High Desert Museum

The High Desert Museum will launch a collaborative initiative with the Deschutes Public Library to create meaningful access to museum and library resources for families most impacted by COVID-19 in the community. Through an extensive partnership network of museums, libraries, and community organizations across central Oregon, the project will enable the museum and library to provide over 800 programs to approximately 2,000 families. The project team will design the family-centered programs to promote community healing and connection; advance STEM, literacy, and social-emotional skills necessary for academic and career success among pre-K-12 students; and continue the relevance of museums and libraries as community anchors by adapting programming and resources to the changing community context. Additionally, the distribution of tablets with data plans through these networks will help to bridge the digital divide and facilitate longer term engagement with museum and library resources online.