Vision for Engagement
What does meaningful Affiliate engagement look like for your organization?
Vision for Engagement
What does meaningful Affiliate engagement look like for your organization?
Smithsonian Affiliations is a dynamic and reciprocal network of organizations across the country that delivers first-in-class services in, with, and for their communities. The strength of this network is built on active engagement between the Smithsonian and individual Affiliates, and across Affiliate organizations.
The Engaged Affiliate
Our commitment to Affiliates is to provide access to relevant resources, high-impact learning opportunities, and personalized support. In turn, we seek organizations that are eager to identify new resources and activate new opportunities in order to better serve their communities while also contributing to and strengthening a community of practice.
Opportunities and Supports
Smithsonian Affiliations understands that each Affiliate is embedded within a unique local context and has specific needs and interests. Smithsonian Affiliations offers a range of engagement opportunities at multiple levels of organizational need and capacity. Our National Outreach Managers work directly with Affiliates to help them meet the specific needs of their organization and their communities.
Engaged Affiliates Are:
Proactive Communicators
Affiliates are eager to share updates about new initiatives and are responsive to opportunities that arise from the Smithsonian.
Creative & Intentional Collaborators
Affiliates find new and innovative ways to connect Smithsonian content + programming to their local context and the interests of their communities, while showcasing their own scholarship and expertise.
Creative & Intentional Collaborators
Affiliates find new and innovative ways to connect Smithsonian content + programming to their local context and the interests of their communities, while showcasing their own scholarship and expertise.
Committed to Impact
Affiliates understand the importance of having challenging but necessary conversations and strive to lead with listening in order to better serve their communities.
Effective Ambassadors
Affiliates are proud members of this dynamic community and are excited to celebrate and communicate the successes that emerge from our collaboration.
What Engagement Looks Like: Reach, Engage, Impact
Here are some examples of engaged Affiliates across our network. Of course, there are almost endless ways to engage with the Smithsonian. Our National Outreach Managers can help you identify the opportunities that are most important and impactful for your organization.
Reach
Affiliates are extending the Smithsonian’s reach beyond Washington, DC, and into their local communities by providing access to Smithsonian educational resources and joining mission-aligned national campaigns. By leveraging the Smithsonian’s brand and resources, Affiliates are broadening their work’s impact and offering a new value to the community.
During the pandemic, the Smithsonian collaborated with its Affiliates to distribute educational activity booklets for students across the United States. These booklets were designed to engage young people in hands-on, minds-on activities in history, science, and the arts, and were developed in partnership with USA Today. HistoryMiami (Miami, FL), distributed 1,000 copies of the Inspiration Nation guide to its community both at museum events and in partnership with six local organizations. The parents in the community were grateful to have access to this high-quality educational resource for their children:
“As a parent, I truly appreciate having access to educational materials developed by the Smithsonian.”
“My child is going to have so much fun with
this booklet.”
“It is nice to have this available because we are unable to go to D.C.”
Connect
Affiliates are making powerful connections between the critical work they are doing in their communities and the values and initiatives of the Smithsonian. They activate Smithsonian resources to create new value for their work through Smithsonian speakers and workshops, and they engage in the Affiliate community through peer learning and thought leadership.
Food traditions and innovation
The Senator John Heinz History Center (Pittsburgh, PA) hosted a discussion of food traditions and innovations with one of their city’s most renowned food families, the McGinnises. The conversation was led by Dr. Ashley Rose Young, Food Historian at the National Museum of American History and daughter of pioneering McGinnis sister Sharon McGinnis Young. They shared rarely-heard stories behind the beloved local chain of specialty food stores and audience members enjoyed a glimpse into the rich collection of original historic items and objects from the McGinnis Sisters stores, which the family donated to the History Center in 2019.
Impact
Affiliates are collaborating with Smithsonian Affiliations on programs that expand and deepen impact on mission-aligned initiatives. These opportunities are selective and high-touch engagements, including the Leadership for Change internship and cohort-based programs.
The Smithsonian Leadership for Change (LfC) internship is a unique professional development opportunity for undergraduate students focused on hands-on social justice and leadership projects. Hosting an LfC intern offers Affiliates the opportunity to infuse their projects with fresh, diverse perspectives and benefit from interns supported with a living wage and Smithsonian resources. Since 2021, Leadership for Change interns have had learning experiences at Smithsonian Affiliates in 34 cities across the United States and at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
“The internship made me realize the importance of museums to society. Back in my hometown, museums are not relevant; no one goes to the only natural history museum we have. Therefore, museums are not an important thing in my place. Yet now that I work with the biggest museum institution, it makes me realize how relevant and important museums are for education, knowledge, preservation of history, and culture representation.”
Vision for Engagement
Worksheet
This is a tool to reflect on your own organization’s work as you consider whether affiliating with the Smithsonian is right for your organization.
Learning Excursions
Take a deeper dive into what it means to be an Affiliate through these Learning Excursions. Use filter controls below to access content by type.
Essentials
Geared towards new and existing Affiliates, access modules to assess your organization’s:
- DEAI
- Community Engagement
- Vision for Engagement
- Collaboration and Relationship Building
Affiliate Stories
Modules to enhance your collaborative efforts, build leadership skills, and showcase your impact. Here you’ll find:
- Case studies
- Affiliate perspectives
Tools for Action
To facilitate ongoing learning and skill development, find:
- Reflection guides
- Toolkits
- Other resources
Get in touch with one of our National Outreach Managers now…
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Phone Smithsonian Affiliations: (202) 633-5300 SITES: (202) 633-3168 Museum on Main Street (202) 633-5335 |
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