This week, I spent my Monday and Friday at the Learning Lounge in the Molina Family Gallery at the National Museum of the American Latino. On Monday, I observed Natalia host a fun activity for a group of 4H students. After an interesting presentation on art for social change, the kids created a storyboard for a PSA video on a social issue they are passionate about. The kids were active, engaged, and had many ideas. It was super interesting to hear them discuss the project and work together.
Afterward, I went back to the NMAL offices (across the hall from where we made tortillas during Washington Week!) and did some research for Adrián. He and Emily are currently in Las Vegas, and he asked me to find some local community programs that he could contact while he is there to get more interest and community partnerships for the museum. I also sat in on a meeting with Adrián, Emily, and Natalie about audience engagement and different ways to get the community involved, which was very enlightening.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I did some work from home because NATO was having their big meeting in the building across the street and apparently closed down the entire surrounding area for safety. During those three days, I looked at every single presentation in the NMAL Learning Lab online and made a note of every time it still said "Smithsonian Latino Center" so it could be updated to "National Museum of the American Latino". It was surprisingly a lot of work, but I enjoyed looking through the slides and reading about different topics I didn't know about before, particularly the Mt. Pleasant Riots in 1991. My father immigrated to the U.S. and lived in D.C. (a couple blocks away from Mt. Pleasant) in 1991, and we had an interesting discussion about the riots. I have never heard of that piece of local, recent history before and it was super cool to hear about something that happened in an area I am familiar with and that my own family witnessed firsthand. My father came to D.C. to live with my aunt a couple of months after the riots, but he felt the after-effects and my aunt and cousins were there when it happened.
Today, Friday, I was able to come back to the Molina Family Gallery and I spent the day in the Learning Lounge with Jorge. I got to be on the other side of the raft-making activity today and saw the kids work together to make their own boat. Their take on it was very different from my own group's during Washington Week (shout out Smart Pretty Perezosos!) and I enjoyed hearing their perspectives. Before lunch, I also sat in on another meeting with a bunch of the NMAL staff about the future of the museum and what they hope to accomplish in the next 10-12 years. You guys will NOT be ready when the new NMAL logo drops... (it's fire)
It was very exciting to hear about the plans for the future of the museum and the YAP program. I also learned a lot about the different positions and processes it takes to make an entirely new museum! There were many different jobs and careers that I hadn't thought about before, and it was thrilling to get to be a tiny part of it. There are many different aspects that go into creating a museum, such as communications, community outreach, curation, fundraising, and education. I love museums, but I have rarely thought about what goes on behind the scenes and this was such an eye-opening experience, especially because it is the planning phase of a new museum as opposed to an established one. I also got a sneak peek of the next exhibit that will go up in 2026 after ¡Presente!, and I am excited. I will definitely be coming back to visit!
After lunch, another group of delightful elementary-aged children came in and Nadia demonstrated how to make dolls out of corn husks. It was a very fun activity and everybody enjoyed it, even the adults! Unfortunately, I did not make my own and I am very sad about it. Other than that, my week was wonderful and I have learned a lot. It was interesting to be on the other side from Washington Week when we were doing the projects and now I am helping to facilitate them. There is a lot of planning and preparation that goes into it, and it is equally as intriguing to help others learn something new.
The Learning Lounge also brings STEM and culture together, especially the boat project. It provides historical and cultural context while relating it to an activity that everybody can do with their own hands. While the boat isn't actually tested in water, people are discussing with their teammates its ability to float, withstand pressure, the speed of the currents, and other factors. The Learning Lounge also has a variety of books, which are necessary for the education and social development of children. Somebody who specializes in bilingual learning for young children also visited the Learning Lounge with her child (an adorable one year old!) and husband, and it was enlightening to hear her speak about the importance of bilingualism and its effect on educational development. The husband also has experience working with the Latino diaspora, and he also talked to us about the importance of Latino solidarity between all of us.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience even though it was mostly disrupted by NATO. I am very excited for next week!
Comments
Post a Comment