The first new residents are beginning to call Cotino – A Storyliving by Disney Community home. As they do this, Disney is reinforcing its commitment to being a partner in the community where it resides. In this case, that community is Rancho Mirage, California.
Recently, Disney took 40 students from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coachella Valley for a day full of exploration, imagination, and hands-on learning. The day included a guided tour at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, and then the group spent an afternoon dreaming up big ideas at the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert.
“As someone who lives and works in Rancho Mirage, I’m passionate about giving back to this community,” said Anthony Henry, Cotino community general manager and member of the museum’s Board of Directors. “Storyliving by Disney is committed to being a good neighbor, and this event was a great example of how Disney continues to empower children around the world to dream big and reach their full potential.”
Disney continues to invest financially in the museum. Part of this will be in the transformation of its new STEAM activity space for kids and teens into a vibrant hub for creativity and innovation. The new space is scheduled to open this fall. It will include 3D printers, a laser cutter, screen printing equipment, audio-visual tech, sewing machines, and more!
“Our museum’s mission is to spark curiosity and creativity through hands-on experiences” said Cindy Burreson, CEO of Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert. “Disney’s ongoing support shows a true commitment to our community and helps us offer even more impactful programming.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs students were given an early look at this new space. They also had the opportunity to design their own dream communities. This was done with the help of Disney Imagineer Caroline Boone, the executive creative director for Storyliving by Disney. Boone also shared a look at the life of a Disney Imagineer with the students. Part of this included sharing how to turn a passion for science, technology, engineering, art, and math into limitless career possibilities.
This day was put on in support of the Disney Future Storytellers initiative. This initiative hopes to inspire the next generation of storytellers and innovators to dream about their possibilities with programs that connect them to storytelling, technology, and design.
“Collaborations with community organizations is at the heart of what we do at Disney. Organizations like these are deeply rooted in the community and know how to create meaningful experiences for children and families,” said Q Jones, Sr. Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility. “By working together, we’re able to amplify their impact and bring Disney’s values to life in ways that are authentic, lasting and locally relevant.”
More information about Disney’s efforts to have positive impacts in the community where it operates can be found at impact.disney.com.
What do you think of this special day for this group of students? What do you think of Cotino? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
