racial equity

Building Bridges is a community based program that uses culture to introduce elementary students to the idea that they are citizens of the world and that all cultures, ethnicities and races add value to the community. Having partnered with Nine Strong Women, a Newark, NJ-based non-profit formed as an alternative to gangs and street culture for young women, Building Bridges will to introduce youth participants to language, dance, music and art from around the world and provide a positive outlet for them to express their own culture, interests and strengths.

Together, these two programs will effectively develop students who make positive decisions because they are no longer bound by low expectations or stereotypes, believing in their own self worth and potential. Funding will enable program expansion in four key cities, Newark, NJ; Gilbert, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; and Washington, DC – and specifically, to obtain technology to support 21st century learning such as computer labs, software and teleconferencing to facilitate “virtual fieldtrips.” These additions will allow students who may never have left their hometowns to interact with linked classrooms and historical landmarks across the globe.