Contact Us

For more information please email us at info@smart4kidz.org
Telephone:     212-595-KIDZ
                        718-369-SMART
                        FAX: 718-369-7621

About Us

Michael Portney studied at the University of Denver where he specialized in child/community psychology and systems theory. While there, he developed community psychology clinics in communities that were previously under-served and worked on significant research as part of a nationwide team examining early life development. Beyond Denver, Michael has worked in a community psychology clinic in a particularly stressed neighborhood in Brooklyn, and continued developing SMART-4-Kidz. Currently, trials continue in Brooklyn. Michael's first career was in advertising and photography michael@smart4kidz.org

Joanne Cini is in her second significant career as an author and entrepreneur. Joanne has 24 years sales and marketing, management and executive experience in the television industry. Joanne has been part of three startups, hired and managed hundred's of people, oversaw nearly $2B in revenue and is a Six-Sigma Greenbelt. Joanne has recently authored a career book entitled Kingmaker—Be The One Your Company Wants to Keep...On Your Terms (Prentice Hall Feb '04). Joanne@smart4kidz.org

Articles and Press Clippings.

• New York Times, "Toughening Up for Tests", January 10, 2006
• New York Times, "Kids Gone Bad", November 2005
• New York Times, "No Emotion Left Behind", August 2005
• Time Out New York Kids Online, Sept. 29, 2004
• Big Apple Parents, Brooklyn Family, Dec. 1, 2004 "Children Under Stress" [ pdf ]