Black lives matter. They mattered yesterday. They matter today. They will matter tomorrow.

Minnesota Children’s Museum and the people who make up our organization mourn the death of George Floyd.

The killing of Mr. Floyd, under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, highlighted yet again the pervasive police violence that targets African-Americans – just one of the many manifestations of the systemic racism that plagues our community.

Our Commitment

Minnesota Children’s Museum is committed to eliminating racism and promoting racial equity. The museum’s Board of Directors, with input from staff and volunteers, approved a diversity, equity and inclusion statement last year that lays out the values that guide our words and actions.

In the statement, our organization acknowledges the reality that people of color and indigenous people in Minnesota experience levels of socioeconomic, legal and educational inequality that are among the worst in the nation. This reality is why we work toward equitable outcomes for members of racial and ethnic groups.

We know words are just a start. There is much work that needs to be done. We are committed to doing that work.

Resources for Families

We want to support kids and families as we find a path forward to unite, heal and make meaningful change toward a just future where everyone in our community and throughout the world is treated with kindness, dignity and respect.

We’ve compiled a few resources to help you talk with your children about race and racism, and raise kids who are empathetic, resilient and inclusive.

• Embracerace.org is a multiracial community dedicated to nurturing resilience in children of color and fostering inclusive, empathic kids of all backgrounds.
• Supporting Kids Of Color In the Wake Of Racialized Violence is a podcast featuring the co-founders of EmbraceRace, parents, teachers and child psychologists.
• Are Your Kids Too Young To Talk About Race? is a roundup of research and resources from the Children’s Community School.
• CommonSenseMedia.org has a lot of resources, information and media recommendations to help parents spark conversations with their children about race and racism.

Books

Books can provide an excellent way to start conversations with kids about race and social injustice.

There are many great books out there. Here are a few from the Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners List and from a recent New York Times article that are geared for kids under 10. Some are explicitly about racism. Others are stories with nonwhite protagonists and/or by authors of color.

• “Something Happened In Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice” by Marianne Celano, PhD, ABPP, Marietta Collins, PhD, and Ann Hazzard, PhD, ABPP
• “Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness,” by Anastasia Higginbotham.”
• Sesame Street’s “We’re Different, We’re the Same” by Bobbi Jane Kates
• “The Youngest Marcher,” by Cynthia Levinson.
• “Each Kindness,” by Jacqueline Woodson. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis.
• “Hair Love,” by Matthew A. Cherry. Illustrated by Vashti Harrison.
• “What Is Given from the Heart” by Patricia C. McKissack
• “Sulwe” by Lupita Nyong
• “The Undefeated” by Kwame Alexander

Ways to Get Involved

Looking for ways to take action, help rebuild our community and support families, businesses and organizations in need? Here are a few ways to get started:

• Support black-owned businesses
  • Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Mpls.St.Paul Magazine list of ways to help
• Give to relief funds such as:
  • We Love Lake Street, which is providing 100 percent of its donations to small business and nonprofits.
  • Du Nord Riot Relief Fund, which is raising money to support black and brown companies affected by the riots.
  • Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Charitable Fund, which is collecting donations to support small businesses and nonprofits in St. Paul.
• Donate food and other necessities – or help distribute aid to those in need. Here’s an interactive map to help you find a donation site near you.

Is there something you would like us to add to this list? Email mcm@mcm.org.