Women ’ s History & Cultural Center
Construction Nears Completion
Written By : Brandie Glessner
The Citrus Peel Committee recently caught up with the dynamic and delightful Lydia Sealey , Director of the Women ’ s History & Cultural Center and Alumnae Relations , who was kind enough to give us a tour of the Women ’ s History & Cultural Center ( WHCC ) and tell us more about the vision for the Center and the opportunities it will present for Girl Scouts and the community at large .
The WHCC is located at 341 N . Mills Ave . at the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council headquarters Service Center . For those familiar with the entrance to the Council Shop , you ’ ll look just to the left to see a bright and airy glass enclosure with stairs enabling Troops to easily gain access to the second floor . On the way , they ’ ll pass a large tree – bringing a bit of the outdoors in - where the names of donors to the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council and the WHCC will be featured on leaves .
Upstairs , visitors are greeted with an area that will feature changing displays or exhibits and where you can step out to take a call or wait for a friend . To the right you ’ ll find a reception desk and elevator access , before moving into the main exhibit areas with several large spaces . For the grand opening , the Women ’ s History and Cultural Center will celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of the women of Central Florida , our state , and the nation with special acknowledgment of the connections to Girl Scouts . There will also be space dedicated to our worldwide Girl Scouting sisters and the five World Centers . The possibilities are truly endless for all of the wonderful go-getters , innovators , risktakers , and leaders that the Center will be able to feature .
Some portions of the Center will be permanent , including information about the life of Juliette Gordon Low and the history of Girl Scouts , but Lydia is careful to point out that the WHCC is not a museum , and the focus is indeed on the future . Changing exhibits might have themes like Women in Medicine or Women in Space , for example , and will not focus solely on the accomplishments of the past , but on the opportunities of the future . Community partners are excited to help create and share alongside Citrus Council . We know you ’ re going to be excited to see it too !
Speaking of the future , the room that now stands a stark white on my visit is a canvas of possibility and one that will capture the imaginations and hearts of the Girl Scouts who visit the WHCC . It will be an interactive room dedicated to featuring recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award . Imagine that you might one day see your face on the wall in what I ’ ve decided to call “ The Gold Room ”! I ’ m sure you ’ ll learn more about this feature in the Gold Award edition of the Citrus Peel a few months from now .
One of the most exciting spaces is a large gathering space equipped with a kitchen where your troops can have the opportunity to spend the night at the Center , have a pizza party and engage in a night of fun and learning together . Who ’ s bringing the marshmallows ?
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