YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Oh Wow! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology will celebrate its milestone 15th anniversary in May, but past and present leaders of the organization point out there was no shortage of skepticism early on.
During a recent meeting of Oh Wow’s funding and partnerships committee, the fact came up that “probably a lot of people didn’t think Oh Wow would make it to this type of mile marker,” executive director Katie Seminara-DeToro said.
“So it really is an achievement, not only for Oh Wow but for Youngstown to continue to have the cultural district that we do,” she remarked.
Oh Wow, which originally launched as the Children’s Museum of the Valley, opened to the public in its current incarnation with a focus on the STEM disciplines – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – in May 2015. It will mark the occasion with A Reimagined Garden Party, a May 15 event at Woodland Estate in Liberty Township.
Suzanne Barbati was hired as executive director by the Children’s Museum in 2009 as it was transitioning to its new focus and moving to its current location in the former McCrory’s building. Stepping down as president and executive director in 2021 and as director of planned giving in 2023, she similarly recalled skepticism voiced to her during the transition, which came about at the suggestion of – and with funding from – the late Roger and Gloria Jones, owners of Fireline Inc.
“There’s always been people who had doubts,” she recalled. “There were board members who I actually had to meet with and say, ‘Listen, you’ve got to quit saying we’re never going to do this because we are going to do it.’”
In addition to the Joneses, she praised the support from their son, David, and his wife, Caroline, as well as other early investors for their support of Oh Wow. “The community stepped up, and we did it,” she said.
David Jones said his parents “would be over the moon delighted with how Oh Wow has continued to grow and be a destination for children” and “loved having a place in Youngstown that fostered the young minds in the STEM world.”
In the years since opening its doors, Oh Wow purchased the McCrory building and expanded to its second floor. Last year, it opened the America Makes 3D Printing Lab, part of its effort to expand beyond its core demographic to attract high school-age students. Its Silly Science Sunday is now a regular fall event, drawing families from throughout eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Next week, a new traveling exhibit will be installed, the Help Me Grow iSandbox from Bright Beginnings, which will allow visitors to interact with augmented reality projections. The exhibit, which will be at Oh Wow though late May, according to a news release, is designed to make families aware of the Help Me Grow program’s services, which include but are not limited to newborn home visiting; home visiting for women who are pregnant or have children up to age 3; and developmental screenings.
David Jones said he was gratified at how Oh Wow has evolved over the past 15 years.
“The leadership changes have all had their influences to make Oh Wow a better children’s museum,” he said. “The changing exhibits and interactive experiences have really helped keep the museum fresh for all visitors. With the expansions that have occurred and that will continue will make sure that the Oh Wow! experience will be the best possible.”
Amber Bodrick, chief operating officer for QuickMed Urgent Care, joined Oh Wow’s board in 2023 and recently became chairwoman of its board of directors. She said she sees the science center as “essential” to the community’s progress.
“Industries like health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology and engineering all rely on STEM competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis and technical proficiency,” Bodrick said.
“Early exposure to STEM helps students understand career pathways, develop relevant skills and transition more seamlessly into high-demand roles,” she continued. “It also supports local economies by creating a stronger, more qualified talent pipeline that employers can rely on.”
The Reimagined Garden Party event will provide the opportunity to call attention to individuals “who helped us get to where we are,” Seminara-DeToro said. All of the flowers will be handmade by Oh Wow staff and visitors using various materials, including paper, cardboard, wood and metal. Selections from the popular Lego Botanicals line also will be displayed.
The idea is to promote the move of the makerspace to the second floor to provide a vehicle to discuss maker-centered learning, how it connects to traditional manufacturing and “the ways that we’ll need to kind of fit into workforce development as it relates to the future careers that exist here in the Valley,” Seminara-DeToro said.
The event also will feature Jay Williams, president and CEO of Greater Hartford Gives and former Youngstown mayor.
“I was certainly proud and excited to have the center open in downtown Youngstown, knowing it would be another piece of the puzzle to attract people from across the region to downtown,” Williams said.
Oh Wow opened early in Williams’ second term as mayor, and he has a photo of him taking his son, Ethan, into the center the day it opened. He and his wife also held Ethan’s first birthday party there.
“It may have ignited a spark in Ethan,” he said. “While he was young, he was certainly fascinated by all that he saw there,” he said.
When the family moved to Washington, D.C., after Williams accepted a job in the administration of President Barack Obama and later moved to Hartford, they spent “considerable time” in similar venues.
“In all the places that we’ve lived, we have been members of the science centers there. That started with Oh Wow,” he said.
While other centers might have been larger, none were “of greater caliber” than Oh Wow, speaking “volumes to the vision” for Oh Wow and the “significant philanthropic contributions” of Roger and Gloria Jones “to get that started so many years ago,” as well as what the executive directors have done over the years, he said.
“He’ll bring a really unique perspective,” Seminara-DeToro said. “He is back and forth quite a bit still with family and such. I know he cares deeply about our community, so it’ll be a nice opportunity to hear from him.”
The event also will feature “some fun interactive components, because it’s Oh Wow – we can’t have an event without some fun interaction,” Seminara-DeToro said.
“We’ll definitely have some 3D printers running,” she continued. “Guests will be able to add a brooch or a tie clip 3D-printed here at Oh Wow, so they can add a little pizzazz to their outfit.”
Oh Wow’s executive director also is looking forward to the center’s involvement in YoPass, an initiative being launched in May to promote the museums and other cultural and educational venues in and near Youngstown’s central business district. More than 10 such venues are within walking distance just downtown, including Oh Wow.
“Oh Wow becoming part of that fabric has just strengthened the whole core of the cultural district in Youngstown,” providing “opportunities for families and kids of all ages to really have a different style of educational opportunities at their disposal,” she said. “It’s a really great community organization. We’re also a tourist destination. The fact that we own the building and continue to invest in it is really something to celebrate.”
Looking ahead, Oh Wow’s focus is to strengthen its position in STEM programming while evolving into a more inclusive and engaging space for all ages, Bodrick said. That includes expanding access for individuals from diverse backgrounds, incorporating sensory-friendly environments and enhancing offerings in areas such as robotics and 3D printing.
The center is important to the community because it represents a true investment in both people and progress, building knowledge by making STEM engaging and accessible, supporting youth development through hands-on learning and creating a shared space for connection and innovation, Bodrick continued.
“Most importantly, it strengthens workforce development by exposing young people early to STEM careers and partnering with schools, colleges and employers,” she added. “As industries continue to evolve, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, STEM skills are becoming essential for the future workforce. By fostering these skills early, Oh Wow helps prepare the next generation while supporting long-term economic growth in the community.”