Save the Portland Children’s Museum!

I am concerned about the imminent closure of the Portland Children’s Museum and Opal School. Families need safe places to learn and play. Children of all cognitive and and physical abilities need accessible and welcoming spaces. All families, regardless of socioeconomic status, deserve the equity of learning through play alongside their peers. The Portland Children’s Museum provided all of these things to families near and far from Portland. The Board of Directors announced this closure with no warning. This resulted in no chance for preparation of adequate public comment from the museum community nor Opal School parents. The Board’s sudden decision gave no opportunity for the community to rally behind this institution for assistance from: the community, major benefactors, employees, volunteers, or Opal leadership among others. The Board of Directors has thus far been uncooperative in the community’s respectful requests for information and discussion. Perhaps the Board of Directors was unsure of how much this Portland treasure means to the city, but rest assured there are so many of us that want to save it! Please use your connections and influence to request that the board reverse their decision, disclose what is needed to keep the museum open, and accept funds to keep the museum and school afloat. I respectfully request you contact the following people: Jani Iverson, PCM Director: jiverson@portlandcm.org; David Peterson, PCM Chair, Regional Controller at Kaiser Permanente: david.peterson.cpa@gmail.com; Agustin Enriquez, PCM Vice Chair, V Principal GBD Architects: agustin@gbdarchitects.com; Samantha Tran, PCM Treasurer, Vice President and Corporate Controller KinderCare Education; Christina Reyes, PCM Secretary, AVP Project Manager US Bank; Bronwyn Houston, PCM Officer at Large, Interim President Legacy Emanuel Medical Centre; Beau Bennett, PCM Board member, Associate Principal, Coraggio Group: beau.bennett@coraggiogroup.com; Chris Morgan, PCM Board member, Attorney, Barran Liebman LLP: cmorgan@barran.com; Sonal Haladay, PCM Board Member, Owner, Ironlight: sonal.haladay@drexel.edu; Molly Honoré, PCM Board member, Attorney, Markowitz Herbold PC: MollyHonore@MarkowitzHerbold.com