Notable News and Events Supporting Tribal Families
A Safe Reopening
In the spirit of community collaboration, the Museum of New Mexico Foundation recently donated 300 family memberships to Native American Professional Parent Resources (NAPRR) in support of the tribal families they serve.
Retail looks very different in a COVID-19 world, and the Museum of New Mexico Foundation Shops are no exception.
“The Foundation wanted to give back to the greater New Mexico community during this difficult COVID-19 time,” says Foundation President/CEO Jamie Clements. “We hope that a membership and its experiences will be an opportunity for learning and provide a bright spot in people’s lives.” Based in Albuquerque, the nationally recognized nonprofit offers Early Intervention, Early Head Start, Tribal Home Visiting and Dental Support Center services. For more than 38 years, the organization has empowered, educated and provided these support services at no cost as a way to build healthy children and families in both rural and urban communities, including children from newborn to 5 years old as well as prenatal mothers. Services are also available for infants and toddlers with, or at risk for, developmental disabilities.
“We’re not the same old shops,” says Sara Birmingham, Foundation retail vice president. Before the July 7 reopening of the downtown shops—at the New Mexico Museum of Art and New Mexico History Museum—staff members cleaned and rearranged stores, setting up clearer entry and exit points, which are accessed from the street rather than inside the museums. Large red stickers on the floors guide visitors to social distance. Hand sanitizer is at the ready, and free masks are on offer. “We don’t want to turn anyone away,” says Birmingham. Shop hours are Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Occupancy restrictions allow three people at a time in the Museum of Art shop and 12 people in the History Museum shop.
Each year, NAPRR staff and specialized providers reach thousands of families across New Mexico with a concentration in Bernalillo, Cibola, Sandoval and Valencia counties.
Priorities in merchandising have also shifted. Web traffic during the pandemic indicated an increased demand for family-oriented craft and puzzle products. The advent of masks is offering new opportunities in apparel.
Photo courtesy NAPRR
The shops are focusing on new ways to forge lasting customer relationships. “We’re connecting with humanity, people to people, as much as possible,” Birmingham says. “Trying to stay connected to visitors after they leave the state is an important part of building business on our website after they go home.” Shop purchases support the Foundation in supporting the Museum of New Mexico system. Members receive a 15 percent discount on purchases through October 31. For more information on the Museum Shops, or to shop online, visit shopmuseum.org.
