The Building Bridges workshop accomplished all that we could have hoped for to provide our high school youth with an “appropriate” means to reconcile their own issues with the world in which they live. The teaching and exercises give each individual a greater awareness of their basic needs as well as the needs of those around them. Whereas the content of this instruction is very good, the process the team leaders use in Building Bridges is “genius” and very appropriate for today’s generation. I would recommend Building Bridges whole-heartedly to any educator or leader of high school youth.
-Bobb Absten, Principal
The impact of Building Bridges on our student population has been tremendous. Watching students continue the process of reconciling friendships and pushing past perceived hurts has been phenomenal. The event occurred over a month ago and students are still referencing the event in their ASB speeches and discussions about what they want our school to be like next year. Many students have asked if we can start the school year with an all school building bridges event.
- Aaron Gentile, Teacher
How many times have students been lectured about violence, bullying, even doing better in school? And how many times have we seen lasting change? Building Bridges was birthed from a desire to give students the opportunity to dive into “root” issues-places where they feel alone and disconnected from their families and peers, rather than simply addressing “branch”, or superficial, issues, such as bullying, hazing and violence. The program has developed based on the premise that if students are filled, and taught how to “stay full” with words of encouragement and life, both the root and branch issues will naturally be resolved.
The program was designed to reach a wide demographic of students: students on the brink of hurting themselves or others, students who are watching while others are hurt, and students who have great influence among their peers. Through Building Bridges, students have the opportunity to own the areas of prejudice and unjustness around them and make it better for others.
One thing that sets Building Bridges apart from a national program is the time spent researching each school , allowing teams to target specific demographics in that school. The program is tailored to each school to help each unique set of students identify the areas they have been hurt or stereotyped and the ways they have specifically done this to others. Students are taught to expose negative labels placed on them as well as those they have placed on others, take ownership of their own actions, ask for forgiveness, and encourage each other through the power of their words and actions.