Senate Resolution No. 2747

BY: Senator MONTGOMERY

COMMENDING the Brooklyn Children's Museum upon the
occasion of celebrating its 120th Anniversary on
December 16, 2019

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality
of life of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly enriched by
its exceptional cultural, educational and recreational institutions; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the
Brooklyn Children's Museum upon the occasion of its 120th Anniversary
which was celebrated at an event on Monday, December 16, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1899 as the world's first children's museum, the
Brooklyn Children's Museum (BCM) is New York City's largest cultural
institution designed especially for families; through the years, it has
always strived to provide first cultural experiences for its guests
which inspire curiosity, creativity, and lifelong love of learning; and

WHEREAS, Located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, BCM serves hundreds of
thousands of children and caregivers annually free of charge with
exhibits and programs grounded in visual arts, music and performance,
natural science, and world cultures; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, BCM has flourished and expanded by
constructing two new buildings and adding hundreds of exhibits; in
addition, its collection has increased to 30,000 natural history and
cultural objects ranging from Paleolithic to ancient to modern day,
making the collection an encyclopedia of cultures across the globe; BCM
also takes care of over 1,000 plants, animals and bugs; and

WHEREAS, The objects are used throughout the Museum in exhibits and
programs, serving as a primary resource to engage children with natural
history and cultures; BCM's mission is to use objects as hands-on
learning tools to support and deepen experiential and inquiry-based
learning; and

WHEREAS, BCM's collection is maintained at the highest ethical
practices and standards of preservation, in accordance with its
Collections Management Policy, and each object in the BCM collection
embodies ideas which are entry points for children's learning; the
shapes, colors, forms, textures, patterns, and materials of its objects
allow children to explore, fail, ask questions, and use their
imagination; and

WHEREAS, BCM fundamentally believes that children's engagement with
objects fosters learning experiences that cultivate empathy and prepare
young visitors to be thinking, critical, kind, and engaged citizens of
the world; and

WHEREAS, The Brooklyn Children's Museum shows its commitment to its
Brooklyn community by: serving all families regardless of ability to
pay, building a community for parents and children, reaching beyond
their walls into schools and other neighborhoods, hiring local vendors

and supporting small business, employing Brooklynites and supporting
their families and providing space and sharing resources with other
Brooklyn community based organizations; and

WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of President and CEO
Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, the expert staff of the Brooklyn Children's
Museum, are and always have been characterized by an impressive
commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of
excellence, and accordingly merit the commendation of this Legislative
Body; and

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body that when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Brooklyn Children's Museum upon the occasion of celebrating
its 120th Anniversary on December 16, 2019; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, President and CEO, Brooklyn
Children's Museum.