The church lobby buzzed with excitement as students, parents, and younger siblingsmingled with BuildaBridge staff and volunteers on a recent rainy fall evening at Second Baptist Church of Germantown. In between introductions to new classmates and teachers, students joked, made colorful nametags, and helped themselves to hot chocolate donated by Mount Airy's Infusion Coffee and Tea. 

The lively Back to School Night marked the beginning of BuildaBridge's 2008-2009 Discovery program, which delivers holistic, arts-integrated education for children and youth in Philadelphia. This year, BuildaBridge, is partnering with Second Baptist Church of Germantown to serve promising low- and middle-income youth living in Northwest Philadelphia through a weekly visual arts class taking place at the Church on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.   

From October, 2008 to May, 2009, up to 15 students ranging in age from 10 to 14 years will attend an innovative class taught by BuildaBridge Artist in Residence Charlene Melhorn. Titled "The Power of My Place," the class will introduce students to the seven elements of art while exploring the history and culture of the surrounding Germantown/Mount Airy community. Under the guidance of Melhorn and a team of dedicated volunteer classroom assistants, the students will gain skills in drawing, painting, photography, and more.  

Students were selected to participate in the program through a detailed application process, including interviews with students and parents. During the interviews, several students impressed staff with their independently-created artwork. In addition, the love and support of families was palpable. This fall, parents of participating students will take part in a dynamic workshop led by Dance/Movement Therapy Instructor Lysa Monique Jenkins. The workshop will include information on developmental stages, and strategies for parents on stress management and conflict resolution, with an emphasis on building positive relationships between parents and adolescents.  

Last Thursday, students and teachers migrated upstairs to the Church's spacious and beautiful classroom area, where they took part in an opening ritual incorporating call and response rhythms, and recited the BuildaBridge Classroom pledge. After completing two pre-tests, students jumped into their first art lesson on value. At the end of the evening, students eagerly received their own artist-quality sketchbooks, along with a homework (or, rather, "home-play") assignment for next week's class, and left the Church brimming with energy and ideas. 

Here are BuildaBridge, we are excited to begin a new year of creative arts discovery with this talented and passionate group of young people and their families. In particular, we look forward to strengthening relationships with parents and to engaging members of the Second Baptist Church community in our programs. We invite you to join us! 

For Information on how you can get involved please contact:
Anna Murphey, Coordinator of Community Programs
(215) 842 0428 x 12