We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stefania Clementi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stefania below.

Stefania, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea of opening a cultural center for children came from a combination of passion and necessity. I am an Italian child psychologist and for many years, in Italy, I have been working with children, and their families, in schools, daycares and communal centers. When I moved to New York City, I continued my experience in educational settings, especially with expat and bilingual students, but being in a different environment, I had the opportunity to closely observe the educational dynamics that a multicultural context entails. I could see that, despite being a city with a melting pot of cultures and a large Italian community, Brooklyn lacked a concrete and structured offer that could both introduce American families to our culture, and welcome Italian expats with resources and services, in a creative and engaging way.
After years of experience, I reflected on this gap and I made the important decision of quitting my job as a school psychologist to devote myself completely to this project. Thus was born ‘Allora,’ my cultural center, a space where children can get closer to Italian culture through creative cooking, but also art and play. I wanted to enrich Brooklyn’s educational offerings by introducing the beauty of our tradition, and stimulate children’s curiosity about other cultures, encouraging an exchange of experiences and ideas. “Allora” in Italian means “Well…” and is often used to start a conversation. The time had come to start a conversation with Brooklyn!
Our center is designed to be an inclusive, welcoming and relaxed place where all children, whether bilingual, or simply curious, can find useful resources, but also have fun and grow together. I believe that education should be an experience that promotes well-being, without pressure, but with the intention of bringing out creativity and empathy.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have a strong love for experiential and creative education, and I firmly believe in the power of hands-on learning: whether it’s rolling out fresh pasta, painting a canvas or sculpting clay, every activity at Allora’s is designed to be an opportunity for discovery and creativity. We want children to learn by doing, to explore and express themselves freely and naturally, without the pressures typical of a traditional educational environment.
Our classes, designed with experienced chefs, artists and educators, are small, to ensure that each child receives appropriate attention and support. This approach allows us to meet the individual needs of each child, creating a safe and nurturing environment where they can feel free to express themselves, explore and learn at their own pace.
What sets us apart from others is precisely this focus on children’s emotional and creative well-being, which we place at the center of every activity. We don’t just want to impart knowledge, but to build a bond by making sure that every experience is meaningful and fun.
What am I most proud of? Of the fact that “Allora”, in these three years, has become a real community that encourages mutual support among families.
I am also very happy when I see how much our students are proud to share their culinary creations with their parents at the end of class. Their eyes are full of happiness and they can say” Look, I prepared dinner for tonight!”

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Mainly a combination of professionalism, passion, and a very attentive approach to the needs of the people we work with. As a child psychologist, I have always put the well-being of children at the center, and I think this same focus and dedication is reflected in my work as founder of Allora.
Professionalism, for me, is an attitude: always being available, reliable, listening to the needs of families, responding to the challenges that each project entails.
Another aspect that has played a key role in creating our reputation is flexibility. Every family and every child is different, and the ability to adapt and respond to this diversity has allowed us to offer truly personalized, high-quality service.
In addition, a key part of our success was choosing to work with a team of experienced and passionate educators who share my vision and mission. I feel so lucky to work every day with professionals who provide their knowledge, expertise, and sensitivity, bringing with them the same passion for teaching and respect for children.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Definitely word of mouth among families. From the very beginning, we have strived to create a welcoming and high-quality environment, and I am happy to see this commitment reflected in the recommendations our clients make to others. Families who have had a good experience at “Allora” have become our ambassadors, helping us build a network of people who share our values and appreciate what we do.
In addition, participating in local fairs has been another key tool in making us known. These events allow us to connect directly with families, present our programs and, most importantly, make our educational approach known in a concrete way. On these occasions, we have been able to explain who we are and what we offer, which has always generated strong interest and a good return in terms of new clients.
Online reviews have also played an important role. Receiving positive feedback from parents who chose us was another key factor in raising our visibility. Reviews are powerful social proof, and when families share their experiences with us, it helps us not only to improve, but also to make us known to those who might be interested in our services.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.allorabk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allora_bk/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allorabk/

Image Credits

only one photo (stefy_53537167651_o-2048×1426.jpg
) is from Mila Tenaglia