Welcome Back to the New School Year! |
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We hope you and your families are all safe from the affects of Storm Ida after she tore across the country and through our area.
We also hope you had a safe, healthy and fun summer. A lot has happened these past few months, from significant building construction progress and superhero summer programs to joining forces with our community to stand up for environmental justice issues. Here's a wrap up of what's up with us!
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Construction Updates:
Counting Down to "Substantial Completion"
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According to NYC Department of Design and Construction, the City agency responsible for the build-out of our future space, construction is scheduled to hit "substantial completion" by the first week of October!
Since our Groundbreaking Ceremony in July of 2017, DDC has been working tirelessly on a complete renovation of the second floor of the former Powerhouse building in Mill Pond Park, our future home. "Substantial Completion" is the point at which the space is ready to be inspected by the NYC Department of Buildings in order to issue the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy declaring the space up to code, safe and habitable.
It's been a long road to get to this major milestone and many things can still happen between now and the end of the month. However, all indicators point to the construction of the Museum space being complete very soon. Ya-hoooo!
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In the Meantime, We're Floored! |
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A DDC construction supervisor surveys the newly installed wood flooring. |
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Bit by bit, inch by inch, and in this case, step by step, the Museum interior is coming together. This past month, beautiful 6" end-cut squares of timber flooring were installed in the common areas of the Museum space while carpeting went down in the early learner areas. Coming up in early September, we are looking forward to the installation of translucent dividers and panels that will complement all the natural wood. The end result will be a sleek contemporary space ready to host the exciting exhibits coming in this spring. |
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Dream Big Summer Program Ignites Children’s Superpowers with Guest Artist Jerome LaMaar |
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Children in the Dream Big Summer Arts Enrichment program hold up their final superhero artwork with Guest Artist Jerome LaMaar at the Ending Celebration Day. |
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If you had a superpower, how would you use it in your neighborhood? Students were presented this question as a theme to explore this summer during the Museum's Dream Big Summer Arts Enrichment Program led by teaching artist Christopher Gomez. The program, held in partnership with SCAN at PS 274, featured a video about Jerome LaMaar, a Bronx-native contemporary artist and fashion designer who has created an interactive exhibit for the Museum space called "Bronxtopia."
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A student in the Dream Big Summer Program shares the story of her superhero with Jerome LaMaar and the class. |
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LaMaar met with the children as a guest artist to inspire them to explore and elaborate on their grandest desires for their futures by using the arts as a way to express themselves. What were some of the responses to the superhero question? Putting out fires with a water "power" and helping people.
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Funding for this project is provided by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
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Speaking up for the Community, Environmental Justice Prevails in the South Bronx |
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At a press conference held by US Congressman Ritchie Torres (left) on August 11, Executive Director Carla Precht points out the close proximity of the controversial proposed high-voltage power converter station. |
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Thanks to our indomitable US Congressman Ritchie Torres, our fabulous local elected officials – Assembly Member Joyner, and Council Members Gibson and Ayala – and our tireless community leaders who have been advocating for environmental justice for decades, Forward Power has formally agreed to relocate a high-voltage power converter station that was proposed to be built across the street from Bronx Children’s Museum’s new facility in Mill Pond Park.
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Sonia Manzano performs read-aloud of "The Lowdown on the High Bridge" with New York Public Library Summer Celebration Program. |
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Museum donates books to all Bronx libraries. |
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On Saturday, August 28th, as part of the New York Public Library’s Learning 2021 Celebration Day, author and actor Sonia Manzano, best known for her portrayal of “Maria” on Sesame Street, performed a virtual read-aloud of her book The Lowdown on the High Bridge: The Story of How New York City Got Its Water. In honor of the special reading, Bronx Children’s Museum donated copies of Ms. Manzano’s book to each of the more than 30 Bronx branches of the New York Public Library and the borough bookmobile.
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“We thank the Museum for its generous contribution and for strengthening a partnership with us that brings together community organizations, parks, historic landmarks, libraries, and most importantly, children,” said NYPL President Anthony W. Marx.
Last summer, Sonia read her book "A World Together" as part of the Museum's Dream Big Summer Program. Watch that video here!
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A New Member of the Museum Family |
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We are thrilled to announce that our Deputy Director of Arts and Exhibits, Natalie Collette Wood, gave birth to a baby boy this past month. Both mother and child are safe and healthy. We look forward to seeing Baby Pierre, along with Natalie and Papa Pierre in the Museum as official testers of our Early Learners area. Congratulations Natalie and Pierre!
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BxCM at Public Events
Here's a listing of where you can find us out and about this month.
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Friday, September 3 - 12-3:30 PM
North Central Bronx Back to School Fair
3424 Kossuth Ave
Wednesday, September 8 - 2-4 PM
Senator Rivera's Backpack Giveaway
Devoe Park
Saturday, September 11 - 9 AM-1 PM
South Bronx United Back to School Fair
Macombs Dam Park
Sunday, September 26 - 12-3PM
Native American Festival
Pelham Bay Park
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Power of Two is a non-profit organization that nurtures the inherent potential in every child and family by equipping them with the tools to transform their own lives and strengthen their communities.
Power of Two offers a free parenting program called "ABC" (Attachment and Biobehavioral Catchup) in the South Bronx and Brooklyn that gives children a foundation for success in school and life by fostering a strong and healthy attachment between parent and child.
The program connects parents or primary caregivers to a parent coach for one hour a week for 10 weeks, in person or through Zoom, in order to help support their child's healthy development. Parent coaches focus on what parents are already doing well to boost caregiver's self-esteem about their abilities as a parent.
"ABC" is available, through The Power of 2, to any parent, primary caregiver, or legal guardian (including those with preventive cases) who has a child or children between the ages of 6 months and 48 months, lives in Brownsville, Brooklyn, the South Bronx, and the immediately surrounding neighborhoods.
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