TheBurg

28 | THEBURGNEWS.COM | 03.23 T he pandemic left dents on every person and business, and Whitaker Center was no exception. Somewhat more delayed than others to fully reopen, the "crown jewel of Harrisburg" stayed in its jewelry box just a little longer. As it turns out, they were taking that time to be cleaned and polished. We're stoked that Whitaker Center has since swung their doors wide open to the public. With familiar mainstay offerings accompanying some exciting changes, Whitaker Center is showcasing a remodeled layout along with rejuvenated programming that's enough to get your kids excited, even your sullen teens. PICKING UP STEAM Where the ticketing center and the gift shop once stood is now PNC Innovation Zone, a Purposeful Gaming Studio. is new area (separate from Harrisburg University's professional e-sports arena) provides a collaborative, experiential learning space to engage kids in STEAM through videogames. Whitaker Center's board and staff feel a responsibility to inspire kids and expose them to technology, providing access to those who don't always have it. e gaming aspect of Whitaker Center is so cool that "people tend to forget we're nonprofit," said CEO Ted Black. Innovation educator Steve Lockhart encourages parents to talk to their kids while they're playing together "about possible future STEAM professions in videogames: coding, storytelling, 3-D modeling, designers, hardware, software, streamers, influencers, sound and music engineering—endless careers." Kids in grades two through eight can learn STEAM concepts through structured class offerings. And if you'd like to bond with your co-workers or friend groups through a videogame experience, Innovation Zone is a great hub for getting creative and building virtual bridges. "We're the first science center in the country with a space like this, and one of the first STEAM buildings that has everything intersecting all under one roof," Black said. COMMUNITY NEEDS During the pandemic, Whitaker Center's doors weren't bolted shut. Rather, they were propped open slightly ajar to meet needs within the community. In response to emergent virtual educational pivoting, Whitaker Center, along with help from Rep. Patty Kim and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, hosted the Community Classroom within the Innovation Zone space. Community Classroom provided a place for students (and overwhelmed parents) to log on with Wi-Fi to complete classwork and homework. Black credits this program as "fulfilling, rewarding and sobering, because it met needs at a granular level within the community," while helping Whitaker Center to grow in an unexpected, yet still mission- driven manner. Whitaker Center also assisted the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra during the pandemic when the Forum building was under construction by providing virtual delivery. "We have an obligation to be the cultural center of Harrisburg, and we lean into that where we can," Black said. WINDOW OPENS During the pandemic, the sudden need for virtual programming drove the Whitaker Center team to create virtual delivery and remote outreach for some of their key programs. Surgery Live! presents high school students with a unique opportunity to view routine surgeries telecasted live from Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Because Surgery Live! influences high- schoolers to think about multiple careers in the operating room (not just as a surgeon), it's a program that Black did not want to pause. Pre-pandemic, students filed in to the Digital Cinema to watch surgeries on the big screen, while a doctor visited the kids in-person to narrate the procedures and answer questions. en the pandemic pushed Whitaker Center staff to offer the program completely virtually instead of the hybrid format. is expanded the audience for Surgery HOMEFRONT Purposeful Gaming Studio RETOOLED & READY Post-pandemic, Whitaker Center opened with a new look, new offerings. BY GINA NAPOLI

• Cover