Michael J. Nyenhuis, president and CEO of UNICEF USA since March 2020, sat down with Make It Better founder Susan B. Noyes to share his insight and excitement about the launch of “Heart Strings: Creating Connection To The World’s Children.” The interactive, multimedia experience, a collaboration between UNICEF USA and award-winning multimedia studio Moment Factory, recently premiered in Houston, with additional stops in Atlanta, Boston and Chicago. Nyenhuis highlights the exhibit’s ability to transcend borders and cultures, creating a deeply moving experience that emphasizes the challenges and opportunities in improving connections and hope for children and families worldwide.
Susan B. Noyes (SBN):
Thank you for your service to children and families around the world. Please tell us about your path to UNICEF USA.
Michael J. Nyenhuis:
Growing up in Minnesota, I participated in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, going door-to-door on Halloween to collect coins to help children around the world. It was my first activity as a philanthropist. And I can’t tell you how many of our individual philanthropists and donors today got their start this way too!
Despite that start, I really began my career working as a journalist for over ten years, including international work. While reporting in Honduras, I met a local nurse, who had returned to her small community to help make it better. She was a tiny woman, but a giant in her community, because of all she had accomplished.
I was so amazed that I just wanted to help her and others like her going forward. So, I found a U.S. based nonprofit in public health and joined them — working in communications of course.
For 20 years working in the humanitarian and development sector, wherever I worked around the world, UNICEF was there. I came to understand it from the outside looking in, and I saw it as the gold standard. When the call came in about this position, I jumped at it.
SBN:
You started at UNICEF USA just as Covid hit hard. How was that?
Michael J. Nyenhuis (MJN):
A steep learning curve!
When I accepted the job in January 2020, Covid was there but not a big thing. But I joined end of March, right after shutdown, and I had to take over a significant organization remotely. The night before my first day, I sat in my townhouse in Stamford with my golden retriever, Izzy, and I thought, ‘It’s going to be just you and me.’ For the first three months I’d shoot a short video every day to share with the staff things I was learning and questions I had as the way to let the staff get to know me and vice versa.
Learning the work itself was not difficult. I had been doing this for 25 years. But learning the organization was.
Interestingly, my journalism training helps a lot in my role as CEO. My dad used to say, ‘You journalists are dangerous. You know a little bit about a lot of things. But you are not an expert in any of them.’
Yeah, that’s true. My work as President and CEO of UNICEF USA is to build a team of experts in the various areas of our organization. I’m not the expert, they are. . But I know how to find hire them, , listen to them and ask good questions.
SBN:
Although all of UNICEF’s work is important, what are you particularly excited about now?
Michael J. Nyenhuis:
Funding our Every Child Fund, which gives us more flexible funds for responding to crises not getting a lot of attention. Sadly, more children around the world than ever are displaced from their homes due to conflict, climate impacts, economic and political uncertainty. For example, there are a million displaced children in the West African nation of Burkina Faso alone. And the trend is that more and more children will be displaced too – by drought and violence.
Our proactive Climate Action Plan includes clean water and emergency response, providing solar power for schools and efforts to elevate the participation of youth. This includes creating opportunities for youth in Green Skilling, preparing young people for jobs in the Green Economy.
We are also being more focused on our own climate footprint.
SBN:
This new ‘Heart Strings’ interactive experience should help. How is this different than past UNICEF USA education outreach or events?
Michael J. Nyenhuis:
We are a child-focused organization. We talk a lot about the problems that children face. This is our opportunity to do something for children and inspire them, along with their parents and families.
We specifically wanted to do something that generates hope and optimism. “Heart Strings” is a unique opportunity to experience a connection to the world’s children that is engaging, informative and uplifting in about 45 minutes. It includes information across an individual child’s development, including sections in Early Childhood Development, the Power of Education and the ways that Youth Use Their Voices. Every section is entertaining as well as educational.
We also wanted to do something different than the traditional gala fundraiser in an effort to reach more people. This exhibit is a way to connect with a broader swath of the community. It’s attractive to schools, corporations and their employees, families and others too. However, the opening night in cities like Chicago will still be a great fundraising event too.
SBN:
Who helped to create Heart Strings?
Michael J. Nyenhuis:
We partnered with award-winning multimedia entertainment studio, Moment Factory to create the experience because they are the experts in building interactive exhibits around the world. We also partnered with our local supporters, our Regional Boards and NextGen communities to host the exhibit.
SBN:
Anything else you want to tell us?
Michael J. Nyenhuis:
Heart Strings is an interactive and family-friendly experience for audiences of all ages to learn about UNICEF’s global impact. It is made possible by the generous support from Presenting Sponsor Trott Family Philanthropies as well as The 72 Fund, The Sippi and Ajay Khurana Family Foundation, Go Dharmic, Susan Littlefield, Martin Roper and Family, and Melody Wilder Wilson and David Wilson.
Heart Strings will be taking place at Water Tower Place in Chicago from June 15, 2024 – June 30, 2024. The Chicago community can learn more about Heart Strings and purchase tickets by checking out our website: www.heartstringsunicef.org.
For Chicago school and youth organization admissions and to access the educators’ guide, please visit: www.unicefusa.org/heartstrings/education.
How to Help:
Find out if Heart Strings is coming to a city near you and purchase tickets. Or, help the world’s most vulnerable children get the nutrition, water, protection, education and health care they need by donating to UNICEF.
