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Creative Discovery Museum is committed to creating a welcoming environment where all children and families can explore, innovate, create, and play. We value the diversity, inclusivity, well-being, and education of our visitors, staff, and volunteers. We respect all backgrounds, beliefs, and diversity as it relates to age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socio-economics, and family structure.
Equity is fair access to resources that advance social justice by allowing for full participation in society and self-determination in meeting fundamental needs. This requires addressing structural and historical barriers and systems of oppression.
Diversity is the ways in which human beings are similar and different, including but not limited to identities, social positions, lived experiences, values, and beliefs.
Inclusion is culture that creates an environment of involvement, respect, and connection in which the richness of diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives are valued.
Accessibility is ensuring equitable access to everyone along the continuum of human ability and experience.
*Source: Cultural Competence Learning Institute
The Museum practices these values to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
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CDM is a place where all are accepted and belong. We are here for everybody. And we mean everybody.
We go above and beyond to create memorable experiences for children and families through service that exceeds expectations. Exceptional service begins with staff and volunteers serving each other.
Learning and growth take place when a person's potential is realized, celebrated, and nurtured. We provide the sparks that help people discover their potential.
Our work is done through interacting with children and families, collaborating and partnering with the community, and developing camaraderie with staff. Meaningful moments lead to meaningful relationships.
We expect staff, guests, and volunteers to respect our values, our environment, our exhibits, and more importantly, to treat each other with kindness. Through respect, we create a safe space for all.
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Land Acknowledgment
Creative Discovery Museum acknowledges that it inhabits Indigenous lands. We seek to acknowledge and honor the Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), Muscogee Creek, and Shawnee people who inhabited and nurtured the land where we are now located. We aim to show respect to these native groups through ongoing learning and development in our cultural literacy as a museum. Our values include respect and relationships, and we strive to show respect toward and build relationships with all native people.
Cultural Competency Advisory Group
The goal of the Cultural Competency Advisory Group (CCAG) is to foster understanding, support practices, and inform policies/programs that will ensure diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) in all aspects of CDM life. CCAG includes both full and part time staff from every department in the Museum.
Staff Training
CDM is committed to providing professional development and full-staff training to create awareness and understanding around diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, particularly as it relates to our staff and the Chattanooga community.
CDM collaborates with nearly 30 partner organizations (local arts, social service, and educational institutions). Some of these partnerships include:
Club Discovery is an inclusive after-school program for friends with a diagnosis and their typically developing peers to enjoy the Museum.
A free, low-sensory event on the first Thursday of every month for children and families with sensory sensitivities. Registration required.
