BuildaBridge Strategic Plan 2007-2012

2007 BuildaBridge Strategic Plan Prepared by the staff and board November 12, 2007 Revision 2.1

Contents 1 Mission 1.1 Mission Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.2 Mission Impetus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.3 Mission Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.4 Mission Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.4.1 Calling and a sense of purpose . . . . . . . . . .

1.4.2 Volunteerism and self-sacrifice . . . . . . . . . . .

1.4.3 Commitment to core values . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.4.4 Crossing boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.4.5 Promoting holistic wellness and development . .

1.4.6 Becoming a learning and innovative organization 1.4.7 A restorative presence in communities . . . . . .

1.4.8 Developing covenant relationships . . . . . . . .

1.4.9 Speaking blessings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.4.10 Nurturing the creative spirit . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.4.11 Building personal capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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2 Vision

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3 Program Descriptions 3.1 BuildaBridge Community . . . . . . . . . .

3.2 BuildaBridge Institute . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.3 BuildaBridge International . . . . . . . . .

3.4 BuildaBridge International House . . . . . .

3.5 BuildaBridge Operations and Development

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4 Mission Strategies 4.1 Strategic Emphases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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5 Priorities 5.1 BuildaBridge Community .

5.2 Measurable Goals: . . . . .

5.3 BuildaBridge Institute . . .

5.3.1 Measurable Goals . .

5.4 BuildaBridge International 5.4.1 Measurable Goals . .

5.5 BuildaBridge House . . . .

5.5.1 Measurable Goals . .

5.6 Organizational Development 5.6.1 Measurable Goals . .

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Mission

1.1

Mission Statement

The mission of BuildaBridge is to use the life-changing power of art to bring hope and healing to children, families, and communities in the tough places of the world. BuildaBridge motivates, enlists, trains, and connects those with artistic gifts with those in greatest need.

1.2

Mission Impetus

We accomplish this by: • Using the arts to inspire children’s holistic development • Giving children a voice through artistic expression • Creating an opportunity for children to perform and rise to challenges • Providing role models and mentors who demonstrate love, compassion, community, and a vision for the child’s future • Offering consistency, stability, and safety in an otherwise chaotic environment • Collaborating with artists, supporters, clients, and like-minded organizations • Involving parents as participants and recipients of classes that contribute to the welfare of the entire family

1.3

Mission Context

Around the world, millions of children live without hope. They live, instead, with the daily traumas of chronic poverty, the choices made during war to survive, the pain of hunger, the terror of slavery, the stress of homelessness and countless other hardships. Theirs is a hostile and harsh reality that gives way to an even bleaker future. Consider the following: • Chronic Hunger affects 854 million people worldwide1 • Chronic poverty affects 50% of the world’s children2 • Lack of education affects 121 million children worldwide3 • Violence is the leading cause of death for people ages 15-444 1 www.bread.org/learn/hunger-basics/hunger-facts-international.html 2 www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Facts.asp 3 www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Facts.asp 4 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence

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Hunger, poverty, violence, and lack of education never work alone–they work in tandem and are often cyclical. Significantly, the presence of these challenges place children at greater risk of exploitation, abuse, and neglect. The modern slave trade and human trafficking are “industries” built upon the steady influx of deprived and marginalized youth. Of the estimated 600,000 to 820,000 individuals illegally trafficked across international borders every year, a full 50% are children.5 These children have no opportunity to build life on a firm footing.

Nationally, the picture is no better. One in ten American households encounter hunger or the risk of hunger6 ; an experience further complicated by the presence of violence, poverty, homelessness, and exploitation. On any given night, between 700,000 and two million Americans are homeless. citation needed Unaccompanied minors and families with children represent 43% of the homeless population in America.7 Violence is on the rise, especially amongst youth; in the 10-24 year-old age range, homicide is the leading cause of death for AfricanAmericans and the second leading cause of death amongst Latinos.8 In Philadelphia, interlocking factors such as hunger and poverty produce a particularly hopeless situation for poor children. Since the 1990’s, the percentage of Philadelphians living in poverty has increased from 20% to 25%. Of the 309,297 living in poverty, a little over a third are 18 and under9 and, on any given day, 2500 children in Philadelphia are homeless. citation needed Without intervention and empowerment, Philadelphia’s underserved youth will never escape a chronic state of deprivation.

1.4 1.4.1

Mission Principles Calling and a sense of purpose

BuildaBridge uses the power of art to effect restoration of a world suffering from social injustice and environmental catastrophes that bear particularly on children. These children are often traumatized, living without basic resources, uneducated, and victims of social and political conflict. We bring a message of hope and emotional healing to marginalised children, their families, and communities.

1.4.2

Volunteerism and self-sacrifice

From its inception, BuildaBridge relied on volunteers who, out of self-sacrifice and desire to serve others, donated time and skill to fulfill our common mission.

BuildaBridge matured through the efforts of volunteer teaching artists, office personnel, and board members. We are concerned for the professionalism of career staff and support artists who often live below the poverty line to fulfill their social calling. However, BuildaBridge primarily works with those who 5 www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2005/46606.htm 6 www.fhfh.org/hunger.html 7 www.soundvision.com/Info/poor/statistics.asp 8 www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/yvfacts.htm 9 www.hungercoalitiob.org/hungerinfo/hungerfacts.html

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are called to serve others–who understand the concepts of relative poverty and appreciate the possession of wealth through the development of human and social capital.

1.4.3

Commitment to core values

BuildaBridge was founded on the universal human values of love, compassion, justice, reconciliation, and service to others. In our daily work and service to others around the world, we display these values through our actions, policies, and program delivery. As an ecumenical organization, BuildaBridge works within a variety of religions and cultures. We ask only that staff and volunteers who are committed to doing good in the world share the above values.

1.4.4

Crossing boundaries

BuildaBridge is an inclusive organization and recognizes the value of expanding worldviews through service and travel opportunities. Through our expression of faith and core values, along with our calling to serve the most marginalized of the world’s population, we recognize the necessity to take risks and cross boundaries in service to others. This stepping out must, of necessity, not discriminate between race, ethnicity, social class, ability, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

1.4.5

Promoting holistic wellness and development

Our programs foster the holistic wellness of persons, families, and communities.

We believe that healthy individuals are a collective result of healthy families and communities and seek this as an outcome of our programs. While we serve children first, we also engage families and communities in this service.

1.4.6

Becoming a learning and innovative organization

BuildaBridge adapts programs and services based upon the rapidly changing environments of people we serve. In every program and area of service we learn through assessment and evaluation. Through this we make creative programs that meet real needs and provide hope and healing; as such, we value resultsoriented work and review with staff the programs we’ve completed. We seek to establish global notoriety as an innovative organization through conscientious personnel and the relevant use of technology.

1.4.7

A restorative presence in communities

Through our programs and actions, BuildaBridge will bring about restoration within the organization, volunteers, and constituency. BuildaBridge defines redemption as: positive transformation through a continuous presence of peace, kindness, and compassion toward others, that is placed with goodwill in areas previously occupied by social injustice. We seek to produce a global movement

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that advocates for the needs of the poor, addresses the issues of governance with policy makers and the populations they serve, and encourages artists and advocates to become involved in changing the lives of others.

1.4.8

Developing covenant relationships

We maintain long-term, restorative relationships through networks, collaborations, staff, and clients. These partnerships are founded on mutual respect, reconciliation, and concern for the well-being of individuals and organizations that serve them.

1.4.9

Speaking blessings

We speak blessings–restorative acts in the lives of those around us and in our own–through positive personal, organizational, and programmatic relationships.

We understand that speaking blessing is an affirmation of the gifts, abilities, and talents of individuals; our intention is to provide guidance that encourage health in areas plagued by negativity, doubt, and injustice.

1.4.10

Nurturing the creative spirit

Our goal is to nurture the inherent creative spirit of all people. Recognizing that this is a gift of God, we see our role as an organization that encourages, nurtures, and trains for the holistic and sustainable development of human and social capital through the arts.

1.4.11

Building personal capacity

We value the importance of building relevant life skills for the development of social and human capital in our staff, the people we serve, and those who seek to serve the most marginalized of the world’s populations.

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Vision

BuildaBridge will be a major portal for arts-based education, therapeutic arts relief, community arts training, and cross-cultural service for international areas of concentrated poverty, conflict, and catastrophe. Beginning in Philadelphia, where BuildaBridge serves homeless children and families in need, our programs will serve as applied learning environments to identify effective methods of arts-based transformation and change. Based on the current population of children living in transitional environments, BuildaBridge will serve 2500 Philadelphian children annually with concentrated long-term contact with 250 per week. Through global networks of partners, professionals, and volunteer artists, we will establish regional portals where artists and professionals from anywhere in the world will respond to specific needs. Our international goal

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is to reach 50,000 children and youth annually with programs that work longterm with 5000 children per week. Through the use of web 2.0 technologies, BuildaBridge will connect over 1000 artists and 100 agencies in arts-integrated service to others.

Through an integrated technology of web 2.0, BuildaBridge will be a useful source of training materials, service helps, and information about the power of the arts in transformation, with immediate ways to become engaged locally and internationally. BuildaBridge will be a leading “go to� place for arts-based service opportunities through online discussion forums, networking avenues for artists and activists, and training opportunities through our website. We will use various internet networking tools such as Facebook, MySpace, and Constant Contact to promote our mission, particularly our Artists On Call program which allows artists all over the world to register needs and interests. We will transfer our donor database (Donor Perfect) online in order to effectively track current and potential donors and program participants..

Based on strong networks and partnerships with artists and organizations committed to our mission and through Community programs, every homeless child in Philadelphia and their parents will have access to arts-based activities and life skills training. Through our Institute, both local and international personnel will train for arts-based community service including graduate level work.

We will establish international programs worldwide through effective partnerships providing training, direct Arts Relief service to marginalized children and communities, and regular opportunities for spreading goodwill and discovering culture.

3 3.1

Program Descriptions BuildaBridge Community

BuildaBridge Community provides arts-integrated intervention and education to children and families in underserved communities. In collaboration with local schools, community centers, transitional homes, and religious congregations, BuildaBridge Community delivers life skills training, artistic educational experiences, and therapeutic intervention through art-making in music, drama, dance, creative writing, and the visual arts. Our constituency consists of children in transition, primarily in grades 4-6, and their families. The majority of the adult participants in our program do not have a high school diploma or G.E.D. and many are illiterate. Therefore, BuildaBridge’s arts-based intervention provides a method of oral communication and training that is necessary under these circumstances.

BuildaBridge Community programs promote academic, social, artistic, and character development through three program areas. Create! Opportunity involves arts-integrated life skills training, empowering families and adults through uniquely interactive learning experiences in parenting, financial management, career development, conflict resolution, spiritual wellness, and healthy lifestyles.

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Create! Discovery is arts education promoting 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. Create! Healing is creative arts therapy providing safe avenues for youth and adults to express their feelings and equip them to cope with and recover from traumatic or tough experiences.

3.2

BuildaBridge Institute

BuildaBridge Institute is a training and applied research academy designed to prepare community and religious leaders, social workers, artists, and educators for arts-enriched service and leadership to their communities. BuildaBridge Institute embraces the power of the arts in community outreach, teaching, and transformation through local, national, and international training programs.

In partnership with the School for Social Change of the Campolo College at Eastern University, graduate or undergraduate credit is available for Institute coursework, as well as an extensive program of graduate-level study in Arts in Transformation.

3.3

BuildaBridge International

BuildaBridge International travels the world to restore hope and healing to communities affected by cultural and religious conflict, environmental catastrophe, poverty, illness, and social injustice. Through its specialized team service projects and arts intervention programs, BuildaBridge International promotes dialogue, understanding, healing, reconciliation, and community development with partners throughout the world. This mission is fulfilled through three basic programs. Arts Relief (to be changed to Artists on Call is the advanced volunteer program of BuildaBridge International comprised of arts therapy professionals, artists, and community service workers trained in emergency relief through artistic intervention. Goodwill Tours provide overseas concert tour opportunities for US-based performing groups. BuildaBridge International partners with the group to promote and advocate our mission abroad and, at the same time, bring an experience of the arts internationally. Cross-Cultural Discovery Tours offer opportunities for global education. These tours enable BI to promote its mission and activities abroad. Traveling on a Cross-Cultural Discovery Tour means meeting other cultures, learning new traditions, and discovering how diversity creates enrichment. All BuildaBridge programs contain a service component that is essential to serving the BuildaBridge mission of bringing hope and healing to marginalized populations.

3.4

BuildaBridge International House

The BuildaBridge International House is a 15,000 square foot mansion located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Since the purchase in 2004, constant renovation has been a goal with expansion of BuildaBridge office space and more

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recently the signing of a ten year option lease that includes the carriage house.

The BuildaBridge House provides space for residencies and the development of a community studio.

3.5

BuildaBridge Operations and Development

We have grown from a volunteer staff of the two co-founders and a university intern to a full-time staff of two, four Americorps Vista volunteers, a parttime accountant, and the co-founders who continue to serve the organization in a volunteer capacity. Because of the transitional nature of our staff, a key priority has been to develop organizational systems or institutional memory that allows capable volunteers to work with the organization while BuildaBridge grows with a more permanent staff. A key priority for BuildaBridge is the strengthening and sustainability of the organization through development of the annual fund, a capital project for continual improvement of our facilities, especially the Community Studio, and an endowment.

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Mission Strategies

4.1

Strategic Emphases

The following strategic emphases will guide our growth and development in all programs through 2012: • Deliver quality programming and services • Inspire, train, engage, and support artists • Secure funding to sustain our mission • Use technology to improve our service capacity • Communicate the story transformation of vulnerable populations and our work with them • Strengthen staff and organizational systems • Develop strong networks and collaborations with organizations that assist in fulfilling our mission around the world • Be a restorative presence in our own community

5 5.1

Priorities BuildaBridge Community

BuildaBridge is acutely aware of the poverty, violence, and homelessness that plague our home community, Philadelphia, on a daily basis. Currently there 9

are 2500 children homeless on any given day. With an increase in non-profits, arts organizations, and arts schools in the area, BuildaBridge is uniquely positioned to bridge the connection of need and resources to fulfill its mission of brining hope and healing to the world’s marginalized populations. Within four years, BuildaBridge will network and collaborate with other like-minded organizations to provide arts-based programming and services to every homeless child in Philadelphia. BuildaBridge will become a partner and part of the fabric of social service in Philadelphia that seeks to bring peace, justice, and wellness to its most marginalized populations. BuildaBridge has developed a life-skills training program that addresses the needs of both older teens and parents who reside in the shelter. The Create! Opportunity program is in collaboration with shelters, congregations, and community centers throughout the city of Philadelphia.

5.2

Measurable Goals:

By 2012 BuildaBridge Community will address the following objectives: • Partnerships – Network and partner with 25 other like-minded organizations to provide arts-based program to every homeless child in Philadelphia – Partner with 25 area universities and 25 area organizations for volunteer service resources • Personnel: – Improve our volunteer and personnel systems by developing a support system and benefits for staff and volunteers through training, a sense of community, and basic health care – Recruit and support a core of highly competent and experienced staff to include four full-time artists-in-residence • Organizational Systems: – Develop core organizational processes for sustainability that include a BuildaBridge Community operations manual – Assess learning, evaluate programs, and document effect of 100% of our programs and services • Technology: – Develop networking databases for local artists – Provide web access to program assessment, parent and child registration, and volunteer applications and reports • Programming: – Develop a core curriculum for crisis events and situations 10

– Provide long-term intensive arts-based and therapeutic services to 250 children on a weekly basis – Become a contributing member of our community where we reside through the development of a community studio on the BuildaBridge House property – Complete and implement the Create! Opportunity Program serving 500 older youth and single mothers in Philadelphia • Engaging Artists: – Through our volunteer programs, BuildaBridge Philadelphia will enlist, train, and engage 100 “Artists on Call” with 50 artists providing services annually – Contract four stipended artists that regularly work in our programs • Communicating Stories: – Regularly documenting the transforming stories of our artists and the clients they serve

5.3

BuildaBridge Institute

BuildaBridge has been a significant part of a movement within Christian mission and the civic environment for arts or social change and transformation. The establishment of the Institute in 2002 in Philadelphia provided quality training for artists, congregational, and non-profit community leaders in arts methods for community service and ministry. There has been a recent surge in interest for this training; we are positioned to grow as a leader in training and education for arts in holistic personal and social transformation. Our significant partnership with Eastern University’s Campolo College for Social Change has provided a vehicle for both local training and advanced education.

By 2012, BuildaBridge Institute will be a major global resource for providing arts-based education and intervention training to artists and those involved in service to marginalized populations. The annual Institute in Philadelphia will train 50 artists and community leaders per year from around the US and the world. Through the MA in Urban Studies Arts in Transformation Concentration, twelve artists per year will enroll in the program of study. Internationally, we will expand to offer the Institute regularly in five locations training 250 “Artists on Call” and 100 organizational leaders interested in starting or improving arts-education and therapy services.

5.3.1

Measurable Goals

By 2012 BuildaBridge Institute will address the following objectives: • Partnerships: Establish partnerships with four international universities to offer arts-based courses through the Institute.

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• Personnel: Hire a full-time Institute coordinator that will lead and expand the program to meet Institute goals • Organizational Systems: Establish a certification program for “Artists on Call” and Institute faculty • Technology: Through our partnership with Eastern University, maintain an effective web presence for training and resources, enrolling twelve new students annually.

• Programming: – Offer the BuildaBridge Institute in five continents serving 250 students annually – Standardize all curriculum and offer basic courses online • Engaging Artists: Enlist and train 25 core faculty for the Institute and 100 teaching artists from around the world.

• Communicating Stories: Research and document the work of Institute alumni based on the training they received at the Institute.

5.4

BuildaBridge International

Since 1997, BuildaBridge has coordinated mission and service arts programs around the world. The documentation of these programs confirms the effectiveness and need for the transforming power of the arts among the world’s most victimized children and people in conflict and poverty. There is a role for the direct service to these populations as well as exposing those of influence and means to the world’s problems. Artists and the arts have been misunderstood and underused in their transforming potential for peace, reconciliation, wellness, hope, and healing among those with little on no financial, human, and social capital.

By 2012, BuildaBridge International will be a recognized program for providing quality services, networks for artists involved in arts for transformation, training local artists, and providing opportunities for arts-based service to artists and groups. An Artist on Call program will engage 1000 artists in service to others, a BuildaBridge International touring choir will serve as an advocacy face of BuildaBridge and, through networking relationships internationally, a strong internship and service program will provide service opportunities in every country served by the United Nations. Our goal is, through our programs, to serve 50,000 children and to work regularly with 2500 children.

5.4.1

Measurable Goals

By 2012 BuildaBridge International will address the following objectives: • Partnerships: Establish contracts for service with major organizations serving marginalized populations globally.

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• Personnel: Strengthen staff and organizational systems through recruitment, hiring, and training of additional travel staff • Organizational Systems: Creating a documented administrative process through a International operations manual • Technology: Establish an international database and web portal of 500 Artists on Call • Programming: Standardize a cross-cultural curriculum for orientation and training that is available in person or on the web • Engaging Artists: Establish a musical performing group based in Philadelphia that will become an international advocacy group and the face of BuildaBridge.

• Communicating Stories: Regularly documenting the transforming stories of our artists and the clients they serve through major media forms of print, photography, web 2.0, video and live media (drama, music [choir] and dance), and in person.

5.5

BuildaBridge House

The BuildaBridge House has served as our administrative location since 2004.

Several funding opportunities allowed for the gradual renovation of the house and its facilities, as well as the expansion of the BuildaBridge offices into the entire first floor. The historic mansion’s location in Germantown gives BuildaBridge the opportunity to serve in its local community as well as abroad.

5.5.1

Measurable Goals

By 2012, the BuildaBridge House will: • Become a handicap-accessible facility • Provide a living space for the Artist-in-Residence • Be completely restored and refitted for optimal use • Contain a Creative Arts Therapy Studio on site • Contain an on-site art museum with regular exhibits • Contain offices to include entire house • Finish capital improvements (wiring, air conditioning, security systems)

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5.6 5.6.1

Organizational Development and Administration Measurable Goals

By 2012 BuildaBridge Resource Development will address the following: • Partnerships: – Increase partnerships domestically and abroad, particularly with local school systems – Develop a working relationship with at least one international financial management organization (bank or lending institution) – Engage creative people to expand the name, face, and mission of BuildaBridge in a global movement (ambassadors) • Personnel: – Acquire a full-time technological assistant, Executive Director (primary), Development Director, Office Assistant/Manager, four creative arts educators, and a full-time arts therapist – Provide group insurance for staff – Hire a director for the Community Arts Studio • Organizational Systems: – Complete personnel and program manuals – Expand the Executive Board to fifteen members and create a BuildaBridge International Advising Council – Develop an Annual Fund – Begin an Endowment Campaign – Design and execute a Capital Campaign – Regularly communicate with every volunteer • Technology: – Develop online administrative systems – Implement and oversee the Artists on Call program

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