Skulls made of Sugar

Mr. Robert Kelleher and Ms. Christine Byma crafted a lesson for the most recent Bhutanese refugee children's group about the Day of the Dead. The lesson started with a discussion about monarch butterflies and their migration to Mexico at the start of November. Children discussed what it means to migrate, as most of them have experienced this or heard the stories of their parents' migration. The monarch butterflies often arrive at the time of Mexico's Day of the Dead celebration November 2nd. Some believe these butterflies carry the souls of those who have passed on and have come back to visit. In celebration and in honor of the ancestors, families create skulls made of sugar and flowers as symbols of death and the afterlife to place on alters. Bhutanese children created skulls made of model magic, feathers and colored pens to symbolize their celebrations of ancestors who have passed. In future groups, the artists will dive deeper into conversations with children about their past, their ancestors and what they've learned from them to apply to their own lives.

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BuildaBridge Participates in Jefferson University Symposium

Symposium attendees worked as a group to make a finished art piece On December 2, 2017, Assistant Director of Community Programs Stevie French was honored to represent BuildaBridge as a presenter in Thrive: Trauma-Informed Practice in Community-Engaged Art. The 5-hour event was hosted as part of Thomas Jefferson University/Philadelphia University’s Asano Humanities and Health series. BuildaBridge Assistant Director Stevie French presenting on trauma-informed community art-making The symposium aimed to bring together “arts and health professionals, students and community members in conversation at the intersection(s) of trauma-informed practice and community-engaged art.” The event was open to the public, and was attended by individuals from fields including medical, mental health, pharmaceuticals, education, and community non-profits. Stevie delivered a 5-minute presentation and a breakout workshop. Her presentation focused on the role of metaphor and non-ve...

Funding received by the PA Council on the Arts

This Refugee Project is supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. On October 9th, BuildaBridge was presented with the award check from the PA Council on the Arts. Hosted by PECO and led by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the event highlighted each of the grantees from the five-county Philadelphia region. Maud Lyon, President of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance with BuildaBridge Co-Founder Dr. Vivian Nix-Early and PRMHC Project Manager, Danielle Bossert

Year 4 Report

BuildaBridge is pleased to announce the publication of its Year 4 Report of involvement in the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative (PRMHC). BuildaBridge PRMHC Year 4 Report

BuildaBridge Community Programs

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