As summer winds to a close, the BuildaBridge office is buzzing as our staff prepare to kick off our 2008-2009 Create! Discovery program. Now in its fourth year, Create! Discovery partners with community agencies in Philadelphia to bring arts-integrated education to low-income children and youth, many of whom are coping with homelessness.

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The mission of Create! Discovery is: “To promote a sense of purpose and inspiration in youth by encouraging them to explore their creative potential, and by giving them resources to develop artistically, academically, socially and spiritually.” The program is funded in part through a contract with the School District of Philadelphia.

This year, Create! Discovery promises to be bigger and better than ever, with ten highly qualified and dedicated Teaching Artists leading a total of thirteen classes at eight different partner sites across the city. Class offerings include Visual Arts, Drama, Dance, and Culinary Arts. Students enrolled in Create! Discovery participate in a variety of arts-integrated activities, as well as service projects, field trips, and final celebrations. Parents get involved through monthly parents’ nights and life skills training workshops designed to teach conflict resolution skills, foster positive interactions, and reduce stress.

When classes begin on September 22, 2008, BuildaBridge Teaching Artists will implement the BuildaBridge Classroom, an original classroom management model emphasizing boundary-setting and the use of ritual. Please stay tuned for more updates from BuildaBridge Community as we embark upon another fabulous year of transforming lives through the creative arts in Philadelphia!