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About the Institute

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. The Institute includes The Annual Institute in Philadelphia, monthly trainings at the BuildaBridge House, International Trainings as part of Diaspora of Hope and Arts Relief and Development, and the Online Institute. BuildaBridge offers a graduate level Arts in Transformation concentration in the M.A. in Urban Studies program through an educational alliance with Eastern University.

Now in its 11th year in 2012, the Institute has trained more than 525 professionals worldwide, and has attracted a faculty of 85 professionals in the field. In an impact study by public policy graduate students form Drexel Univerisity, 70% of Institute participants reported applying BuildaBridge methods in their community work.

Goals

BuildaBridge Institute seeks to:

1. Increase the number of creative people using their gifts and abilities in service to their communities and communities of poverty.

2. Equip community and congregational leaders, educators and artists with strategies and skills to develop resilient children and their communities in the global context.

3. Develop arts integrated training curricula to meet the professional needs of those working in communities of poverty and crisis.

4. Partner with colleges and community development organizations to provide training for creative community development and arts-based interventions.

5. Document the impact of arts in the areas of justice, education, community development, healing & reconciliation and identity development.

6. Serve as an opportunity for networking and collaboration for those working in this still developing field of arts-based psychosocial support, relief and community development.

Outcomes for all Institute programs

As a result of attendance at the Annual Institute & Institute trainings:

1. At the end of the Institute and one-year following the Institute, 95% of attendees rate the training at least a four on a five-point likert scale that measures the effectiveness of the Institute in preparing participants to deliver arts-integrated intervention and service.

2. One year following the Institute, 25% of participants have or plan to engage in additional professional development & training related to arts-integrated service.

3. Six months following the Institute/Training, 60% of those completing the training are involved in arts-based intervention in settings serving vulnerable families and children in urban, rural or international settings.

Outcomes for all Institute participants

At the end of Annual Institute or the graduate programs, participants should be able to:

1. Articulate a clear philosophical basis for the arts in community service

2. Write an initial strategy and goals for using the arts in community service

3. Understand the role the arts play in the spiritual, psychological and cognitive (learning) and creative development of children and youth as one element of holistic personal and community development

4. Demonstrate the knowledge and ability to apply the BuildaBridge Classroom℠ model.