How it all began…

In 2010, Aly Spira and Tara Ferrara met at the Reece School in NYC where the two worked as speech and language therapists. The two quickly connected over their interest in developing and implementing social skills curriculum for their students. It did not take long for them to realize their students needed more than what they were able to provide in a typical school day. Their students needed additional, nuanced social skills support that could be carried over to other settings such as their homes or public spaces in their communities.

They began to look around for groups or organizations that helped young people build social skills and were surprised to discover that hardly any existed. The options were especially limited for those with no diagnosis—children who just needed a bit of a boost on the social front.

Social City was born out of a desire to empower children of all ages with the skills and confidence they need to feel a sense of belonging—whether in the classroom or at the park. You can think of it as a kind of laboratory that helps young people grow into the fullest possible expression of themselves. 

What began more than a decade ago with 3 students has since grown into a city-wide community with more than 250. Word about our programs has spread across the city and its surrounding communities through referrals from pediatricians, neuropsychologists, therapists, school teachers, and word of mouth.

We'd like to extend a special thanks to all those who have trusted and believed in us from the very beginning. As we often remind our students, it's all about good relationships. We work hard to earn trust and we're so grateful to be able to do this work.

Social City has come a long way from its early days—posting flyers at nail salons and doctors' offices across the city—and we're excited to say that we're just getting started.