BuildaBridge Institute for Arts and Transformation

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. The Institute includes two simultaneous tracks: a Foundations track for first-time participants and an intermediate track for second time participants. First track courses include Foundations for Arts in Transformation; Arts, Creativity and Human Development; Arts in Education; Art and Spiritual Development; Organizing for Community Arts including collaborative work and fund-raising. Second track courses include Arts in Healing, Arts in Social Services, and Leadership Practicum.

Participants of both tracks will attend 1) Skills Development Workshops in different art mediums (transformational drama, visual arts, conscious drumming, etc., 2) Integrated site visits to community arts organizations and arts programming in action and 3) Alumni Symposium, a Saturday evening dinner with presentations from Institute alumni sharing how the concepts they learned at the Institute have been applicable in their life, experience and work.

Specialized one-day courses for June 11 include Arts Relief and Introduction to Restorative Practices.