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Take action and make a difference in a child’s life! That is the simple message to visitors who explore a new addition to the Power of Children exhibit at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
The Indiana Department of Child Services, The Villages and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana join the museum to show children and families how they can provide caring, nurturing, and one of a kind relationships with children in need. People see how they can make a tremendous impact no matter how old they are. Adults are encouraged to mentor a child or open their homes to children requiring foster care or longing for forever homes. Children learn more about the plight of other kids their age and are shown how they can volunteer at a non-profit or contribute in a meaningful way – all with the concept of building empathy.
This project was funded by the LDI 100th Anniversary Celebration Cultural Partnership Gift Program.
“With its partners, IDCS, The Villages and Big Brothers Big Sisters, the museum has taken a bold and compelling approach to inspire parents, grandparents and children to make a significant difference in the lives of children by becoming mentors, foster families or adoptive parents with agencies right here in Indianapolis and Indiana,” says Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
The Take Action space is a natural extension of The Power of Children. The compelling exhibit teaches about overcoming isolation, fear and prejudice through the extraordinary stories of three brave children who faced discrimination during three distinct periods of the 20th century. Those young people were Ruby Bridges, Anne Frank, and Ryan White.
At the end of a journey that visitors take through the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her Jewish family hid during the Holocaust, the classroom where Ruby Bridges, a black six-year old studied alone for one year during a fight to desegregate her school in the 1960’s, and the bedroom of Ryan White, a youngster suffering from AIDS, who fought for his right to attend school, people of all ages will learn ways in which they can Take Action to help children who face life altering difficulties now.
Even in the 21st century, stories of bullying and abuse continue to make headlines. That is why four organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children have come together to ask both young and old to “Take Action.”
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud and appreciative of this opportunity to partner with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The message of this exhibit speaks directly to our belief that all children have the potential to thrive and do great things. With hundreds of local children currently waiting for mentors, we’re thrilled that Big Brothers Big Sisters is featured as a way for adults to invest in the future of kids. We hope this sparks the first step for many more Big Brothers, Big Sisters, or Big Couples.” says Darcy Palmer-Shultz, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana.
Sharon Pierce, President and CEO of The Villages adds, “This partnership with The Children's Museum is invaluable to the abused and neglected children The Villages is privileged to serve! Over 83% of the 600 children served by The Villages ' dedicated foster families last year were in only ONE foster home, providing the love, healing , permanency and stability we would all want for EVERY child in Indiana who has suffered the trauma of child abuse. Informing and engaging additional adults in the role of becoming a foster parent will clearly continue to enhance the positive outcomes which children in foster care can achieve because we will be able to match every child we serve with a foster family that is like that child's own family ethnically, geographically, culturally and spiritually! ”
"We believe the best way to teach children to take action in their own lives, is for adults around them to set the example," says DCS Director John Ryan. "Our community members can do that in many ways, from stepping forward out of silence to report child abuse or neglect, or for a relative to become a safe, loving and sheltering home for a child who has been removed from her original home. Adults can also take action in stepping forward to become a licensed foster family, or by adopting one of the more than 1,000 children in the state system that are legally eligible for adoption. We applaud the Children's Museum for this exhibit, and for reminding all of us that taking action is the within everyone's power."
The Take Action portion of the Power of Children exhibit opens to the public Saturday, December 8, 2012 at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary learning experiences across the arts, sciences, and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org, follow us on Twitter @TCMIndy, Facebook.com/childrensmuseum and YouTube.
