Programs
BuildaBridge provides creative arts educational experiences and therapeutic intervention through art-making in music, drama, dance, creative writing, and the visual arts to children and families in under-served communities of Philadelphia and around the world. We collaborate with local schools, community centers, transitional homes, and religious congregations.
Scroll through our programming and feel free to contact us for a customed-made program for your community.
Tones of Home
Hope-Infused Performance for All
Tones of Home is a FREE concert and art-making series featuring BuildaBridge Restorative Artists and other community-minded artists. The event catalyzes the expressive arts to unite artists and community members from diverse backgrounds and amplify their impact against the cacophonous sounds of hate, racism, bigotry and QUARANTINE. Tones of Home will take place online on Sunday evenings from 6-8pm. Mark your calendars and keep an eye on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more access details.
Join us. We're better together.
Tones of Home will be available on Zoom. In order to use Zoom, please RSVP with Name, Zip Code, your relationship to BuildaBridge and any other demographics that you would like to share. **All information is retained for evaluation and made anonymous**
Donations will support BuildaBridge International's online programming and artist relief funding. Use Venmo to donate: @Belle-Alvarez, suggested donation $20
Register for Zoom access HERE
REady for Life
Hope-infused art-making
BuildaBridge International and Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) invite youth (14-18yrs) to participate in READY FOR LIFE. Ready for Life is a three cycle series of six arts-based workshops that will teach, foster and strength life skills through the expressive arts (music, dance, theater, visual arts). Participants utilize the imagination and creativity to make art while learning tangible life skills to help them succeed in the world. Every cycle is different and features amazing performing and visual arts opportunities. Ready for Life promotes hope-infused futures through art-making.
READY FOR LIFE WILL BE ANNOUNCING ONLINE DATES SOON!
Y-LED
Build a Better World Thru the Arts
BuildaBridge International and Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) invite youth (12-21yrs) to participate in Y-LED. Y-LED is a four-cycle series of five arts-based workshops that explores the topics of leadership, community, social responsibility, and conflict management through art-making (music, dance, theater, visual arts). Each semester uses a different art modality to explore the overarching theme for the 5 weeks, and while gradually building their community service projects week to week. The first semester will focus on “Understanding Self” using theater; Semester 2 focuses on “Understanding others” using music; Semester 3 focuses on Leadership Skills using visual arts; and Semester 4 focuses on Conflict Resolution using Dance. All sessions will be done within the framework of the BuildaBridge Safe Spaces Model which uses art-making as metaphor for applicable life and character building concepts.
ONLINE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
Refugee Project
Making the Arts accessible to the newest members of society
BuildaBridge Refugee Project has been collaborating with community partners since 2011 to bring quality therapeutic arts groups to refugees Philadelphia. Trained creative arts therapists as well as visual and performance artists work with refugees, asylum-seekers, immigrants and survivors of torture in their communities to help build resilience, hope, and a sense of belonging. Since the Project’s founding, more than 300 immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking adults and children have been served by its programming. Some of our programs include Open Arts Studios for adult survivors of torture, and Latina Resiliencia, a Spanish-speaking group for Latina women. We also collaborate with after school programs and other refugee-focused events around the city. Click here for more information about our current programs for refugees.
PHILASING
A community that sings together, strengthens together.
In partnership with Drexel University College of Nursing & Health Professions, BuildaBridge International established PhilaSing. PhilaSing is an adult community choir that intentionally brings together professional, amateur, shower stall singers across socio-economic, racial, gender backgrounds. We understand and value the intrinsic value of participation in a group community sing. Our community choir will plan to perform at least three times a year. We hope you will join us in this low-pressure environment to explore group singing, solo singing as interested. We will sing songs that are, hopefully, familiar to you by learning new arrangements developed through improvisation. Experience the joy of collaborating with others to create beauty together through voice.
PhilaSing is free and open to adults, 18 years of age and older. No registration is necessary, just come and join together in song. Free to join!
PhilaSing is on a brief hiatus. Contact us for more info.
Artists on Call
Being available to the community
Artists-on-Call is the professional volunteer program (domestic and international) for a worldwide network of artists virtually connected in every country where BuildaBridge works. Creative people (artists, educators, therapists, social workers, medical personnel) are notified of available needs in both Philadelphia and around the world with BuildaBridge network partners to serve in areas of conflict, crisis and poverty.
Restorative Arts Institute
Education and Information Sharing
The BuildaBridge Institute is a training and applied research academy designed to prepare artists, youth workers, community and congregational leaders, teachers, social service professionals, and nonprofit organization personnel to integrate the arts effectively in education, social services and community development.
