At Minnesota Children’s Museum, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are integral to fulfilling our mission of sparking children’s learning through play. As a community resource for thousands of families, we are committed to being a diverse and welcoming place for everyone.
We value diversity: We appreciate all people and embrace similarities and differences.
We value inclusion: We strive to be welcoming and inclusive in our physical spaces and in everything we do and say.
We value equity: We provide opportunities that help people facing disparities achieve their full potential.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion lays out the values that guide our words and actions. This commitment applies to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, religion, mental and physical ability, nation of origin, citizenship status or any other personal aspect that might place someone within a marginalized community.
Committed to Organizational Progress
Our work in the community begins with the work we do internally. We focus on key areas that continue to evolve, all with the same goal: Building a workplace that is diverse, inclusive and equitable.
Talent and Organizational Development
We believe in fostering a growth mindset that values and respects people from all backgrounds and cultures. Our goal is for every employee to work effectively across differences. To support this aim, the museum offers formal and informal opportunities for staff, volunteers and board members to build self-awareness, deepen their understanding of other cultures and strengthen their ability to bridge differences.
We recognize that everyone starts this journey from a different place — and that developing these skills is an ongoing process with no fixed endpoint. Embracing the idea that there’s no single “right” way to do things helps us stay open, curious and aligned with our mission as a learning organization.
We also follow the “platinum rule”: Doing our best to treat others the way they want to be treated. This means paying attention not only to the intent of our words and actions, but to the impact they have on those around us.
People and Data Practices
What we measure reflects what we value. We not only track data related to our staff, board and volunteers: We examine the information with intention and depth. The museum regularly reviews both quantitative and qualitative data to uncover opportunities for creating a more diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace.
We’ve created ways for staff to connect with each other, share feedback and help shape a stronger work environment. Our talent practices continue to evolve so that we better understand engagement and retention across different demographics, and our people practices—spanning hiring, compensation and benefits —are designed to promote fairness and equity.
Reflecting Our Community
Representation matters. The museum aims for our staff, volunteers and board of directors to reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the Twin Cities region. This commitment spans all levels—from leadership to entry-level positions. We’re actively seeking ways to remove barriers that might prevent talented individuals from joining the organization and to foster greater openness to diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences.
Explore career opportunities at Minnesota Children’s Museum: Employment & Volunteerism
Serving the Community
The museum’s mission is straightforward: Sparking children’s learning through play.
Our vision is lofty: Kids play more. All children blossom into thinkers, dreamers and doers who are inspired to create a better world.
To advance our mission and achieve our vision, we center diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we do and say. We are committed to seeing children flourish from equitable opportunities for playful learning. We want all families to experience belonging and joy when playing together.
Inclusive Experiences
The museum aims to create experiences that welcome and serve diverse identities and various abilities. We consider cultural differences, physical and mental abilities, gender and other factors when we design our exhibits and programs.
Our exhibit creators intentionally seek input from diverse voices across the community to ensure that our experiences are welcoming and engaging to everyone.
We strive to make the museum accessible and safe for all members of our community. We understand that some families need extra support to ensure they may fully participate. To make that happen, we’ve developed resources to help foster full inclusion in our experiences and programs.
Inclusive Access
The museum’s Play for All access programs ensure that all families, regardless of income, can enjoy our playful learning experiences. Each year, about one quarter of the museum’s patrons visit through free or discounted admission and membership.
We acknowledge that inequities in our community disproportionately affect black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). These inequities mean that BIPOC families are more likely to qualify for the programs that provide equitable access to the museum.
The American Academy of Pediatrics declares that race is a social determinant of health. Racism harms the health of BIPOC children. Racial inequity negatively affects brain development. This is a key reason that equitable access to the museum is so important: Play is a proven antidote to the harmful impact stress and anxiety have on young children.
Engaging Communities
The museum works to reach and serve a growing region that is becoming increasingly racially and culturally diverse.
We engage partner organizations to serve families in need and are exploring additional partnerships to serve more children who face opportunity gaps. We host special events with partners to introduce families to the museum in a reassuring and welcoming way.
The museum’s volunteer program further engages communities across the Twin Cities. The program links teens, college students and others with mutually beneficial opportunities to support the museum.