KID Museum

KID Museum was founded in 2011 by a group of local parents who believed that the National Capital region offered an extraordinary setting for a unique type of museum. Using their combined experience in business, education, public policy, law and museum science, they set about developing the type of museum they'd want for their own kids-one focused on cultivating creative, caring leaders of the 21st century. KID Museum Founder and CEO, Cara Lesser, dreamed up the original concept for the museum. After years in the DC policy world, Cara became increasingly convinced of the need for more creative thinking and innovative leadership to drive meaningful societal change. At the same time, as a parent of two elementary school-age children, she was struck by the mismatch between what our children are learning in school and what they need to thrive in the future. Cara had lived with her family in rural Haiti when she was five years old, and her experiences there became a catalyst in shaping her vision for the museum. She hoped to create a place that highlighted cultural awareness and acceptance, while sparking a passion to make a difference. In December 2011, Cara joined forces with Jill Chessen and David Goldberg, friends who shared her interest. David had experience in start-up ventures, and Jill worked in law and philanthropy. Together, they officially formed an organization to launch the museum. For the next year, they researched children's museums around the country. The most effective models they saw used "maker" experiences to engage children in STEM learning and to foster creativity. They quickly decided that a Maker Space would be a core component of the museum, along with international culture and social responsibility. In 2012, the team began pitching the concept for the museum to local leaders.