CROWN HEIGHTS — BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM HAS RECEIVED A $2.5 MILLION GRANT from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support the development and implementation of Brooklyn Character, a new initiative designed to promote the understanding, development and retention of key character strengths among young children. Brooklyn Character is geared toward children ages 5 through 12 and their caregivers as part of Brooklyn Time Machine, a new permanent exhibit set to open in 2027. Brooklyn Children’s Museum is one of 23 children’s museums around the nation being funded through Fostering Character Through Children’s Museums. This Lilly Endowment initiative is designed to help children’s museums develop new or expand existing efforts that explore and encourage the development of positive character traits among children and youth.
The initiative will focus on the four traits of Adaptability, Courage, Neighborliness, and Perseverance. Each aspect of Brooklyn Character — from the stories and exemplary figures featured, to its prompts and activities, to the four focal character strengths themselves — draws from Brooklyn’s incredible history, landscape and community. Through its distinctive place-based approach, BCM will create character education programs that reflect, resonate with and inspire its community, promoting character development in a new generation.
The development of Brooklyn Character will be led in collaboration with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Character.org.
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