Last Wednesday, New York City’s First Lady Chirlane McCray celebrated the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s (CMOM) 16th annual publication of poetry written by women in the museum’s Shelter Program for Families in Temporary Housing. She showed her support for the program by not only writing the forward for the publication, but by attending the museum’s celebration last week.
McCray was joined by two of the Program’s original members, Mia Edmondson and Tawana Alston, who described their experiences participating in the program and read their favorite excerpts from the publication.
“As I noted in the forward, reading these poems reminded me of my own struggles,” McCray said. “When I was growing up, I was the only black student in my classes and I was no stranger to bullying. This also meant I was no stranger to pain… I began writing poetry early in my life and it did not solve all of my problems, but, it helped me come up with ways to express my pent-up thoughts and feelings.”
The women that had their work published in this year’s collection are from the Clinton Family Inn’s Home for the Homeless. This year, the program is working with families from the West End Intergenerational Residence.
“Today is the celebration of human potential,” CMOM Executive Director Andy Ackerman said. “We believe in the arts, self-expression, empowering people, and helping them with their daily lives. This museum is committed to providing access to all, every day, whether it is here or in our community.”
The Shelter Program began at CMOM about two decades ago as a place where women living in transitional housing could bring their children to learn and play with others. Mothers also participated in activities that helped them enjoy the process of raising a child and helped them handle the emotional ups and downs they may have been experiencing.
“I was one of the first groups here at CMOM in 1994,” said, Mia Edmondson, one of the mothers who has participated in the program. “At first, I wasn’t sure about the program here at CMOM. I was immature and I didn’t trust anyone. But, after the first writing session, I realized that I was with people that genuinely cared and supported us without judgment. I felt safe at CMOM…The program allowed me to express my thoughts, fears and stresses. Now that I am older, I realize that it did so much for me.”
Participants of the museum Shelter’s Program meet every Tuesday from fall to spring. Each day, the program starts with playtime for children and a weekly art project for mothers. The art projects range from decorative frames and boxes to accessories for their children.
After the morning routine, the children and mothers come together for singing, dancing and storytelling. Then, in the afternoon, the children either go to the museum’s classroom to learn or explore one of the museum’s exhibits. While the children are learning, all of the mothers come together to read and write poetry. In this environment, mothers are encouraged to share their short stories or poems and connect with other members of the group.
“The writing sessions and group talks gave me comfort and unconditional emotional support,” Edmondson said. “It also helped me form unbreakable bonds with the other moms which still continue 21 years later.”
Along with weekly meetings, the participants in the Shelter Program also receive free admission to the museum, every day of the week.
Edmondson and Alston shared their experiences and celebrated not only their successes, but also their children’s. At the end of the celebration, McCray received a banner from the museum that would, hopefully, according to Ackerman, be hung up in New York’s City Hall.
