Building Bridges in the U.S.
September 30, 2008
BBfP 2008 Summer Intensive Reflection
It was only in August that each morning I woke up under the shadow of Mt. Meeker to greet the day with participants, LITs and staff during the 15th summer of Building Bridges for Peace. My first summer as SCG’s Director of Programs has passed in a whirlwind of creativity, intense dialogue, Play for Peace, vibrant swaths of fabric, colorful paint and sculpture, lively theater games, and solemn scenes. I joined 47 teens from the Middle East and United States and 20 staff from the United States, Middle East, Northern Ireland and South Africa to engage the BBfP methodology and pilot new programs. This summer’s program was an exciting experience that allowed me to use Erin’s organization and preparation to direct the program as well as implement new programs in staff training and development, gender programming, and creative expression. We spent time at the West Pines Ropes Course, welcomed a facilitator in theater, developed a new collaborative visual arts program, used outdoor education to deepen dialogue and practice leadership skills, and the LITs worked with Habitat for Humanity in Denver.
The powerful community that developed through this common experience brought me into the memory of my participant experience in 2000 and also to the reality of the time in which we all continue to live. As participants and staff, we sat together in the tension of hope, fear, difference and understanding. In addition to the deep work of dialogue groups, participants and LITs offered their creative expression to the community through visual art and short theater scenes at the August 17, 2008 Celebration Brunch.
Now that the participants have returned home, I look forward to the follow-up programs that are already underway in the Middle East and the United States. I have no doubt that the strong community of students and committed staff will continue to engage in the summer’s process. I know that they will apply their experiences back home and make our own communities just a little bit more like the incredible space we created together this summer.
In peace,
Katie Campbell
Director of Programs
Seeking Common Ground
Building Bridges in the U.S. Archive
|
October 12, 2008 |
 |
First Retreat for the BBfP Follow-up Program |
|
|
September 30, 2008 |
|
BBfP 2008 Summer Intensive Reflection |
|
|
November 16, 2007 |
|
The BBfP 2007-2008 U.S. Follow-Up Program Kicks off in the Badlands, South Dakota |
|
|
March 29, 2007 |
|
Speaking out, Making Change in Denver |
|
|
November 10, 2006 |
|
US Home Group meets for first Follow-Up Program Retreat! |
|
|
April 2, 2006 |
|
CONFRONTING PRIVILEGE IN DENVER |
|
|
January 15, 2006 |
|
COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND SERVICE IN CHICAGO |
|
|
January 14, 2006 |
|
BUILDING BRIDGES FOR PEACE AND FACE TO FACE/FAITH TO FAITH TAKE PART IN FIRST DENVER SERVICE DAY |
|
|
November 15, 2005 |
|
U.S. HOME GROUP MEETS IN SAN FRANCISCO |
|
|
October 16, 2004 |
|
BAY AREA GIRLS GATHERING SUMMER MEMORIES FOR SCRAPBOOK |
|
|
October 4, 2004 |
|
BAY AREA PARTICIPANTS KICK OFF FOLLOW-UP PROGRAM |
|
|
July 21, 2004 |
|
BUILDING BRIDGES FOR PEACE CELEBRATES 11 YEARS OF PROGRAMMING |
|
|
