Mentors of Minorities in Education (M.O.M.I.E)’s Total Learning Cis-tem (T.L.C) was established in 2000 to "nurture the genius of at-risk children and create a transformative educational system.” M.O.M.I.E’s T.L.C was founded in response to the noticeable lack of quality early childhood education programs for low-income children in Washington, DC. M.O.M.I.E’s programs attempt to build confidence, strengthen core academic skills, and develop leadership. One such program is the Children’s Gallery of Black History (CGBH). The CGBH engages children and families in active learning about history, culture and activism through self-guided explorations. The gallery includes interactive exhibits which have been designed around public school standards of learning and created to be fun. Each exhibit focuses on the life of one great person and allows visitors to “walk a mile in the shoes of” the featured great person. Each February, M.O.M.I.E’s TLC staff and volunteers coordinate a weeklong showing of the Gallery at the Columbia Heights Youth Club which is open to school groups, community groups and the general public. This year’s gallery highlights individuals who have impacted the history of Washington, DC and includes such notable figures as Benjamin Banneker, Alma Thomas and Chuck Brown. In recent months, M.O.M.I.E’s TLC has expanded the program to include year-round, mobile components. The gallery is now available to travel to schools, libraries and community centers throughout the country. The Children’s Gallery of Black History differs from the typical museum paradigm as it encourages play, avoids the use of too many words and other static items and invites community partners to participate in the effort.

M.O.M.I.E’s TLC would like to bring several exhibits from the Children’s Gallery of Black History to the conference in planned in Atlanta. Participants in this hands-on session will be invited to “experience” the gallery and discuss exciting ways to use progressive history to inspire children to help create a new & better world. Visitors will also be encouraged to share their honest feedback regarding the gallery and will be encouraged brainstorm ideas for how this concept could be applied to other settings.