Stay Home, Hit Play and Take a Field Trip with Mayor Lightfoot

Today, WTTW launches a new online and TV series, Stay Home. Hit Play. The new series will give kids and their families behind-the-scenes views of Chicago’s iconic museums and cultural institutions, while staying home. The first episode features Mayor Lori Lightfoot visiting with penguins at the Shedd Aquarium.

The series premieres today, Wednesday, April 29, on HitPlayChicago.org, and will air Friday, May 1 at 5:30 p.m. on WTTW (11.1) and on Monday, May 4 at 12:30 p.m. on WTTW Prime (11.2).

Future Stay Home. Hit Play. episodes will air each Wednesday online and Fridays and Mondays on TV. Check out the web site for all the shows and related materials for teachers.

In today’s show, Mayor Lightfoot will visit the penguins, feed the sharks and say hello to Nickel the rescued sea turtle.

“Shedd Aquarium is proud to bring people eye to eye with animals and their remarkable underwater biology and aquatic biodiversity through this new opportunity,” said Bridget Coughlin, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Shedd Aquarium. “We can’t wait to reopen our doors and welcome everyone back to Shedd. In the meantime, we are thrilled to kick off this at-home series and continue to welcome and connect with people virtually.”

Young learners will also find Stay Home. Hit Play. twice a week on Chicago’s PBS station – WTTW. “WTTW is honored to partner with the City of Chicago, Mayor Lightfoot, Citadel and our city’s museums and cultural institutions on an initiative that aligns with our purpose to enrich lives, engage communities, and inspire exploration,” said Sandra Cordova Micek, President and CEO of WTTW. “As a public media organization, it’s our role to respond to the needs of our community with trusted, educational and immersive programming.”

“The exciting launch of Stay Home. Hit Play. allows our city’s cultural gems to come to life, ensuring our students are able to stay connected and engaged with our world-class museums and institutions amidst the unprecedented restrictions of COVID-19,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “We are especially appreciative of the partnership of our parents, students, museum leaders and staff, WTTW, as well as Citadel, whose support was instrumental for the creation of this series. As challenging as this moment has been, we will get through it together, and I look forward to joining all of Chicago in re-experiencing these inspiring sites when this crisis ends.”

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Maureen Kelleher

Chicago Unheard blog manager Maureen Kelleher also serves as a senior writer and editor at brightbeam, a nonprofit network of education activists demanding a better education and brighter future for every child. Before joining the brightbeam team, she spent a decade as a reporter, blogger and policy analyst. Her work has been published across the education world, from Education Week to the Center for American Progress. A former high school English teacher, she is also the proud mom of a middle-schooler. Find her on Twitter at @KelleherMaureen.

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