By Liz Spaeth, (BuildaBridge Dream Team Summer (10) Intern

Whiplash. That is how another group member from the BuildaBridge Arts Relief trip described the transition from Carla's house, where we had our orientation, to the orphanage. I can't find a better word to describe the feeling of going from the paradise of the mountain compound where Carla lived with her husband to the cinder block enclosed orphanage. Land is at a premium in Haiti, especially now that the Earthquake has condemned much of the living space near Port Au Prince. Madam Luc and her husband are naturally protective of their property. The seven-foot tall grey walls and heavy metal gate isolate the orphanage from the busy town of Leurbours, and keep the fifty children safe.

The earthquake had destroyed the church and killed a four year-old child in the collapse. A white tent stood in its place, decorated with colorful plastic plants, and filled with wooden folding chairs and old-fashioned school benches. Around the complex were a dozen other tents donated by US AID and other humanitarian organizations. There were also several "tap tap" taxi pick-up trucks littered around the yard that the kids would help to clean and repair for extra money. There were lots of animals at the orphanage: two turkeys and their young, several roosters and chickens, two painted faced quails, goats, and two dogs. They would wonder around and on the forth day we were there, the goats ate all of our plantains when we weren't looking.

Remo Inc ., an award-winning self-described “drummer’s drumhead company” that has been in business for over 50 years, has generously donated a wonderful set of recreational musical instruments for our upcoming Arts Relief trip to Haiti. The instruments donated include 2 sets of 6-pack Sound Shapes, 2 sets of 5-pack Sound Shapes, 1 7.5 X 22 Gathering Drum, and 3 pairs of Kids Bongos, all of which will be used in our music therapy classes with children in the orphanage and school in Haiti. We have no doubt that these instruments and sound-makers will provide these young victims of trauma with plenty of opportunities for excitement, fun, and growth.

 Sam Ash Music, a music superstore with locations in 16 states, has generously donated 50 recorders to our Haiti Arts Relief trip for use in our music therapy classes with Haitian children. The company, which had previously made a substantial donation to relief in Haiti, is continuing their honorable tradition of philanthropy with this kind gift. These instruments will surely be put to good use on the trip in July!

Souderton Mennonite Church, a large Mennonite congregation located in Souderton, Pennsylvania, has generously donated 7 large tents to BuildaBridge for the Haiti Arts Relief trip through their Tents for Haiti relief effort. The wonderful Tents for Haiti program, one of the many charitable ministries run by the church, collects tent and tarp donations to distribute to relief workers and Haitian residents. The tents that they have donated to us will be used by our Artists on Call during our July service trip to Haiti and then will be left with those we are working with in Haiti who have been displaced by the devastating earthquake.

Follow our new blog about the BuildaBridge Institute 2010 , written by Henry Holcomb, former staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

by Kim Magyar

On February 19, 2010 BuildaBridge and Art-Reach teamed up to host an event called ‘Day of Healing’ which is offered to service providers working within shelters and transitional homes. The event was designed to show appreciation for these hard working individuals by giving them an opportunity to create art and indulge in a chair massage. Though it was anticipated that the guests of honor would experience fun and relaxation, it was an unexpected gift to learn that some guests had a more profound experience.  

BuildaBridge has been ‘friended’ by 529 friends on FaceBook within only 4 months time and the number is rising. Almost half of these FaceBook friends have joined the BuildaBridge Cause and 37 have already joined the BuildaBridge Arts. Relief In Haiti Cause.Multi-platform social networking can accomplish serious goals, such as increasing a non-profit's visibility, helping constituents find jobs, and raising awareness about time-sensitive issues. For instance, successful nonprofits regularly use sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to help promote its work. Organizations can easily amass thousands of members to their website, Facebook site, followers on Twitter and daily views of their videos on YouTube. Social Networking applications are very powerful tools to spread the message of a nonprofit organization.

 When asked the question  “What is my dream job?” my answer is “a meaningful and fun way to combine my love and interest in art and art-making, my business skills and my deep commitment to community building”. You can then guess that I am delighted and grateful to be working at BuildaBridge where these three areas of my interest and experience come together every day in all that BuildaBridge does and touches. 

I recently returned to Philadelphia from a 3 year project in Charlotte, NC, where I was involved in a start-up Quaker Friends School. Returning to Philadelphia is coming home to me. I so missed my community of friends, family and colleagues, along with the vast diversity of people, culture, thinking and experiences here in Philadelphia. 

My background spans more than 25 years of working with nonprofit organizations, community service agencies, schools and Fortune 500 companies. I am an artist, educator, marketer and project manager. Prior to joining BuildaBridge I assisted my husband who started the first Quaker Friends School in Charlotte. At Friends School of Charlotte I taught art, assisted in the classroom and managed and coordinated the daily operations and administration of the start-up school.