Our
Mission
Global
Explorers Kids is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization,
incorporated December 2005. Dedicated to providing children
with the opportunity to explore the diversity of the
world’s peoples and helping them to understand
and respect different cultures, using the arts as a
catalyst towards learning, the organization grew out
of the founders’ involvement in fine arts, arts
education, arts administration, anthropology, and world
travel. Recognizing a lack of cultural understanding
in US society, the founders saw the arts as a means
of helping children – and thus future generations
– cross cultural boundaries.
Global Explorers Kids uses a child-centered, hands-on,
multi-disciplinary artistic approach to exploring the
world’s cultures, utilizing children’s natural
curiosity and desire to learn about others.
In a world shrinking due to globalization and a local
community that is increasingly diverse, unfortunately,
prejudices are still prevalent and ethnic communities
tend to exist in isolated pockets, rarely intermingling.
Studies show that children learn new cultural patterns
easily; it is important that their early learning aids
in their understanding and respect of differences, rather
than perpetuating stereotypes and prejudice.
Global Explorers Kids seeks to teach children from an
early age about the diversity of the world’s peoples,
helping them to understand and respect different cultures.
Global Explorers Kids' programs:
- Explore
the world’s cultures through folktales, music,
dance, crafts, games, dramatic play, flags, mapmaking,
celebrations, architecture, and more.
- Are
matched to the Illinois State Learning Standards
in Social Science, Fine Arts, and Geography, and
to Illinois Early Learning Standards.
- Are
often designed in cooperation with representatives
of the cultures, using the community as a resource.
- Believe
in presenting all cultures on an equal plane, promoting
respect for all cultures, religions, and ethnicities.
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