We were lucky to catch up with Alexander Reznik recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alexander, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I opened the first nonprofit inclusive family center in New York.
We welcome kids all ages and abilities.
When I first started I was told it’s impossible because it doesn’t exist already.
But because every third child now in America, neurodivergent i know I’m in the right path . Specially one of my three kids also neurodivergent .

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I moved to America from Ukrain 35 years ago.
First, I start work as a personal trainer
And build good size business in Manhattan.
We have five commercial gyms named Complete Body and we also manage
Residential buildings.
With one of my son was diagnosed with autism at two years old
I was told he never gonna speak
or have normal life..
Obviously, obviously, I was devastated.
I start learning about my options.
And surprisingly found lack of services
Sensorry spaces in New York.
I was going a few times a week uptown
For speech sessions and sensory gym.
It was very cold medical environment.
It was not much to do for his siblings
When they were waiting and also for me.
I also realize traveling most of the end grounds only busy on the weekends
And during the week they completely close or almost empty.
Then at five years old my son still not speaking and had to go to Special school for kids who are not verbal.
He was getting worse, copying other kids in the class: .
So we decide to move him from seven kids class to 24 inclusive class.
In two months he started talking.
Then my day was born(
Create inclusive place for all kids
To play and learn together.
We offering space for all ages
The most important we have video games unless they are interactive
And creative/educational.
We have sensorry hours, sensory room.
We providing many services
Like music classes, sport activities. Stem classes. And many others..
Also, we created family interactive restaurant with amazing food for all ages. During the week will be slow. They have many school trips..
We also are offering birthday parties
Parents socials
And we providing space for other noprofits complimentary

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

in the middle of construction
We realize the price didn’t double
Like we expected it it’s actually a quadruple.
We had to raise significantly more amount of money than we expected.
we had to change design timing
And fundraising strategy to be able to open.
It was not easy task but we had to do it.
We decide to open partially to start creating sales and customers.
Our customers understood
It took us another year to complete all
Space .

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson was for me that
You do have to have a plan A and B.
I do have to stick to my original Idea and Plan, but we have to be flexible to get there. Sometimes you need to. Have one step back. Before you could do two step forward.. also also don’t believe all the promises people made you kill us actually happening. Don’t make us a plans. Based on promises..
same thing about timing.
Everyone knows you have to double
Time people promise you.
But sometimes you have to be ready for triple a quadruple time /budget

Contact Info:

• Website: https://completeplayground.org
• Instagram: complete playground
• Facebook: Complete playground
• Linkedin: Alex Reznik
• Yelp: Complete playground

Image Credits

complete playground