At Public Pela (meaning “wonder”), Debra Fricano, Director of Education and Family Engagement, brings social-emotional learning and age-appropriate social justice awareness into the wider community, with music, movement, and story-time programs aimed at children 0-4 years old and their caregivers.  Typically we would hold these events in public spaces in our community.

This program was started by former SAJ Director of Education Tehilah Eistenstadt, whose unique approach through Pela Cafe was featured on Fox 5 in July 2017.

SAJ thanks the bookstore chain Book Culture for their support at their former location, as well as the Strand, and St. Agnes Library for their  continued partnership once the pandemic is over.

Debra provides free online recordings of Public Pela that are saved to the SAJ Facebook video page  

Summer 2020,  Teens are offering a one-on-one version of Public Pela called “Shomer Stories.”