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Siris Barrios of Riverside Rediscovered on the partnership with the Children’s Museum

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(photo credit: Alexa Gorman for 27East.com)

Last month, CMEE received funding through the National Endowment for the Arts to expand its “Community Creates” program, which brings the arts directly into underserved communities across the region. Among the communities is Riverside, a hamlet in Southampton, which is just south of the Peconic River from Riverhead. It’s one of the poorest communities on the East End. To serve families in Riverside, CMEE connected with Riverside Rediscovered, which is helping to redevelop the area based on community input. CMEE’s Marketing Coordintor, Paul Johnson interviewed Siris Barrios, Riverside Rediscovered’s Community Liaison for CMEE’s Newsletter this month.

How did the partnership between CMEE and Riverside Rediscovered initially start?

“I’m a Museum member and knew all about CMEE. We really wanted to recreate the Museum here in Riverside. Everyone in the community said there was a lack of this kind of hands-on programming. We gave a tour of the community to the Museum leadership and they immediately recognized the opportunity to encourage learning through play. That’s how the partnership started.”

The partnership so far has consisted of arts programming. What’s that been like?

Yes, we committed to turning our office space into an art studio space every week for the program. The children loved the experience they’ve had there. The Museum has been fabulous. At the end of the day, the children are getting an opportunity they’re not getting anywhere else.

How do you envision the partnership potentially growing?

One day, if we have the capacity to expand, that would be awesome. We want to help in any way we can to bring the Museum’s programming to as many people as possible. Right now, we’re trying to see if we can arrange transportation from our side of (Southampton) Town to the Museum every month. It would be great if we could have something permanent. The Museum is the best thing for children here on the East End. It’s one the treasures that we have and we want to help the Museum make sure everyone has access to that treasure.”

 

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