History
Concept Design Charrette
In November 2008, when a Charrette event facilitated by Lexington, Inc. brought forth the grand vision for the future Children’s Museum of the Prescott area, its development had been in process for almost four years. It was October 2004, when Judy Paris attended an education conference where a Children’s Museum program was presented, demonstrating the need for hands-on, discovery-based programs for young children, that the initial vision was born: to design, create and establish a Children’s Museum for local children and all the children who visit the Prescott area with the deep rooted educational theories and information from the brain research on child development to improve opportunities for all.
An educator for over 35 years, Judy immediately envisioned the benefits of such an institution, so along with her daughter, Jocelyn, also a teacher, they joined the ACM (Association of Children’s Museums) and obtained books and materials to research, study and learn about children’s museums across the country. For the next year, Judy and Jocelyn focused on learning the steps that would lead to a permanent facility. They enlisted help from Judy’s daughter-in-law, Andrea, a social worker, and her son, Justin, a professional in the fields of marketing/advertising and photography. Together they traveled to various museums, met with successful directors, and created basic materials pertinent to gathering others in the community with similar interests.
They began to understand the enormity of such a project and knew it would take many years, long hours, and many fine community people to deliver such a cultural institution to the community. Judy shared the idea of a children’s museum with a few close friends who loved the thought of such a grand place: from the education field these included, Ron Minnich, Cynthia Foss, Lisa Grell, JoLayne and John Coomer, MariAnn Thorley, Dale Hornyan-Toftoy and Nancy Campbell. It was through their support and ideas that the wheels began to move!
Judy and Cindy worked diligently gathering information, talking with museum directors, and visiting museums. In October 2006, they began the planning for a community meeting with some of their closest friends and associates. In March 2007, they held a meeting with 35 people to share the highlights, provide hands-on experiences, and obtain opinions and ideas about the pros and cons of such a place. At this meeting they asked each friend to contact others and from that session a Board of 10 people was formed. The Founding Board’s first meeting occurred in August 2007.
This original Board of Directors was a group of eager and interested citizens with varied backgrounds and expertise who helped guide the work that needed to be done. With a CPA and an attorney in the group, they were able to establish a 501(c)3, non-profit organization, The Children’s Museum Alliance, Inc. They were able to speak with community leaders and other citizens about the need for a children’s museum in the area and through that effort obtained start-up funds from the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe. This money was used to send two Board members to the 2008 ACM National Conference, and to pay for the two day Charrette with Lexington, an experienced museum design and fabrication company.
The Founding Board in 2007 included:
- JoLayne Coomer, Educator
- Cynthia Foss, Communication Consultant
- Maggie Greenwood, Marketing Specialist
- Scott Helfinstine, Certified Public Accountant
- Rich Howe, TV Station Manager
- Lora Lopas, Realtor
- Ken Morley, Lieutenant Police Department
- Judy Paris, Educational Consultant and Founder
- Mark Seman, Architect
- Gil Shaw, Attorney at Law
Once the Charrette was planned, the Board searched for community partners who could enhance the concept development of this special children’s museum. The group that was invited to participate in the Charrette came from various entities, organizations, businesses, and institutions in the community such as: the YMCA, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, the Highlands Center, the Sharlot Hall Museum, local artists, local architects, and Board members.
Through this Charrette, the museum that was designed is focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and the Fine Arts. The group hopes that it will instill in children a desire to recognize and celebrate who they are, understand how they fit in their current environment, and to recognize how they can make a difference in the global society. This museum will be a place where children will learn to be problem solvers, critical thinkers, natural creatives, self-initiators, and future leaders.
Branding and Logo Design Charrette
Featuring Mark Seman (board member), Jacques Laliberte, Ginny King and Heather Seman of 3Dintelligence, along with board members Joanne Tomasi, Cindy Foss and Judy Paris.
Organization Development and Board History
The process of developing a children’s museum in any community is a tremendous undertaking. In order to produce a quality institution community participants with varied backgrounds and unique expertise must join together, focused on a primary mission.
The Children’s Museum Alliance, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is grateful to the many volunteers who have demonstrated dedication to the project, the energy to fulfill critical roles, the time to complete tasks, and the support to persist in this fascinating endeavor.
Many individuals, far too numerous to mention, have contributed their ideas, their time, and their knowledge to guide the efforts of the Museum development. This brief history serves to thank publicly all those who have contributed to the museum growth by playing a role on the Board and as friends of the museum through the gifts of their time, talents and service.
Current Participating Board
NAME |
DATE OF CONFIRMATION |
|
| Diane Beneitone | 10/2009 | |
| Eileen Bond | 09/2010 | |
| Ryan Brown | 10/2009 | |
| Karen Churchill | 09/2010 | |
| Christina Hecht | 04/2010 | |
| Judy Paris | 2004 | |
| Joanne Tomasi | 12/2008 |
2004 |
Museum Originators |
|
Judy Paris, Jocelyn Paris, John Paris, Justin Paris, and Andrea Paris |
||
2006 |
Sustaining Museum Supporters |
|
Cindy Foss, Shirley and Ellsworth Johnson, Randy Johnson, John and JoLayne Coomer |
||
Spring 2007 |
Community Program Presentation |
|||
| A small group of friends and family participated in an evening gathering to share the pros and cons of designing and establishing a children’s museum in our area. From a lengthy period of research Judy Paris and Cindy Foss developed an evening of discovery and provided information about the value of a children’s museum for the community. Thank you to the following individuals for their critical involvement in identifying the positive need for such an institution. From this event recommendations for the preliminary advisory group participants were collected. JoLayne and John Coomer, Lisa Grell, Gloria Rose, Susan Howe, Susan Crutcher, Sandy Pickens, Lucia Murphy, Pamela Craig, Jan Alexander, Kelly Wood, Lorrie Randle, Jocelyn Paris, John Paris, Justin Paris. Randy Johnson, Dale Hornyan-Toftoy, and Jerry Paris. | ||||
August 2007 |
Preliminary Advisory Group |
|||
| This group of individuals utilized their varied backgrounds to establish a corporation and gain non-profit status. The Children’s Museum Alliance, Inc. became an Arizona Corporation and non-profit organization in March 2008 when a Board was formed. Judy Paris, Cindy Foss, JoLayne Coomer, Scott Helfinstine, Rich Howe, Maggie Greenwood, Lora Lopas, Mark Seman, Gil Shaw and Ken Morley. | ||||
Board Members |
Period of March 2008 to Present |
|||
NAME |
DATES OF SERVICE |
TERM LENGTH |
||
| Judy Paris | (2004 to Present) | 6 years, continuing | ||
| Cindy Foss | (07/2007 to 07/2010) | 3 years | ||
| Rich Howe | (08/2007 to 08/2009) | 2 years | ||
| Mark Seman | (08/2007 to 04/2010) | 2 ½ years | ||
| JoLayne Coomer | (08/2007 to 04/2008) | ¾ year | ||
| Scott Helfinstine | (08/2007 to 12/2008+) | 1 ½ year+ | ||
| Lora Lopas | (08/2007 to 05/2009) | 1 ½ years | ||
| Gil Shaw | (08/2007 to 02/2010) | 2 ½ years | ||
| Ken Morley | (08/2007 to 12/2007) | ¼ year | ||
| Maggie Greenwood | (08/2007 to 8/2010) | 3 years | ||
| Joanne Tomasi | (12/2008 to Present) | 2 years, continuing | ||
| Randy Shaffer | (10/2009 to 04/2010) | ½ year | ||
| Diane Beneitone | (10/2009 – 1/2012) | 1 year | ||
| Paula Greene | (10/2009 to 02/2010) | ½ year | ||
| Ryan Brown | (10/2009 to Present) | 1 year, continuing | ||
| Cathy Johnson | (10/2009 to 08/2010) | 1 year | ||
| Christina Hecht | (04/2010 to Present) | ¾ year, continuing | ||
| Karen Churchill | (09/2010 to Present | 3 mos, continuing | ||
| Eileen Bond | (09/2010 to Present | 3 mos, continuing | ||
The spot...a Child's Museum envisions children as lifelong learners who are inquisitive and knowledgeable about the world and are inspired to become stewards of a peaceful and sustainable planet.
Find out the POWERFUL core beliefs and goals behind making the spot a safe, healthy place focused on the future of our children and community.
Discovery Learning, Piaget, Montessori... these theories all underscore the spot's very basic foundational principle of the importance of PLAY! As Albert Einstein said, “The ability to play is instrumental in scientific exploration, discovery and all forms of creativity!”
As early as 2004, a group of dedicated Prescott and nearby community individuals began to realize their vision to design, create and establish a hands-on, discovery based Children's Museum in Prescott. See how the spot came to life.
Be a part of bringing this unmatched central Arizona asset to life through your generous, tax-deductible gift. See images of the vision for the spot's future classrooms, laboratories, planetarium, nature exchange area, non-lending library and more.
Get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the spot and the Children's Museum Alliance, Inc.
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