Win, the nation’s largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families, in partnership with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM).
Celebrated the launch of two new Learning Hubs, designed by CMOM, at two Win family shelters in East Harlem. This installation will bring high-quality, innovative early childhood learning to homeless children who might not otherwise have access to these resources.
The event marks the launch of the second phase of Win and CMOM’s collaborative multi-year pilot program to install museum-grade, designed, and supported Learning Hubs in all 16 Win shelters across New York City. These installations provide high-quality early childhood education, family workshops, and professional development for Win staff using CMOM’s research-based curriculum. After Tuesday, the program will have installed four Learning Hubs in Win shelters across the city since its launch last year, and is projected to install five more Learning Hubs next year at additional Win sites in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.
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“We are thrilled to join the Children’s Museum of Manhattan as we celebrate the launch of the second phase of new learning hubs installed at Win’s family shelters,” said Christine C. Quinn, President & CEO of Win. “This new, state-of-the-art learning hub designed by CMOM delivers much-needed, trauma-informed learning spaces for New York’s most vulnerable children. With more children sleeping in New York City’s homeless shelters than there are seats in Yankee Stadium, investing in the success of our children is more critical than ever. Together with our incredible partners at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, we’re bringing high-quality learning directly into our shelters, giving children the tools they need to thrive.”
“Today at WIN East River, CMOM proudly continues our three-year partnership to transform 13 transitional housing facilities into places of joyful learning and connection,” said Dava Schub, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Museum of Manhattan. “CMOM has designed a holistic model for sustained community engagement that impacts children, their families, and WIN staff. Our museum-quality learning environments in WIN facilities across New York City carry the same promise: that no matter where a family is in their journey, their children deserve a space to play, learn, and thrive.”
Celebrating Impact and Partnership
Since the start of this partnership, CMOM has reached over 500 children, parents, and Win staff through direct programming and will reach hundreds more through the Learning Hub installations across Win’s family shelter sites. The partnership has enabled both organizations to create deeper, more impactful content and programming for children and families in need.
The Partnership
CMOM and Win began working together in 2021, deepening their collaboration during the pandemic by hosting Baby Brain Building workshops for Win families at CMOM. Win’s unified approach and alignment with CMOM’s mission have made this partnership especially effective in reaching and uplifting families across the city.
Win
Win is the largest provider of shelter and supportive housing for families experiencing homelessness in New York City and the nation, operating 16 shelters and over 450 units of supportive housing across all five boroughs. For over 40 years, Win has provided safe housing, trauma-informed services, and innovative programs to help families rebuild their lives. In the past year, Win served nearly 12,400 people – including over 6,700 children – and helped over 1,000 families transition out of shelter into homes of their own.
CMOM
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a steward of early childhood, helping all children grow and develop into their best selves. Through our programs on-site and around the five boroughs, CMOM nurtures the next generation of creative global citizens as they learn through exploration and play. CMOM encourages empathy across differences by elevating and providing insight into diverse perspectives and inviting visitors of all backgrounds to join our intentionally welcoming community and create and learn alongside each other. The museum’s program reflects the rich cultural diversity, energy, and resilience of New York City itself and has a special focus on ensuring that its program is available to those families who might not otherwise have access.
Founded in 1973 as a neighborhood organization, CMOM has grown over the years into a beloved destination and resource for children, families, and educators from across the five boroughs and from around the world. The museum welcomes 350,000 visitors each year to its Upper West Side location and engages hundreds of thousands more through its outreach programs in partnership with schools, libraries, shelters, and Head Start centers throughout New York City; its touring exhibitions; and its online tools and curricula.
In response to growing public demand for its programs and resources, CMOM is in the process of transforming the landmarked First Church of Christ, Scientist, located on Central Park West and 96th Street, into a welcoming museum that inspires connectivity, exploration, and play. Designed by FXCollaborative, CMOM’s future home will materially increase the museum’s programmatic capacity, allowing CMOM to better serve the diverse communities it welcomes and create a new model for the children’s museum of the future.
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