Urbanarium (Rochester, N.Y.) collection

In early 1970, the Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC) sought a way to increase community involvement via an outreach project. The result was a program that consisted of films, exhibits, workshops, and simulation games to teach the Rochester community about the successes and needs of the city. Gradually, the museum wanted to extend the program, making a larger impact. RMSC leadership and Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) president, Dr. Paul A. Miller, reached an agreement to move the program to the RIT campus. The team secured three years’ worth of funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.

RIT President Paul A. Miller appointed Gene DePrez to the position of Director of Communication at RIT and tapped him to lead the Urbanarium in 1971. Their programs covered important topics for Rochester residents, including housing, transportation, economic development, and citizen involvement. The Urbanarium relied on funding from foundations and corporations, involving faculty and students from area colleges and universities in its programs. After three years, the project’s team began a period of self-assessment. In 1978, the Urbanarium spun off into an independent, non-profit organization (The Urbanarium, Inc.), led by DePrez as its President and CEO. The organization closed in 1982.