In the heart of Youngstown, Ohio, a center dedicated to the curiosity of children is preparing to mark a milestone that many once thought unreachable. Oh Wow! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology is set to celebrate 15 years of community impact this May, transforming from a modest local museum into a regional anchor for STEM education.
The anniversary is more than a chronological marker; for the organization’s leadership, it represents a victory over early doubt. During a recent funding and partnerships committee meeting, executive director Katie Seminara-DeToro noted that many skeptics originally believed the center would not reach this milestone. “So it really is an achievement, not only for Oh Wow but for Youngstown to continue to have the cultural district that we do,” she said.
While the organization celebrates 15 years of existence, its current identity as a STEM-focused hub—emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—took shape more recently. The center opened to the public in its current incarnation in May 2015, following a strategic pivot and a move to its current home in the historic former McCrory’s building.
Overcoming the Architecture of Doubt
The path to the current center was paved with significant philanthropic investment and a willingness to challenge the status quo. The transition was spurred by the late Roger and Gloria Jones, owners of Fireline Inc., whose vision and funding provided the catalyst for the center’s evolution. Suzanne Barbati, who joined the organization as executive director in 2009 during the transition from the Children’s Museum of the Valley, recalls a climate of uncertainty.
“There’s always been people who had doubts,” Barbati recalled. “There were board members who I actually had to meet with and say, ‘Listen, you’ve got to quit saying we’re never going to do this because we are going to do it.’”
That persistence, supported by David and Caroline Jones and other early investors, allowed the center to secure its footprint in downtown Youngstown. David Jones noted that his parents “would be over the moon delighted with how Oh Wow has continued to grow and be a destination for children” and “loved having a place in Youngstown that fostered the young minds in the STEM world.”
Scaling Innovation and Technical Literacy
Since its 2015 opening, Oh Wow! has expanded its physical and intellectual boundaries. The organization eventually purchased the McCrory building and expanded into its second floor to accommodate growing attendance and more complex exhibits. One of the most significant recent additions is the America Makes 3D Printing Lab, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between early childhood curiosity and high school-level technical application.
The center has as well focused on creating recurring community draws, such as “Silly Science Sunday,” which attracts families from across eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. More recently, the center has integrated health-focused technology via the Help Me Grow iSandbox from Bright Beginnings. This augmented reality exhibit, available through late May, serves a dual purpose: engaging visitors while raising awareness for the Help Me Grow program, which provide developmental screenings and home visiting services for pregnant women and families with children up to age 3.
A Pipeline for Workforce Development
For the board and local industry leaders, Oh Wow! is not merely a place for play, but a critical piece of economic infrastructure. Amber Bodrick, chairwoman of the board of directors and COO for QuickMed Urgent Care, argues that early exposure to STEM is essential for the region’s long-term viability.
“Industries like health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology and engineering all rely on STEM competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis and technical proficiency,” Bodrick said. “Early exposure to STEM helps students understand career pathways, develop relevant skills and transition more seamlessly into high-demand roles.”
This integration into the city’s broader ecosystem is furthered by the center’s participation in YoPass, a May initiative designed to promote cultural and educational venues within Youngstown’s central business district. By collaborating with more than 10 nearby venues, Oh Wow! helps solidify the downtown core as a tourist destination and an educational resource.
Jay Williams, former Youngstown mayor and current CEO of Greater Hartford Gives, views the center as a vital “piece of the puzzle” for downtown revitalization. Williams, who took his son to the center on its opening day, noted that while he has visited science centers in Washington, D.C. And Hartford, none were “of greater caliber” than Oh Wow!, citing the vision of the Jones family and the subsequent leadership as the driving forces.
Celebrating Through Maker-Centered Learning
The anniversary will be marked on May 15 with “A Reimagined Garden Party” at the Woodland Estate in Liberty Township. The event is designed to mirror the center’s philosophy of “making.” Rather than traditional decor, the party will feature flowers handmade by staff and visitors using cardboard, wood, metal, and paper, alongside displays from the Lego Botanicals line.
The theme serves a strategic purpose: promoting the move of the center’s makerspace to the second floor. By highlighting maker-centered learning, the organization aims to spark conversations about how hands-on creation connects to traditional manufacturing and future workforce development in the Mahoning Valley.
Attendees can expect interactive elements, including live 3D printers producing custom brooches and tie clips for guests. This tactile approach to a fundraiser underscores the center’s mission to make complex technology accessible and fun.
Looking ahead, the center plans to expand its inclusivity by incorporating sensory-friendly environments and deepening its offerings in robotics and artificial intelligence. By partnering with schools and employers, Oh Wow! aims to ensure the next generation is prepared for a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The 15th-anniversary celebration on May 15 will serve as the next major checkpoint for the organization as it evaluates its growth and sets its course for the next decade of STEM advocacy in Ohio.
We invite you to share your memories of Oh Wow! or your thoughts on the importance of STEM education in the comments below.
Keep reading
