On May 3, the Bronx Children’s Museum welcomed First Lady Jill Biden and Bronx native U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to its new facility. The special guests toured the award-winning space with newly appointed Executive Director Denise Rosario Adusei and met with second grade students from the museum’s GreenArts Afterschool Program at PS 55.
The visit began with a performance by the 12 second graders, introduced by Bronx favorite, author and actor Sonia Manzano, formerly “Maria” of “Sesame Street.“ Manzano, who attended PS 55 as a child, is a longtime friend and advocate of the museum. The students sang an original song entitled “One Step,” which they composed and choreographed with museum teaching artist Luss Nigaglioni.
When the first lady and Sotomayor greeted the children, Biden asked each of them their names and congratulated them all on their fine work. Earlier in the day, Sotomayor met with the second graders privately to talk about her life, the children’s dreams for their future and the value of reading and working hard.
“We’re so grateful for role models, like you, who believe that children should see mirrors of their own communities and of who they can become,” said Adusei.
Biden and Sotomayor walked through the museum’s nature- and cultural-based exhibits together.
The guests entered the brightly-colored Casita where they joined the children who were pretending to have a picnic featuring healthy foods harvested from the exhibit’s community garden. Throughout the museum, the first lady and Sotomayor appreciated the site-specific, fine artwork created by 14 Bronx-related artists who are part of the museum’s Arts Builds Community Collection.
“For those young people who performed today, I think they are going to remember this for the rest of their lives,” said City Councilmember Althea Stevens, who represents District 16 in the South Bronx. “They’re going to say, ‘I not only got to perform for the first lady, but I met her.’ I think experiences like this are important for young people to be a part of and understand the whole process.”
Bronx Children’s Museum Board President Arlene Lewis Bascom said she agrees.
“Today was an unforgettable experience which these young people will reflect upon throughout their entire lives,” she said. “I am especially appreciative of the first lady, Dr. Jill Biden, and Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor for recognizing the importance of the STEAM programs and work by the staff, for the children and their families from the Bronx and beyond.”
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