do this kind of work when they get older. But at the very least, inspiring them to stay in school, continue their education and have fun along the way.”