Jeffery Allen joined the Maltz Museum in December as Director of Education and Public Programs. From beginning to evaluate our school tour offerings to developing a robust calendar of public programs, Jeffery is already making connections and preparing to dive into 2015, the Museum’s 10th anniversary year.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Prior to coming to the Maltz Museum, I served as the Director for the Center for Lifelong Learning at Ivy Tech Bloomington in Indiana. While there I developed personal enrichment, non-credit coursework on a variety of topics from history to arts. Before Ivy Tech, I served as artistic director at Oddfellows Playhouse, a youth theatre dedicated to positive youth development in Middletown, Connecticut. In my tenure, our flagship program, the Teen Rep, reached record participation. Originally from Cleveland , I “cut my teeth” at Cleveland Public Theatre and Great Lakes Theater, two amazing institutions that engage and serve the public through far-reaching education programs.
What appeals to you about working at the Maltz Museum?
I am particularly attracted to the Museum’s efforts to facilitate connections among people of different religions, races and ethnic backgrounds. I have been dedicated to building empathy and community through the arts, and this is a natural extension. I am excited by the opportunities this new role brings. This is a terrific time to join the team at the Maltz, as we celebrate 10 years and prepare to launch the next chapter. It’s also a wonderful bonus to return to my home community!
What skills and past work experiences do you see yourself applying here?
My background is in theatre and theatre/arts education, with a special emphasis on youth development and community engagement. A great part of my previous work involved developing partnerships and innovative programs that responded to the needs of the community. While in Bloomington, for example, I led the development of an arts-integrated preschool program at a local Title 1 school, which raised achievement by 112% in less than four months. The creation of this program was the direct result of careful listening and openness to new ideas. This same resolve—to work with the community to identify needs and address them in creative ways—will continue to inform my work here. I am also keenly interested in the visitor experience. I want to ensure that all tours, programs and events provide ample content while inspiring each individual to want to learn more. I am particularly interested in how we serve young people, and I see many opportunities for the Maltz to expand its impact through the Stop the Hate® essay contest and Youth Sing Out.
What should educators be excited about as we look ahead to 2015 at the Museum?
As a newcomer to the Museum, I can assuredly say that a single visit is not enough to take in all that we have to offer! We are currently reviewing our traditional offerings to ensure continued high standards of excellence, while working with community partners to develop new and exciting tours and programs to suit educator’s curriculum needs and educational goals. With upcoming exhibitions that touch on everything from immigration and integration (Chasing Dreams: Baseball & Becoming American) to giving voice to those silenced in the Holocaust (Violins of Hope), I look forward to enabling students to explore context and perspective. I invite any and all educators to contact me directly at jallen@mmjh.org with comments, suggestions or feedback on everything from the content of our offerings to how to best serve them.
