Media Room In the News

Family Diversity is Celebrated at Proud of My Family

Bay Area Reporter
June 19, 2019

Contributing a positive message to the national narrative around diversity and inclusion, the museum hosted its fifth annual Proud of My Family day June 22. Rainbow-themed activities, the Silicon Valley Rainbow Women's Chorus, and partners from the LGBTQ community were on-hand to celebrate family diversity. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development

Museum Announces Access and Inclusion Initiative

imp inpark Magazine
June 19, 2019

Visitors of all abilities will now have additional options for accessing Children's Discovery Museum. This initiative advances our most deeply held values of access and inclusion for all members of the community,” said Marilee Jennings, executive director of Children’s Discovery Museum. “These efforts build upon our existing initiative work with the Autism, LGBTQ, and immigrant communities.” Learn More

Early Childhood Development, General Museum, Health Promotion, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Learning Research

BioSITE Celebrates 25 Years of Sparking Curiosity in Science

The Mercury News
April 12, 2019

For 25 years, the museum's BioSITE program has been turning local waterways into living laboratories and classrooms for local youth. Fourth and fifth graders mentored by high school students test water quality and monitor the health of rivers, creeks and streams with the goal of fostering an appreciation and respect for the environment. Learn More

Community Service Learning, Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, General Museum, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Mission-Driven Cafe: When Doing the Wrong Thing is the Right Thing To Do

American Alliance of Museums Blog
April 1, 2019

If your primary goal is to have a food operation that contributes to your bottom line, hiring a contract food-service company is the right thing to do. But what if your vision for your café goes beyond seeing it as a profit center? Marilee Jennings, the executive director of Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, ultimately wanted the cafe to align with the museum's mission. With the encouragement and support of her board, she embarked on a journey of change. Learn More

General Museum, Health Promotion

Hanukkah Celebration Shows Kids How We’re All Different Yet Connected

The Mercury News
December 3, 2018

Families in Silicon Valley are eager to expose their children to the many rich cultures around the world. Helping kids appreciate how others are different goes a long way toward a hopeful future. That's what makes Menorahs & Miracles so joyful, fun - yet full of purpose and intention. This annual partner event celebrates Hanukkah and helps children experience different cultures around the world. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development

South Bay Teen Inspires Young Visitors with “A-mazing” Talent

ABC 7 News
November 20, 2018

Jonathan Pappas is a teen with talent. He inspired museum's visitors with his passion for all things mazes with an "UberMaze Experience Day" during Thanksgiving holiday. Jonathan's spark for art, math, and technology began when he was five years old. At sixteen, he's now designed more than 300 original mazes, been selected as a Maker at this year's Maker Faire, and created a child-friendly app that he prototyped at the museum. Learn More

Community Service Learning, Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Science Learning

Executive Director Marilee Jennings On Diversity & Inclusion with SV Business Journal

Silicon Valley Business Journal
November 16, 2018

On any given day in the museum, you'll hear numerous languages being spoken. The museum's audience mirrors the tremendous diversity in the Bay Area. This is no accident. It's the result of years of intentional work that includes everything from the Cultural Celebration Series, tri-lingual signage, staffing decisions, and exhibits and programs to deeply held community partnerships. Learn More

Community Service Learning, Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Health Promotion, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Learning Research, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Two-Year Initiative with Immigrant Families Culminates with Traveling Installation

The Mercury News
June 3, 2018

The museum continues its cutting-edge work with immigrant communities. The latest is a compelling visual and performing arts pop-up, A Seat at the Table, traveling to South Bay events this summer. The exhibit sparks conversations and art activities around the meaning of home, heritage, identity, and shared values. It's the culmination of Common Ground, a two-year initiative funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences to promote cultural understanding amongst immigrant families from Mexico, China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam and the greater South Bay communities. Learn More

Community Service Learning, Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence

Artist Inspires Visitors by Painting with His Head

The Mercury News
February 5, 2018

Don Ryker struggles to speak, but his paintings talk for him - bright and vibrant, active and intelligent. From the seat of his power wheelchair Don turns blank canvases into works of art by applying acrylic paint with his uniquely adapted hardhat. Cerebral Palsy hasn’t deterred Ryker from many things in life, including learning how to fish and play baseball and video games and now pursuing his dream as a professional artist. As part of the museum's Creativity through the Arts and Inclusiveness and Cultural Competence strategic commitments, Don was at the museum demonstrating his technique. Visitors had the opportunity to experiment with his method of wearing a similarly adapted hard hat. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Inclusion & Cultural Competence

Thousands Celebrate 20th Anniversary of The Three Kings Event

The Mercury News
January 7, 2018

Twenty-one years ago the museum launched The Three Kings Celebration as a way to introduce the museum to the large Latino community. This success served as a model for helping the museum meet the changing needs and demographics of Bay Area families and children. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development

Ringing in the New Year Across the Time Zones Draws Huge Crowds

The Mercury News
January 1, 2018

New Year's Eve may be for adults, but not at the purple museum. Created in 2006 so families could ring in the new year together, the Noon Year's Eve event highlights the diverse community the museum serves with three LED-lit ball drops coinciding with time zones around the world. Fashioned after the famous New York City Times Square Ball Drop, the celebration provides a joyful occasion for all ages. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence