BuildaBridge International

BuildaBridge is a non-profit arts education and intervention organization that engages the transformative power of the arts to bring hope and healing to children, families and communities in the tough places of the world. BuildaBridge spans barriers of race, class, faith and culture to promote holistic personal, family and community development. Committed to principles of love, compassion, justice, reconciliation and service to others, BuildaBridge motivates, enlists, trains and connects those with artistic gifts with those in greatest need. BuildaBridge offers unique programs featuring cross-cultural perspectives and arts-integrated approaches to holistic personal and community development.

BuildaBridge believes the arts are a common gift to mankind and an avenue by which healing, hope, opportunity and empowerment can thrive. BuildaBridge believes in bringing compassion, hope, justice and reconciliation through service to others in communities at home and around the world. We work to bridge barriers of race, class, faith and culture through the transformative power of the arts. Our training and service to others includes teaching life skills and promoting holistic personal, family and community development through cross-cultural and arts-integrated programming. We truly believe people can be transformed holistically when the arts are part of healing.

BuildaBridge, a 501(c)3 non-profit art-education and intervention organization, was founded in 1997 and incorporated in 2000 by Drs. J.Nathan Corbitt and Vivian Nix-Early. Corbitt, a Professor at Eastern University, and Nix-Early, an Academic Dean, met in 1994 while serving as faculty advisors to Eastern University's Gospel Choir, The Angels of Harmony. Their common interest in the arts to bridge barriers of race,class and ethnicity was reflected in the Sing Africa tour (1996) where the multi-ethnic choir participated in racial reconciliation between whites and blacks in post-apartheid South Africa. During this event and subsequent trips to Europe, the response to a multicultural choir demonstrated more than just the effect of music; the group displayed a model of different ethnicities working in harmony. Through active involvement in an artistic endeavor, participants were invited to begin a process of healing and reconciliation.

BuildaBridge's programming is three-pronged: 1) Community - BuildaBridge Community provides arts-integrated intervention and education to children and families in underserved communities. In collaboration with local schools, community centers, transitional homes, and religious congregations, BuildaBridge Community delivers life skills training, artistic educational experiences, and therapeutic intervention through art-making in music, drama, dance, creative writing, and the visual arts. 2) International - BuildaBridge International travels the world to restore hope and healing to communities affected by cultural and religious conflict, environmental catastrophe, poverty, illness, and social injustice. Through its specialized team service projects and arts intervention programs, BuildaBridge International promotes dialogue, understanding, and community development with partners throughout the world. 3) Institute - is a research and training institute designed to prepare artists, social service professionals, community and congregational leaders, youth workers and non profit organization personnel to integrate the arts effectively in education and community development. BuildaBridge Institute embraces the power of the arts in community outreach by teaching arts based tools for healing and empowerment, and efficient ways to implement them to better serve those in need.

For general information about the organization, please email info@buildabridge.org

For information regarding involvement and volunteer opportunities, please contact Danielle Dembrosky, ddembro@buildabridge.org