6
Sadly, the events of Sep-
tember 11th were far more
reaching and devastating than
the 1993 bombing. As much
as we wanted to mobilize our-
selves and go to Ground Zero
and help, we couldn’t. Not
only because there was no ac-
cess to the site, but also be-
cause our immediate priorities
were to take care of our em-
ployees and consultants who
lost friends and family. On
September 12th and 13th, we
convened at our Comprehen-
sive Network headquarters
and had open forums to discuss our fears and concerns and watch a videotape of the
Feeling Safe Again™ seminar we had featured in 1993.
We listened to the survivors of the first WTC attacks, including a young bond trader
who worked for Cantor Fitzgerald. He described in great detail his grueling descent
through 104 flights of darkness and smoke- filled stairwell. (This young man was
featured in our 1993 newsletter and we were
overjoyed to contact him and learn that he had
only recently changed jobs to another firm a
block away. Although he personally escaped
and is now the proud father of two children, he
mourns the death of scores of friends and
colleagues.)
Our Comprehensive administrative staff
took the first steps toward healing and taking
control. Some volunteered at the site to help
distribute food and equipment to fire fighters
and rescue workers. We set up our own col-
lection drive for the American Red Cross and
communicated with our consultants by email,
phone and fax to ascertain the status of fam-
ily members and provide support.
As Dr. Geliebter states in his letter on
page 2, “Our collective sense of reality and
definition of normalcy has changed.” In other
words, we are all experiencing post-traumatic stress in the aftermath of 9.11,
whether we were right there at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon when it
happened or if we just watched the news and the television portrayals of what happened
– over and over. Our world does not seem as safe as it seemed before.
Addressing these profound changes requires more than a few onsite seminars. Inter-
vention must be made available on a continued and ongoing basis. Using what we learned
from the 1993 seminars as a basis and paying attention to the way the world is responding
to 9.11, we are developing several Feeling Safe Again™ programs geared toward varying
populations to help us all move forward in this brave new world.
Stress Management workshops, Parent Trainings, Teacher Trainings and Consultation and
Counseling for children are available under Project SERV.
LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD
Cont. from page 1
Maria Jimenez, our translations coordinator, helping
distribute food and equipment at Ground Zero
As our nation continues dealing with the
trauma of September 11th, we recognize the in-
creasing need for culturally sensitive programs to
address both the causes and effects of the event.
BiNet
SM, Inc., a participating agency of Com-
prehensive Network, Inc., is under contract with
the New York City Board of Education to create
an interdisciplinary, experiential, progressive cur-
riculum, entitled the Comprehensive Applied
Multicultural Program SM (CAMP
SM), to address
the diverse needs of New York City’s multi-ethnic
students. In the tragedy’s aftermath, CAMP
SM
aims to increase and provide tolerance aware-
ness, an appreciation for diversity, activism and
social justice by implementing multicultural
awareness educational programs and workshops
geared at school administration, staff, students
and parents.
BiNet
SM
has worked extensively with the
NYC public schools. BiNet’s CAMP
SM
is cur-
rently available to New York City public schools
and school districts with staff development train-
ing, parenting workshops and student-based in-
struction. Under a separate NYC Board of
Education contract, BiNet’s professionals have
been providing counseling services for school
children, a large number of whom were trauma-
tized by the events of September 11th. For more
information about staff development workshops,
seminars and mentoring programs for students,
call (718) 339-3379/9700, ext 232.
Beth Friedlander has a Masters in Education
from Harvard University and has taught Humanities
utilizing a multicultural approach. Ms. Friedlander is
currently pursuing an MSW at NYU.
NEW CURRICULUM
IN CULTURAL DIVERSITY
IN THE AFTERMATH
OF 9.11
By Beth Friedlander, Ed. M.
terviewers themselves did not make it out of the
building in time. Jeff, like many others, is
having difficulties reconciling his own good for-
tune with the many tragedies of September 11.
Susan’s day was just one version of the events of
that day. In January, Susan and her husband
moved to New Jersey, to be closer to her family.
We miss Susan’s presence and voice at the front
desk, but are overjoyed that she can spend more
time with her son, daughter-in-law and grand-
daughter, Brianna. We wish her many many
happy endings and many new happy begin-
nings.
JUST ONE MORE STORY
Cont. from page 5
