Learning from one another

BuildaBridge artists from L to R:  Jessica LaBarca, Christine Byma, Robert Kelleher, Julia Crawford & Rebecca Asch

The participants in the adult group are learning from one another on many levels as are the staff of BuildaBridge and those from Nationalities Services Center (NSC). 

Participants in the adult group, led by Jessica LaBarca and Rebecca Asch, are learning:

• How to communicate non-verbally since English is not a shared language
• Each piece of art may not resonate with every participant the same
• Similar or shared experiences can be good to process together but listening to vastly different experiences from others also holds much value
• Art-making is a vehicle for them to process their past, express themselves and find hope for their future

As part of NSC's Philadelphia Partnership for Resilience (PPR), BuildaBridge art therapists and artists provide art therapy and therapeutic art-making groups in the community context for survivors of torture.   One group is for adults only and the other is for families with children.  BuildaBridge is an expert in providing art-making experiences for traumatized populations and NSC is an expert in refugee resettlement and case management services.  Together, we are learning how to coordinate our efforts to provide alternative and effective mental health services for sensitive refugee and immigrant populations.  Lessons from these groups will contribute to a possible collaboration with NSC's PPR for the rest of the year and add to the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative's work with all Philadelphia refugees. 

PRMHC Year 2 Report

BuildaBridge completed Year 2 activities of the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative on June 30th, 2013.  With continued funding from the Department of Behavioral Health and new funding from the Sheila Fortune Foundation and Union Benevolent Association, BuildaBridge has already started to plan and conduct Year 3 activities.  Burmese groups will start August 22nd and run for 10 weeks until October 3, taking a small break and re-starting in April 2014. 

Link to the Year 2 Report.

New project starting this week

BuildaBridge has entered into a contracted partnership with Nationalities Services Center (NSC) to provide art therapy and therapeutic art-making groups in the community context for survivors of torture (SOT).   These groups are a part of the larger Philadelphia Partnership for Resilience (PPR)  -- a collaboration between NSC, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of Pennsylvania (HIAS) and Lutheran Children and Family Services (LCFS).   PPR provides comprehensive services to immigrant, aslyee, asylum seeker and refugee survivors of torture.   PPR services are tailored to the specific needs of the individual, and can include intensive case management, clinical mental health services, community mental health services, medical care, and legal assistance.   BuildaBridge’s participation is categorized under community mental health services and focuses on two specific groups:  childless adults and parents with children.   Through art-making, BuildaBridge artists will assist adults work through their own histories and how to work with others.  The parents with children group will focus on art-making activities that teach parents how to engage with their children, empowering them to model these activities and life lessons in the home environment.  Groups start July 21st and will continue for 10 weeks until September 29th. 

For more information on PPR visit NSC's website.

Seventy-three Refugees Served during Year 2

BuildaBridge's Refugee Project is pleased to make the following announcements:

During Year 2 (September 2012 to June 2013), BuildaBridge artists served 73 refugees through a total of 32 art therapy groups.  Burmese children were offered a total of 11 groups; Bhutanese children had 18 groups plus an additional 2 family art-making workshops which included their parents and siblings.

The Sheila Fortune Foundation, based in Boulder, CO, has granted BuildaBridge $3,000 to continue work with these populations during Year 3 of the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative.

The Union Benevolent Association granted BuildaBridge $1,500 to also continue work with the Bhutanese and Burmese populations for a third year.

In the Spring of 2014, BuildaBridge anticipates a third art therapy group engaging an entirely new population of refugees. 

World Refugee Day - June 20

"There are now more than 45 million refugees and internally displaced people – the highest level in nearly 20 years. Figures give only a glimpse of this enormous human tragedy. Every day, conflict tears apart the lives of thousands of families. They may be forced to leave loved ones behind or become separated in the chaos of war."  - Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General

Today is World Refugee Day and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has themed this year's day 'Family'.  Families were the focus of BuildaBridge's last three groups in South Philadelpiha this month.  Having worked with on average fifteen Bhutanese children twice per month since September, we wanted to conclude Year 2 with celebrations including their families. 

The three groups, June 10, 17 & 24, all included a time of family collaborative art-making, a Nepalese dinner prepared by Bhutanese mothers, and dances that the children practiced before the group started.  Each of these activities accomplished the goals set forth for the family groups: 1) Engaged the entire family unit in art-making experiences, 2) Offered the families opportunities for personal and familial growth using BuildaBridge’s art as a metaphor for life lessons and 3) Built cohesiveness among families and between families and BuildaBridge artists. Photos and videos of the groups are coming soon.  Photos of the Bhutanese children's celebration on Sunday June 16th can be viewed in the Photo Album.

A final report of BuildaBridge's role within the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative will be available in late July. 

Read the full UNHCR article on World Refugee Day here.

Burmese Art Therapy group Re-Starts

Jessica LaBarca leads children in the storybook making activity

The Burmese art therapy groups re-started April 25th after a winter break when it was dark out at night.  Children often travel to the groups with other children as they live in the neighborhood.  Parents were fearful of children walking in the dark so BuildaBridge postponed the group until it was lighter out longer. 

Art therapists Natalie Hoffmann, Jessica LaBarca and assistant Stevie French will lead children  in activities this Spring that focus on their personal identity and identity as a Burmese community.  Currently children are creating storybooks that use both text and visual images to illustrate a story from their lives.  Books will be shared with one another to create opportunities for sharing similar experiences and generate cohesiveness among the children. 

Video: The Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative and BuildaBridge

BuildaBridge from Dave Barbaree on Vimeo. A collaboration between The Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative and BuildaBridge. Produced by Dave Barbaree.