The Bronx Children’s Museum’s Exhibit River on the Go
At the First Bronx Education Summit at Lehman College
October 15, 2011 - Press Release
Left to Right: Educator Lilli Genovesi, founding Board member Jesse Mojica, Executive Director for Family and Community Engagement for the NYC Department of Education, new Board member Michele Morales, Executive Director Carla Precht and NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Wolcott
River on the Go (ROG), the Bronx Children's Museum's first exhibit on its mobile bus, was a HUGE hit at the first Bronx Education Summit on October 15th sponsored by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Junior at Lehman College in the Bronx. Dozens of enthusiastic visitors to the bus included children, teachers, principals, parents, the Borough President himself and keynote speaker, author and activist Diane Ravitch. Founding Board member Jesse Mojica who was recently appointed by Chancellor Dennis Wolcott as the Executive Director for Family and Community Engagement for the NYC Department of Education, Chancellor Wolcott himself and board member Michele Morales also visited the bus. Every school educator who climbed on the bus, and into the exhibit, a multi-sensory diorama of the Bronx River, wanted the River on the Go exhibit to come to their school. The museum has initial funding to bring River on the Go to 20 sites in the South Bronx. Over 25 educators from the South Bronx completed applications and over 60 other educators signed up to get on the museum's mailing and waiting lists.
Adult visitors were "like children when they entered the bus," said the Museum's photographer. "They were so impressed and intrigued by all they could see, touch and explore!" One Museum educator, Lilli Genovesi, had teachers and school administrators touch their noses if they saw certain specimens. River on the Go comes with Museum educators to guide children in their exploration of the Bronx River as well as resource materials for teachers.
The museum has been piloting art and educational programs at community based organizations, at festivals and at health fairs throughout the Bronx since 2006, but “River on the Go” is the Bronx Children’s Museum’s first traveling exhibit.
With funding from the Simon Bolivar Foundation and The Tortuga Foundation BCM’s new On-the-Go Bus has a busy schedule of visits to festivals, schools, block parties, libraries, shelters, and community-based organizations lined up.
CONTACTS:
Bronx Children's Museum
For further information, contact: Sandy Shalleck
Email: sshalleck@hotmail.com
Phone: 347-945-2103
For questions regarding the museum and its programs please contact Richard Stein, press liaison for the board. E-mail: rstein001@optonline.net. Phone: 347-291-5415. www.bronxchildrensmuseum.org.
