5 Things You Need To Know About RMSC's The Changemakers Exhibit
By Felícia Swartzenberg on Dec. 28, 2020
The Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) recently opened a new exhibit called The Changemakers: Rochester Women Who Changed the World. The exhibit highlights the inspiring stories of diverse women from Rochester and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy-- including visionaries, trailblazers, inventors, activists, spiritual leaders and entrepreneurs from the past and present.
Here is a list of 5 interesting facts about The Changemakers to get you excited about your visit.
1. There are more than 200 women featured in this exhibit
The Changemakers exhibit features more than 200 diverse women of the Rochester Region and Haudenosaunee Confederacy who have challenged and broken gender and race-based barriers to light the way for others. The injustices of the past shape the inequalities and inequities of today, but the examples of these women - many of whom are continuing to effect change today - will inspire and empower a more just future for us all. These stories are just a small sampling of the many incredible women from our region who have made an impact on the world.
2. This new exhibit explores lesser-known stories that you may not know about
When selecting women to be featured in the exhibit, the exhibit development teams knew they needed to look beyond the well-known, influential women of Rochester. While historic figures like Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman are featured, the majority of the exhibit is dedicated to sharing the lesser told stories of inspiring women from Rochester and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
3. Stories come to life in the exhibit through fun interactive displays
While there are plenty of printed labels and objects on display which tell the stories of these impressive Changemakers, the RMSC staff and volunteers worked hard to bring these stories to life through interactive displays. From a flight simulator made out of a decommissioned airplane to motion-activated multimedia displays, there are a variety of unique experiences that can be fun for the whole family.
4. The Changemakers is one of RMSC's first community-curated exhibits
The exhibition content was developed by a team of more than 50 community curators, 11 partner organizations, 3 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultants, and the RMSC staff. We collaborated to identify DEI principles as key project values; create a set of Agreements that we used to guide our work; and make decisions by consensus. You can find a full list of people and organizations who contributed to the exhibit on the RMSC website.
5. Anyone can become a Changemaker!
While this exhibit only features inspiring women, anyone can become a Changemaker in their own communities regardless of gender, age, background, or ability. Whatever your passion, there is a Changemaker who has paved the way for you to follow your dream. When you visit the exhibit and pilot a flight simulation, engineer a home to meet your needs, and think about the barriers you wish to break in your own life, you will see the contributions of Changemakers impact all areas of our lives.
Felícia Swartzenberg
Felícia is the Communications Coordinator at the Rochester Museum & Science Center.