The American Association of State & Local History, in studying the efficacy of its StEPs program, reports that “most successful implementation and the greatest lasting impact in our field comes from groups of museums working together.” Small groups completing tasks and holding each other accountable are the answer to the challenge of any self-directed program.

This project will provide participating organizations with the added benefit of expertise, feedback of Mentors, and peer support while working through the StEPs program, and it will also create new networks for collaboration among the participating organizations that can last beyond the program itself.

The Mentors for this project are:

Meguey Baker, Collections Assistant at the Hatfield Historical Museum, Secretary of the Historical Society of Greenfield, and

Michele Plourde-Barker, Storrowton Village Museum, former Archivist at Springfield Museums, and author.

Each Mentor will work with four or fewer organizations.