Atiba Edwards is making history!
Edwards recently became the first Black man to lead Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) in its 125-year history. On Wednesday, Dec. 6, it was announced that he would become BCM’s new president and chief executive officer, after serving as chief operating officer and executive vice president since 2019.
“This institution holds a special place in the hearts of families and children in Brooklyn and beyond,” Edwards said in a statement. “BCM is a place I grew up coming to with my family during my childhood years. I am committed to continuing the museum’s legacy of providing a dynamic and enriching educational experience for all, and I look forward to working with our dedicated staff, board, and community partners to ensure the museum’s continued success.”
Edwards’s family is from St. Vincent and the Grenadines; however, he was raised in Brownsville and remembered visiting the museum as a kid. “Being at the helm of this storied institution as the first Children’s Museum in the world comes with a lot of excitement, a lot of expectation, a lot of opportunity, a lot of challenges,” he told Brooklyn Paper. “To me, it’s just really a blessing in many ways to come full circle to a place that I grew up coming to as a child and was very formidable in my early years that helped me create this path of continuous curiosity.”
Edwards became acting president and CEO in mid-August, when former leader Stephanie Hill Wilchfort left the museum. He is planning to begin his leadership role immediately.
Cover photo: Brooklyn Children’s Museum/Photo by E.Hom