Graduate Program (4)
Since 2007, BuildaBridge has has an educational alliance with Eastern University as a community instructional partner for the The Master of Arts Degree in Urban Studies: Arts in Transformation Concentration (AITC). The program is a twenty-four month program delivered in short residency formats to accommodate working and out-of-state students. The program addresses the critical need for effective arts-based leadership in today's urban areas and is committed to the task of transforming urban communities into a restorative vision for people and communities. The focus of the AITC is to provide students with the skills, knowledge and spiritual development required for holistic ministry and the building of coalitions within urban communities, using a broad range of creative artistic expressions. Special focus is placed on arts-based interventions at individual, family, community, social service and organizational leadership levels. Through their own leadership initiatives, graduates of the M.A. program become deeply involved and committed to solving problems in urban areas both locally and around the world.
Eastern's Campolo College for Graduate and Professional Studies provides students with a unique opportunity to become partners in learning within a truly interdisciplinary learning community. In this environment, students can focus their education on a specific program of urban study and, at the same time, gain knowledge of the full spectrum of relationships in urban areas. This holistic approach prepares students to tackle the complexities of current urban problems from a realistic, integrative perspective and guides them to develop effective interdisciplinary solutions in becoming agents of social transformation.
For a comprehensive description of the program and our partnership with Eastern, see the MAUS website.
Visions of Transformation
by Rebekah Leeper (09)
“God pours life into death and death into life without a drop being spilled.”
~ Author Unknown
Meaning and Philosophy
“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others,” stated by Jonathan Swift. Transformation is an extension of vision. In order for intentional transformation to occur, one needs to grasp a vision of the past, present, and future. The future, here, is a plethora of possibility. Transformation is the process by which one thing becomes another. My immediate thought about transformation is the movement from death into life, darkness into lightness. It is a very basic movement, which can be seen all around us, night and day, winter to summer, sickness to wellness, and others.
TRANSFORMATION POSITION CREATIVE PROJECT COMMENTARY: COMING ALIVE
By Nicole Livingston (2009)
The arts are more than just a means to decorate our life. They are essential to the vitality of life itself. They contain inherent transformative powers that aid in one's personal development, connect people to one another and foster a deep sense of community. Society is like a large organism, while each person is like a tiny cell. Just as the health of each cell contributes to the health of an organism, the vitality of each individual contributes to the vitality of society. Just as water is necessary to maintain the livelihood of organisms, art is necessary to maintain the vibrancy of society. When initially presented with this project I wanted to demonstrate that the arts are a simple, natural yet essential part of healthy, and vibrant individuals and societies. That is why utilizing the transformative power of the arts is necessary. They have an ability to make something that was once lifeless come alive.
What I am taking away from the Institute
The following is a letter of Institute participant and Arts in Transformation MA in Urban Studies student, Kelly Finlaw, sent to the principal of the school where she teaches in New York.
it was so good to be back at school yesterday. i missed everyone so much while i was gone. it was good to be home again.
i know that every teacher in the city of new york is obligated to get their master's degree and i know that there are several teachers in our building that are currently in other programs and i know that they probably don't email you reflections on their classes. but there are so many reasons that i would like to share my thoughts about my first residency with you.
1. you are one of the main reasons that i took the step to apply to this program
2. this program is about using art to transform communities. my community and area of influence is our school and what happens in our school starts and ends with you.
3. i have to miss school for my residencies and feel like there is accountability for the days that i missed. reflecting on the residencies seems like a good way to be accountable.
Preparing an Creative Portfolio
Introduction
The portfolio, whether as an entrance requirement or culminating study example, provides evidence of the student's creative efforts and ability in a chosen art form (music, dance, drama, visual arts, media).
What is the Portfolio? The Portfolio brings together all of your work to this point in your career. The Portfolio may combine both creative efforts and papers from traditional courses that apply to an overall theme.
What should you include in the Portfolio? One way to decide what to include is to think about what you would want to bring to a job interview to demonstrate the breadth of your professional experience and the quality of your work. Remember, faculty in the Arts in Transformation concentration, as well as potential employers, are interested in your art-making, writing, research, and communication skills, as well as your experience.