For the first time in its nearly 40-year history, the Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM) is “aging up” its mission, thanks to a transformative $2.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant, part of the Fostering Character Through Children’s Museums initiative, empowers LCM to expand its programming to older children and teens, a bold step forward for a museum traditionally focused on children through third grade.
The four-year project (the largest non-capital campaign gift in LCM’s history) marks a new chapter in character education and workforce development. At the heart of the initiative are two major components: a Teen Mentoring Program and a brand-new exhibit titled Character Connects Us. These efforts are designed to equip local youth with lifelong career skills and foster civic virtues like leadership, service, and community awareness.
“Community, history, and tradition are directly tied to powerful pride of place embraced by all New Orleanians, including teens,” says Tifferney White, CEO of LCM. “For nearly four decades, LCM has fostered growth in children and families. Now, thanks to Lilly Endowment, we’re aging up and expanding our impact to empower teens to contribute creatively, develop lifelong career skills, and foster character traits like leadership and service within themselves and their communities.”
The Teen Mentoring Program will serve as the foundation for this initiative, providing teens with the opportunity to gain real-world work experience through a character education curriculum. Participants will also receive paid stipends as they contribute to the concept development of Character Connects Us. The new exhibit is designed to be a shared space for visitors to explore civic and performance virtues, ranging from citizenship and community awareness to resilience, teamwork, and critical thinking.
Amanda Shackelford, Executive Director of Louisiana Youth for Excellence, highlighted the significance of the project. “In Louisiana, it is essential to ensure that we are putting our kids first, strengthening their leadership skills through integrity and character building,” she says. “The Louisiana Children’s Museum sets the standard for positive youth development, and this next era of ‘aging up’ addresses the vital role they continue to play as a leader in youth education across the state.”
The initiative has also garnered praise from local leaders. Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans (GNO), Inc., emphasized the broader impact on the community. “The Louisiana Children’s Museum has long been a cornerstone of education, imagination, and community in our region,” he says. “This transformative gift from Lilly Endowment Inc. will not only expand the museum’s programming to support older children and teens but also strengthen New Orleans’ position as a place where families and young minds thrive. As the Museum launches this workforce development project, GNO, Inc. is proud to support a future where local teens can access spaces that foster career and mentorship opportunities.”
Leading the project is LCM’s Chief Learning Officer, Shannon Blady, Ph.D., who will work alongside educational consultant Kathleen Whalen, M.Ed., LCSW. The program will also be guided by Arthur Schwartz, Ed.D., president of Character.org, ensuring that the Museum’s character education curriculum remains impactful and relevant.
The expansion comes as LCM looks toward its 40th anniversary next October, with an eye on youth opportunity and community impact as New Orleans commemorates the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina this August. “Character matters, and Louisianans deeply value character traits like service, resilience, neighborliness, and community,” says LCM Board President Michael H. Schmidt. “Thanks to Lilly Endowment, we’re excited to empower teens to explore and celebrate these virtues in a new exhibit.”
With the backing of Lilly Endowment Inc., the Louisiana Children’s Museum is set to build on its legacy of learning and community building, paving the way for a new era of youth engagement in New Orleans.