This summer, BuildaBridge piloted the first of it's Community Studio programs, Act Out for Peace. Parents

and supporters filled the Wissahicken Boys and Girls Club to participate in a final "performance" of learning on August 9, 2007. Sixteen youth from Germantown-Mt. Airy enrolled in a drama and conflict resolution class that explored alternative ways for dealing with conflict though drama games, team building exercises, improvisation, creative writing, and discussion.

During Thursday sessions, the class's lead teacher, Lisa Jo Epstein, used the techniques of Augusto Baol (Theater of the Oppressed) to allow students to question themselves, explore characters, and try out a variety solutions to tough situations. Tuesday sessions were led by assistant teachers Trista McGetrick (director), Jordan Kisner (NIM intern), Rob Rineer, and Zenique Gardner, and focussed on written and verbal reflection, relationship-building, cooperation, and scene and character development.
This pilot program has helped BuildaBridge to create connections with neighborhood youth, build partnerships with community organizations (Neighborhood Interfaith Movement, Wissahickon Boys and Girls Club, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary), and gain insight into the ways that dramatic improvisation can be a "rehearsal for reality."

BuildaBridge hopes to extend the pilot into a full 30-week course in the near future. A group of students from Act Out for Peace will be attending Youth Forum meetings at BuildaBridge this fall, to help BB staff with brainstorming and planning of future Community Studio programs.