May 20, 2026
Bigotry, prejudice and bias are experiences many people face at some point in their lives. How do we teach acceptance, tolerance, and fairness? The Mobile Museums of Tolerance are rolling into the Palatine Park District’s Community Center to help start the conversation.
This educational center on wheels will be located in the parking lot adjacent to the Community Center, 250 E. Wood St., on Monday, June 15 through Friday, June 18 from 10am to 6pm. It is open to all ages and free to the public. No registration is required.
The Mobile Museums of Tolerance is a first-of-its-kind effort: a fleet of traveling education centers impacting students of all backgrounds at schools, community centers, and beyond. The Mobile Museums of Tolerance offer free field trip experiences on wheels with interactive workshops on the Civil Rights movement, the story of Anne Frank, digital media literacy, and more. Guided by trained educators who facilitate meaningful dialogue, the Mobile Museums of Tolerance empower students to confront hate, embrace tolerance, and act for social change.
“My mom and I had such great conversation following our visit to the Mobile Museums of Tolerance about equity, empathy, justice, and what it means to confront hatred,” said Laney Haupert, Cultural Arts Manager. “I knew it was something I wanted to bring to Palatine.”
In February 2021, America’s first Mobile Museum of Tolerance rolled out in Chicago. Since 2021, it has expanded to a total of five states, 66,000 + miles traveled, and nine Mobile Museums. Currently, Mobile Museums of Tolerance operate in Illinois, Florida, New York, California, and Massachusetts with many more planned.
According to Ayana Webb, Midwest Outreach & Operations Manager, the Museums’ main focus is 5th-12th grade students, but they are also open to public events with organizations. “People can expect an interactive digital experience led by our well-versed educators,” Webb said. “Each workshop ranges about the length of a standard class period but can be adjusted based on the needs and wants of the people we are servicing.”
The first of its kind in the United States, the Mobile Museums of Tolerance (MMOT) was initiated when a donor in Chicago learned about the Tour For Humanity, a project of the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Canada and believed it was something we needed to bring to Illinois. Webb said the donor believed “Illinois is a diverse state but unfortunately a segregated state.” She said the vision was to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds, empowering them to raise their voices and take action against hate, intolerance, and bullying while promoting justice and human rights.
“In September 2018, a group from Illinois traveled to Toronto to experience the MMOT firsthand and returned knowing that we needed to duplicate the project in Illinois,” Webb said. “From there, we hit the ground running. Throughout 2019, efforts were focused on lobbying the Illinois State Government for capital funding to build the first MMOT.”
The MMOT’s 32-seat, wheelchair-accessible vehicle hit the road in 2021 and has been traveling throughout Illinois ever since. “This summer we are proud to introduce MMOT IL2, to join its sister empowering students across the state.”
MMOT workshops empower participants with knowledge of the dangers of the past in order to create a better future.
On Monday, June 15, Travelin’ Toms Coffee Truck will be located on-site with the Mobile Museums of Tolerance from 10am-12pm. The mobile coffee truck accepts all major credit cards as well as cash at the truck window. Every beverage is made to order and served directly from the truck.
On the Mobile Museums of Tolerance website, you’ll find the question… “When you see hate, will you stand by or will you stand up?” The Mobile Museums of Tolerance is rolling into Palatine Park District empowering students to confront hate, embrace tolerance, and act for social change.
