...: Worldways Log :...

Mission Statement

Worldways Children's Museum provides hands-on opportunities for people of all ages to actively explore, experience and celebrate the lives and cultures of the people of our world so that visitors gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to develop cross cultural competence.

Vision Statement

Worldways Children 's Museum will be recognized worldwide as a model museum that actively engages children and adults in interactive, hands-on exploration and learning about the lives and cultures of people throughout the world. As a result of attending the museum, children and adults will gain a broader outlook on the world and will be more attuned to expressions of other cultures and distinctions between cultures. They will become more open-minded and willing to interact with people who have perspectives and beliefs different than their own. The museum will be located in 10-15,000 square feet of free, open space and will be able to accommodate more exhibits that provide an educationally enriching and fun experience for visitors. More than 60,000 visitors will attend the museum annually and there will be increased demand for additional exhibits, programs and services. The museum will have expanded partnerships and cultural exchanges with community organizations focusing on international affairs. The museum will foster increased interaction with and between ethnic groups in St. Louis. Educators across the region will increasingly incorporate an international perspective into school curriculums and the museum will be perceived as a valuable resource for field trips and information about international customs and practices. Corporations will utilize museum resources to help their employees and their families understand more about the global marketplace, thus enhancing the corporation's ability to recruit international workforce-ready, cross-culturally competent employees.

Board Directory

JEANNE FISCHER
Worldways Children's Museum

DANIEL G.  SHAUGHNESSY
BSI Constructors

JOSEPH HIPSKIND
Stinson, Morrison & Hecker

SUZANNE HOLROYD
Vandiver Group

STUART MORSE
Morse Fine Art Studios, Inc.

LISA SWIFT
Monsanto

PETER TAO
Tao Lee Associates

Tax Classification

Worldways is a 501 c 3 non-profit charitable organization.

History

The idea for this unique museum evolved over 15 years as a result of the founding director's international and educational experiences. The basic concept of a hands-on international learning center was first developed during Jeanne Fischer's graduate work at St. Louis University. Subsequent experience as a secondary teacher, tour escort and adjunct faculty member at Webster University further refined the vision. At last Ms. Fischer's dream became reality in 1996 when the museum first opened its doors at West County Center. Since opening in February 1996, Worldways has welcomed more than 140,000 visitors while earning an average approval rating of 8.8 on a 10 point scale. Among educators, our approval rating is consistently higher, averaging 9.6. The museum offers an educational experience not available elsewhere in the metropolitan St. Louis area. Our location allows visitors from the St. Louis metropolitan area as well as St. Charles, Rolla, Columbia and Mount Vernon, Illinois to experience the museum. Many of the children from outside St. Louis do not have access to this type of resource locally, and may never leave the country to explore other parts of the world. Worldways is committed to offering simulated travel experiences to these children. Our location makes this educational opportunity readily accessible from Highways 40, 44 and I-270.

Rationale

The world is getting smaller every day. The economy is global, the Internet has made worldwide communications instantaneous, racial and ethnic diversity are very much a part of life. Our cultural institutions both reflect and influence the world in which we live. A child born in 1999 can expect to:

• Enter a global work environment where she/he may be part of a management or sales team consisting of people from several countries retained by a multinational company which considers a diverse workforce both a source of comparative advantage and essential to the effectiveness of worldwide operations.
• Communicate via the Internet at work, school and home with anyone at any time anywhere on the planet.
• Live in a multicultural neighborhood where children of minorities will account for 50% of all school age children.
• Participate as a citizen in the decision-making process on trade, peace keeping, immigration, environment and other complex international issues.

Exposure to different cultural approaches to meeting basic human needs such as food, shelter, medicine, etc. stimulates critical thinking skills as visitors compare and contrast, assess strengths and weaknesses of alternate methods of solving problems. Analytic and cross-cultural communication skills engender confidence in one's ability to handle the unknown providing a basis for understanding, acceptance and constructive relations. Cross-cultural exposure is especially critical at early ages before children become locked into thinking that there is only one best way to meet a need or solve a problem.

Just as when personal computers first appeared, parents realized that their children would have to learn this new technology. Now, a decade later, computers are everywhere. The Internet, teleconferencing equipment, and fax machines instantly link people around the globe. But we believe that the mastery of new technologies will not be enough to span communication gaps between cultures. An understanding of different cultures and the skills required to communicate effectively between cultures need to be developed through cross-cultural education and age-appropriate hands-on exploration. Worldways Children's Museum offers this unique educational environment for children to help prepare them for success in the 21st century.

Selected Staff Thumbnails

From St.Louis:

Jeanne Fischer - 25 years international experience in education and intercultural training. B.A. in International Relations and Journalism at Syracuse University, New York; M.A. in Education at St. Louis University. Intern United Nations Association; Adjunct Faculty Webster University (1993); Ten years experience in the travel industry.

From Russia:

Natalya Makarova-Thaman - 15 years experience in the field of Museum Education, including developing many projects for children throughout Russia. M.A. in Music Education and Ph.D. in Museum Studies at Moscow State University in Russia.