BuildaBridge International

BuildaBridge International Engaging the transformative power of the arts to bring hope and healing to children in need and their communities.

BuildaBridge's mission is twofold: Bring hope and healing through the arts and Engage artists in service to others. In other words, we use the arts to help people in difficult situations to heal from trauma and find hope for their future. Our formula, or basic philosophy, can be summed up: CREATIVE ART-MAKING for KIDS in TOUGH PLACES with ARTIST MENTORS=HOPE AND HEALING. Our motto for all teaching

artists and mentors is Speaking a Blessing into the life of the child through the arts. The primary goals for our programs are to provide children and youth through creative arts experiences:
1. Healing from trauma due to violence & abuse in order to break the cycle of violence;
2. Foster healthy development & hope for their future;
3. Develop academic, social, artistic-expressive skills and that foster spiritual and character development;
4. Allow development & rehearsal of skills for living as responsible, contributing and empathetic citizens; and
5. Train artists, youth workers, educators and congregational youth leaders in effective arts-based methods for community, family and child transformation.

And we're back at it, we're welcoming a new cohort of BuildaBridge Teaching Artists today! Six hours of applied practice...
05/06/2026

And we're back at it, we're welcoming a new cohort of BuildaBridge Teaching Artists today! Six hours of applied practice, theory, healing and hope-raising!



Consider joining BuildaBridge in-person or online for our program, the Arts of Self-Care. This professional developmen...
05/05/2026

Consider joining BuildaBridge in-person or online for our program, the Arts of Self-Care. This professional development session incorporates BuildaBridge’s Safe Spaces Model and self-care practices. The trauma-informed, strength-based and person-centered pedagogy of the Safe Spaces Model is the foundation of all BuildaBridge programming and provides a therapeutic structure as a vehicle for learning. Experiential activities through various mediums of art-making and dialogue will open participants up to accessible and achievable strategies to inspire and maintain self-care in and around challenging environments. Art-making includes: music, drawing/painting, movement and/or writing. Participants will develop personal strategies for self-care and tools to share within their communities and networks.

This May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, we are highlighting an important distinction: the difference between men...
05/05/2026

This May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, we are highlighting an important distinction: the difference between mental health and mental health conditions.

Many people think these terms mean the same thing, but they don't. Understanding the distinction can help us take better care of ourselves and support others more effectively.

❤️Mental health is universal - Everyone has mental health. It includes your emotional, psychological, and social well-being and affects how you think, feel, and act in daily life.

❤️Mental health conditions are specific - These are diagnosable disorders like depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More than 50% of people will receive a mental health diagnosis at some point.

❤️Good mental health and mental illness can coexist - Many people living with mental health conditions have periods of strong mental well-being through treatment, support, and self-care.

❤️Poor mental health does not always mean mental illness - You can experience poor mental health due to stress, burnout, grief, or life transitions without having a diagnosable condition.

❤️Simple ways to care for your mental health - Find coping skills that work for you. These could include journaling, deep breathing, moving your body, or spending time with loved ones.

❤️Professional support is available - Therapy can benefit anyone, not just those with diagnosed conditions.

If you need support, please reach out to a health care professional. Help is available, and you're not alone.

❤️

BaB

Happy Star Wars Day! We couldn't let the day pass without joining the celebration.May the 4th (...er, the force) be with...
05/04/2026

Happy Star Wars Day! We couldn't let the day pass without joining the celebration.

May the 4th (...er, the force) be with you! And if you’re a Star Wars fan like we are, tell us your favorite part of the Star Wars universe.

This weekend, BuildaBridge kicked off our Visual Arts Studio & Music Studio Workshops at Penrose Recreation Center. Pict...
05/04/2026

This weekend, BuildaBridge kicked off our Visual Arts Studio & Music Studio Workshops at Penrose Recreation Center. Pictured are some of the results from the Visual Arts Studio. Participants were invited to make an "Identity Hand" to introduce themselves. While working on hand prints, conversations about interests sparked ideas to include. Handprints are displayed at the rec center, with plans to add more as new participants join the art studio. We're big fans of Penrose and can't wait to continue our programming into the summer camp AND Summer Night Lights.

There's still plenty of time to register and join both workshops.

The Music Studio, Saturdays, 1:30-3:00 PM: May 10, 17, 24, 31 & June 7
https://bit.ly/BaBMusicPenrose

The Visual Arts Studio, Sundays, 1:30-3:00 PM: May 7, 14, 21, 28 and June 5
https://bit.ly/BaBVisArtsPenrose

PIC ID: Children's hand pictured with makers and paper alongside hand-drawn pictures of their hands.

cc: &

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! This month, we celebrate and honor...
05/04/2026

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month!

This month, we celebrate and honor the rich histories, diverse cultures, and invaluable contributions of the AANHPI community.

We hope you join us in celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month throughout May.

Last summer, BuildaBridge teamed up with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Philadelphia Police Department 22nd District a...
04/23/2026

Last summer, BuildaBridge teamed up with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Philadelphia Police Department 22nd District and The School District of Philadelphia to provide a TON of programming, including visual arts, drumming, karaoke and dance from BuildaBridge, at Penrose & Wi******er Recreation Centers. This May, we're returning to Penrose Recreation Center to provide FREE music and visual arts workshops for kiddos 7-14 +/-. If you know a youth with a desire to learn and experience the arts, please register here:

The Music Studio, Saturdays, 1:30-3:00 PM:
https://bit.ly/BaBMusicPenrose

The Visual Arts Studio, Sundays, 1:30-3:00 PM:
https://bit.ly/BaBVisArtsPenrose

BuildaBridge, an arts and education non-profit, provides trauma-informed art-making to youth and their communities in Ph...
04/22/2026

BuildaBridge, an arts and education non-profit, provides trauma-informed art-making to youth and their communities in Philadelphia. For over twenty years, thousands of participants benefited from BuildaBridge strength-based, person-centered and hope-infused art-making. BuildaBridge's pedagogical approach, the Safe Space Model, helps participants strengthen their resilience, self-efficacy, and hopefulness via BuildaBridge-trained teaching artists. This summer, BuildaBridge is embarking on an extensive programming journey to provide many recreation centers with art-making over the next two years.

To work with BuildaBridge, are you...

- a community-driven individual who seeks use their artistic prowess as a catalyst for healing and hope-raising?
- experienced working with urban youth affected by direct, vicarious, and generational psychological trauma histories?
- ready to level up your lesson and curriculum planning?
- prepared to plan AND be spontaneous?
- willing to work as a team member to deliver process and outcomes that lead to greater advocacy for arts-access?

and lastly:

are you available on Wednesday, May 6 for a BuildaBridge training from 10 am to 6 pm in North Philadelphia, a few block south of Temple University?

Email for more info at: [email protected]. You can apply here or via the profile link: http://bit.ly/BaBGetInvolved

Today, BuildaBridge began a series of three six-session workshops at the Salvation Army's New Day New Home Shelter (NDNH...
04/14/2026

Today, BuildaBridge began a series of three six-session workshops at the Salvation Army's New Day New Home Shelter (NDNH). NDNH provides transitional and rapid housing as well as case management for survivors of s*x trafficking. Our group today began a foray into songwriting using free writing, erasure poems and mantra-writing. The picture is the beginning of one song OR it could end up as many as four songs.

"One pebble in the road does not amount to a dead end;
Treat others as you would like to be treated;
El que no arriesga, no gana (Spanish: Nothing ventured, nothing gained);
Opinions are just about perspective."

We cannot wait to see how our songwriting process evolves.

If this kind of work resonates with you, be in touch with BuildaBridge via our profile link.

Wishing you the good life that you deserve.

-efficacy

The Music Studio at Lonnie Young Recreation Center occurs on Mondays, starting from 4-6 pm. This season, we're focusing ...
03/26/2026

The Music Studio at Lonnie Young Recreation Center occurs on Mondays, starting from 4-6 pm. This season, we're focusing on practice and performance, giving participants a chance to explore various forms of self-expression through music. As per BuildaBridge's mission, we will leverage the power of art and music-making to help participants strengthen their resilience, self-efficacy and hope-infused visions of the future! The program will conclude on a June 8 with a performance!

Please share widely and register here: https://bit.ly/BaBLYRMusicStudio

BuildaBridge Philadelphia Trivia Night FundraiserJoin BuildaBridge Community for a fun fundraising night of Virtual Quiz...
03/03/2026

BuildaBridge Philadelphia Trivia Night Fundraiser

Join BuildaBridge Community for a fun fundraising night of Virtual Quizzo. We will compete to see who knows the most about our amazing city of Philadelphia
Your admission ticket and raffle tickets will support BuildaBridge's trauma-informed art-making programs for youth.

"With your gift, we can continue to leverage the power of art-making to heal and hope-raise with youth facing daily adversity"

Your $25 donation provides a BuildaBridge Art Box to a member of the BuildaBridge community. Too often our participants tell us that they lack art supplies at home. The BuildaBridge Art Box remediates this AND includes activities and opportunities to remain in contact with BuildaBridge.

1st and 2nd place prizes

When: March 26th, 2026 from 6:30pm-8pm
Where: Zoom Link will be sent upon RSVP
Admission Cost: $25 per person

50/50 Raffle-$5 per ticket-purchased when you buy your admission ticket

RSVP in Profile, link, or comments

Address

Philadelphia, PA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12158420428

Website

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