Press

Built To Learn Project supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services Leadership Grant and Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City Will Transform City Public Housing into Learning Hub.

New York, NY, September 27, 2011 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) announced today that it has partnered with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to create permanent interactive exhibits and hands-on educational programs inside of city public housing through its Built to Learn leadership project. By recreating the museum experience in public housing, CMOM and NYCHA will transform the Johnson Center in East Harlem into an epicenter of lifelong learning, healthy childhood development, community engagement and workforce readiness. Built to Learn is being funded by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and is also supported by the NYC Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.

The James Weldon Johnson Houses in East Harlem will serve as the first Built to Learn demonstration site to integrate 2,000 square feet of CMOM interactive exhibits into its community center and day care classrooms. Built to Learn will adapt CMOM’s IMLS-funded PlayWorks™ early childhood exhibit and upcoming EatSleepPlay™: Building Health Every Day exhibition to provide families and children (ages birth through eight) living in and around Johnson Houses with the experiences and skills needed for lifelong success. In addition, the project will include parent and child engagement programs, professional development programs, workforce programs and community resource development.

“When developing exhibits, programming, research and outreach, CMOM’s focus is on communities and the best way to meet their needs,” said halley k harrisburg, Chairman of CMOM’s Board of Directors. “By working with NYCHA to recreate exhibitions and educational programming in public housing, we are taking the museum experience and its educational opportunities directly to communities that need it most.”

“Developing good reading habits and comprehension skills are absolutely invaluable in the life of a child,” said New York City Housing Authority Chairman John B. Rhea. “Creating partnerships like the CMOM/NYCHA Built to Learn initiative that foster an early appreciation for reading is one of the most important things we can do to give our youth a strong foundation. NYCHA is grateful to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan for joining us in this life-changing effort.”

Programming will begin as early as the beginning of 2012, following a period of community engagement. The East Harlem project, which will open in September 2013, is a pilot with the potential to expand within NYCHA beyond the Johnson Houses.

“Through our partnership with NYCHA, we will bring everyday learning experiences to families, as well as systematic instruction to young children to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. We will also provide professional development in early childhood education for teachers and other local childcare workers,” said CMOM Executive Director Andrew Ackerman. “Our deep and extensive work with Head Start centers in Brooklyn and at East Side House Settlement in the South Bronx has informed and influenced our arts-based approach.”

Working with NYCHA staff and families at the Johnson Houses, CMOM will develop programming based on the EatSleepPlay health curriculum as well as arts and health related festivals. This programming will serve to strengthen the family and community as the center of lifelong learning, teaching adults how to prepare children for preschool and learn healthy habits. As a new community resource, the exhibit environment at Johnson Houses will be filled with up to 25 interactive stations and activity areas that will engage children through play, exploration and discovery. The carefully designed environment will provide a context to help parents understand this unique time of learning and their critical role in their child’s development. Open-ended activities invite in-depth exploration, and an array of learning stations will target core skills in math, literacy, science, health and art. In addition, graphic signage will provide ongoing “coaching” to parents, teachers and caregivers as they become active partners in the child’s learning.

“CMOM can help to inspire our children. Along with knowledge, there is no greater gift than inspiration,” said Johnson Houses Residents Association President Ethel Velez. “CMOM’s exhibit installations will also enhance educational programming for our entire community.”

About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
The New York City Housing Authority provides decent and affordable housing in a safe and secure living environment for low and moderate- income residents throughout the five boroughs. NYCHA has 334 public housing developments throughout the city and serves more than 600,000 New Yorkers through its Public Housing and Section 8 Leased Housing programs. The Authority works to enhance the quality of life of residents by offering them opportunities to participate in a multitude of community, educational and recreational programs, as well as job readiness and training initiatives.

About the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City
The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City is a a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization designed to aid City programs and help develop innovative public- private partnerships such as the Built To Learn project. The Mayor’s Fund is committed to evaluating partnerships to determine feasibility of future funding and several current collaborations are informing the efforts of cities across the country and are helping to shape national policy. For more information, please visit www.nyc.gov/fund.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Founded in 1973, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is New York City’s leading cultural institution dedicated solely to children and families. CMOM inspires children and their families to learn about themselves and a culturally diverse world through unique interactive exhibitions. CMOM presents a full range of activities, exhibits and special performances that stimulate children of all ages. Through multidimensional programs that reach deep into the community, the Museum serves New Yorkers from all backgrounds. For details on all of CMOM’s programs, please visit www.cmom.org.