Our Work in the Community

Outside Our Walls

The Museum's work in the community is part of our strategic plan to strengthen our neighborhood for all children and families. Here are two of our initiatives:

Building on the success of the Family Waiting Room at the Allegheny County Jail that the Children's Museum helped design in collaboration with the Child Guidance Foundation and the jail's warden, the Museum is now involved in an effort to create a family reunification center within the jail.

The district-wide program known as the Charm Bracelet Project has combined our sister and brother organizations on Pittsburgh's Northside in inventive partnerships outside of their walls and into the streets. Through open dialog and cooperation, organizations have implemented creative projects such as Serve & Project (matching neighborhood youth with neighborhood seniors to record and share each others stories), Fresh Fridays at the Northside Farmers Market, kayaking in historic Lake Elizabeth and Community Art Labs.

These projects are having an impact on non-profit institutional advancement, neighborhood revitalization, public/private ventures, artistic and design excellence and community development. Collectively, through a density of activity, public programs and forward thinking initiatives, the institutions of the Northside are truly building community and making a difference.

Bloggers: Jane Werner, Executive Director, and Chris Seifert, Deputy Director