Press

New York, NY, January 13, 2011 – As part of its “Raising Citizens: Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival,” The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) will host its “Make a Difference Teen Awards” ceremony on Monday, January 17. The awards, which are given in partnership with DO Something and New York Cares, go to local students who best exemplify Dr. King’s commitment of service to others. The ceremony will be preceded by a performance by the Harlem Gospel Choir. The award-winning students will also speak to other children at CMOM about their service projects and encourage them to make a pledge to start their own.

MLK Day events kick off on at CMOM on Saturday and Sunday, January 15 – 16, with activities highlighting Dr. King’s legacy within the civil rights movement and also his commitment to service of mankind. Children can work with CMOM staff to design their own “Pledge Medal” with ideas of how they can affect change in their neighborhood, as well as make collages devoted to the concept of diversity. Saturday also includes a performance by PBS award-winning guitarist Aaron Nigel Smith. The Harlem Gospel Choir concert and the Raising Citizens: Make a Difference Teen Awards begins at 3:00pm, on Monday, January 17. At 4:00pm, the award winners will share their passion for service and their projects in an interactive presentation.

“These teens embody the hopes and dreams Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had for all people, no matter their race, creed, color or gender,” said Lee M. Hendler, Raising Citizens Program Consultant for CMOM. “Their work, both across the globe and in their own communities, is a testament to Dr. King’s belief that citizens of all ages can make a difference in creating a better, more just world.”

This year’s Raising Citizens: Make a Difference Teen Award recipients from Do Something are:
Ben Hirschfeld, 17
, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Ben founded and runs Lit!, an organization that donates and distributes safe, no cost, and environmentally friendly solar lanterns to schools in Nairobi’s largest slum.

Myles Miller, 17, New York, NY
Myles runs Ed Race, a national project aimed at reforming education in America using social media.

Raising Citizens: Make a Difference Teen Award recipients from New York Cares are:
Jonathan Fernandez, 17, Bronx, New York
Jonathan is currently a Team Leader with the New York Cares Youth Service Club and volunteers at events such as New York Cares Winter Wishes, serving meals to people living with HIV, and working with seniors and children.

Andrea Rosero, 17, New York, NY
Born in Ecuador, Andrea has been a part of the New York Cares Youth Service Club at her school for the past three years. In this time, she has been trained as a Youth Team Leader and participated in over 25 projects.

Joshua Davis, 17, Brooklyn, NY
Joshua is a Team Leader for the New York Cares Youth Service Club and has played an essential role in recruiting other volunteers. He helped paint a mural with a crime prevention message at PS 135 and helped start a garden at his school. In addition, he has been the driving force in starting a mentorship program at his school.

“Martin Luther King Day is a time to reflect on his dream of equality for all people, and also a time to act on his call of service to others,” said Andrew Ackerman, Executive Director of CMOM. “Our activities during the three-day festival will show even young children that they can make a difference in their community.”

Raising Citizens focuses on six major American holidays and how each reflects the qualities of a healthy democracy. Engaging activities in museums and at home allow families to experience renewed meaning in our civic calendar and turn what is usually a day off into an opportunity to teach the next generation what it is to be good citizens. As part of Raising Citizens, CMOM created a series of public programs with experiences and hands-on activities to spark intergenerational conversation about civic responsibility and action. “Make a Difference” was made possible by the generous support from the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds. The Freedom’s Feast web site (www.freedomsfeast.us) provides fun online ceremonies and other programs to extend the celebration, conversation and action beyond the museum walls.

For a complete list of the day’s events, please visit www.cmom.org or see below:

Raising Citizens: Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival

In Our Neighborhood Collage
Sat-Sun, January 15 – 16
10am & 1pm | 4 & younger | PlayWorks™Lab, 3rd Floor
Children celebrate diversity as they make a collage featuring the many different places and faces of New York City.

Make a Difference Medals*
Sat – Mon, January 15 – 17
12, 2 & 3 | 5 & older | Creativity Lab, 4th Floor
Explore Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy and the role children can play in making a difference. Make your own pledge medal to improve your neighborhood or community.

Performance: Aaron Nigel Smith*
Saturday, January 15
2 & 3pm | all ages | Lower Level
Join pop musician Aaron Nigel Smith, member of the PBS award winning show, Between the Lions, in an upbeat energetic family show that will get you dancing and singing.

Performance: Harlem Gospel Choir*
Monday, January 17
2 & 3pm | all ages | Lower Level
Join this world famous choir as they perform inspirational gospel music to “bring people and nations together.”

Raising Citizens Make a Difference Teen Awards
Monday, January 17
3pm | all ages | Lower Level
Six New York City teens will be awarded CMOM’s Raising Citizens Make a Difference Award for their outstanding service work.

Service Presentations by Teens*
Monday, January 17
4pm | ages 5 & older  |  Discovery Classroom, 3rd Floor
New York City teens will share their passion for service and their amazing projects in an interactive presentation.

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 kids 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.