I love Sesame Street. When my 2 year old niece was here visiting a few months ago, I discovered that I can get Sesame Street on demand through my cable company. This is exciting news. I love children’s television almost as much as I love children’s literature. Call me juvenile and immature. I love those furry, colorful monsters. They’re old friends. For most of my childhood we had a small black and white TV and I distinctly remember sitting in front of it with my sister, Weez, and singing along, learning Spanish, my numbers, colors, and the alphabet.
I didn’t realize that Sesame Street was also teaching me other pertinent information that would shape my life going forward. Sesame Street taught me about caring for my community and neighbors. I learned about friendship, and sharing, and communicating honestly and fairly. The mix of cultures on Sesame Street taught me tolerance and acceptance and the great celebration that we should hold for diversity.
Sesame Street started as a pilot project, a result of the passion and concern for children and education by a small group of people in New York City. The narrative around the start of the program and its growth is every bit as compelling, if not more so, than the content of the show itself. A few months ago, I wrote a couple posts on this blog that were inspired by Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street. Weez bought it for me for my birthday and I read it cover to cover, taking delight in every word. My posts talked about a life lived in 3 acts and the need to prepare to be lucky. They are good reminders of the subliminal messages that are so important for children to receive early on in life.
So today, we celebrate the milestone of 40 years for this incredible program. It has without question improved the lives of millions of children around the world. At Sesame headquarters at One Lincoln Plaza I hope they are raising glasses high tonight in honor of a big yellow bird, a green trash can inhabitant, a blue cookie lover, a pair of friends obsessed with oatmeal and rubber duckies, a purple count who loves numbers, a red lovable three year old and his goldfish, Dorothy, and the many others who are the first friends that so many of us have come to know and love. Our lives are so much richer for having known them and learned from them. Happy birthday, Sesame Street!
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
I love Sesame Street. When my 2 year old niece was here visiting a few months ago, I discovered that I can get Sesame Street on demand through my cable company. This is exciting news. I love children’s television almost as much as I love children’s literature. Call me juvenile and immature. I love those furry, colorful monsters. They’re old friends. For most of my childhood we had a small black and white TV and I distinctly remember sitting in front of it with my sister, Weez, and singing along, learning Spanish, my numbers, colors, and the alphabet.
Christa Avampato 
I completely agree with you about children's television programs, such as Sesame Street. Another favorite of mine is Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, which focused on building self-esteem in its viewers.Children's television programming is really complex and very well-written, as is your posting!!
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Hi Beth! Thank you so much for your comment and compliment. I find children's television so fascinating and am so glad it has taken off in our culture.
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