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Hope and Healing this Thanksgiving
Greetings!
 | | Artists in Costa Rica 1997 |
It began in Costa Rica in 1997 when a small and diverse team of artists were invited to help a divided community--literally--following an earthquake. As we debriefed about lessons learned we realized just how powerful the creative arts were in bringing hope and healing to broken communities. Three years later BuildaBridge was a living community. In 2006, beginning with a volunteer portrait painter, board member Ron Hevey offered a single painting class was to prison inmates in Guatemala. This season, artists have gathered in Guatemala, Kenya and Nicaragua to conduct their own Arts for Hope camps with children living in poverty. The remarkable aspect of this brief history is that in each country, scores of local artists are being trained in art-embedded aspects of hope and are working with hundreds of children around the world. US-based BuildaBridge Artists on Call serve both as teachers and trainers as we assist in building local capacity with some great community organizations working in some truly tough places.  | | Artists Prepare in Guatemala November 2010 |
Those of us who will enjoy seasonal meals with our families, give thanks, support, and pray for the safety of those who care enough to travel to bring hope into lives of children who struggle with the daily realities of poverty.
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Painting a Brighter Future
| | Dance of Hope in Haiti |
Look at the smile on these young people's faces. These are the smiles of hope. These two young people danced for joy and hope in a Haiti orphanage after BuildaBridge Artists on Call helped leaders and residents clear dangerous debris and develop their first sacred space for play and creativity. We often see this smile of hope on the faces of children in Philadelphia homeless shelters, barrios in Guatemala and slums in Nairobi where children envision a new future. We often hear from the kids, "You came, you spent time with us, you know our names", a testament to our concern for authentic relationships.
In order to see an authentic smile on children's faces, BuildaBridge has developed a teaching model that engages artists in active mentoring through child-centered, hope-infused and trauma-informed methodology. This methodology takes time, training, assessment, and your help.
BuildaBridge is embarking on a fund raising adventure. We are asking you to help us raise $75,000 for the organization by December 31, 2010. Our annual campaign entitled "Painting a Brighter Future" supports the work BuildaBridge does best: helping children paint, dance, sing, drum, cook, and act a brighter future of hope, healing and resilience. Please consider an online gift. If you prefer to send a check, we take those also! Make payable to: BuildaBridge International. Write PABF in the FOR line. Send to: BuildaBridge 205 West Tulpehocken Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144. Read why this is important. 
| | Support the work of BuildaBridge |
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Thanks to Artists on Call
 | | Guatemala Team 2010 |
Each month, BuildaBridge offers training to artists who want to effectively work with children living in poverty. This training takes place in Philadelphia and on location in countries where we collaborate with local organizations. We are also in the process of offering online training. All creative artists who join BuildaBridge as lead teaching artists, Artist on Call members, Diaspora of Hope participants or classroom assistance attend trainings. Pictured to the right is the Guatemala team, currently in Guatemala. Teresa VanDenend Sorge, Stevie Neal, Alaina Cronkright (Leader), and MajaLisa Fritzhuspen. Local teaching artists who work in Philadelphia transitional homes and community centers train and meet monthly to problem solve and share effective methods. They also complete weekly online classroom assessments. Pictured below are Danielle Boyer-Graves (Culinary), Gina Ferrerra (Drumming), Maritza Ogarro (Dance), Julie Rosen (Visual Arts), Sarah Thompson (Visual Arts), Camille Edwards (Creative Writing and Drama), and Magi Ross (Shelter Liaison and African Dance. Not pictured are Kaylie Sauter (Artist on Call Associate in Kenya), Celmali Jaime (Kenya DOH Artistic director), Dorette Ligons-Ham (Kenya DOH), Roshelle Lennon (Kenya DOH), Constance Kocs (Arts Consultant in Guatemala) and a host of wonderful volunteers. Thanks to you all.  | | BuildaBridge Phildelphia Teaching Artists November 2010 |
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Training for Hope
| | Jill In Nicaragua |
Jill Kane (Osielski) traveled to Managua, Nicaragua November 11-14 to conduct a BuildaBridge Classroom training for the Nehemiah Center and local artists preparing for their arts camp in January. Originally part of the November Diaspora of Hope, the Nicaragua arts camp was moved to January to more natually fit with school and community schedules. Over 18 artists and social service workers from 5 different organizations attended the training that taught classroom structure, curriculum outcomes, and aspects of hope. A hands-on training, participants began writing and practicing lesson plans for the January Hope Arts Camp.
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Kaylie Sauter, Artist-in- Residence in Kenya
| | Kaylie in Kenya |
In September, Kaylie Sauter packed her bags and moved to Nairobi, Kenya for a 6-month creative adventure. She serves as both a visual arts teacher in Mathare Valley and an artist networker with the Center for Transforming Mission. Kaylie has been busy preparing for the 4th Annual Diaspora of Hope Camp taking place next week.
Read her blog entries.
 | | Mombasa Camp |
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Black Friday and Holiday Shopping for a Good Cause
Want to support BuildaBridge without taking extra money out of your own pocket?
It's possible!
If you are already going to spend money for the holiday season, why not purchase items that send a portion of the proceeds to BuildaBridge?!
Use BuildaBridge's Amazon ID to make online purchases and 4% of the total will go directly to BuildaBridge.
BuildaBridge's Amazon ID
Another easy way to raise money for BuildaBridge: Just start using Yahoo! powered GoodSearch.com as your search engine and they'll donate a penny to BuildaBridge every time you do a search! If 300 BuildaBridge supporters do 50 searches a month for November and December during our Painting a Brighter Future Campaign, we can raise $300! In addition, do some more shopping through their online shopping mall, GoodShop.com, where you can shop at more than 900 top online retailers, use great coupons and discounts and a percentage of your purchases will go to BuildaBridge.
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