Our Theory of Transformation

The Bridge Builders is unique because it creates a village while building on the existing strengths of the African American community to provide a culturally-relevant curriculum which addresses the specific needs of the passage candidates in their search for internal transformation and identity formation. Peer pressure, fictive kinship, relationships and art are all strengths in the African American community that provide a firm foundation for an effective rite of passage program. Adults will never eradicate peer pressure, which of itself is not negative. It only becomes negative when the peer group is promoting destructive behavior and ideas. The mission of our program is to encourage the peer group to reinforce the positive behaviors and prove that black children can be both popular and smart (Kunjufu, 1986).

“Fictive kinship” is an anthropological concept of relating people not bound by blood or marriage, who have some reciprocal social or economic connection, who eventually is known as your “play cousin” or another family member (Fordham, 1991). What is referred to as post traumatic slavery syndrome has created a strong need for African Americans to depend on these types of fictive familial relationships for mere survival (Leary, 1998). Understanding the power of relationships, this program focuses on expanding the family unit and when it is possible to reconnect the biological one.

Along the journey, The Bridge Builders will depend on existing resources and community members to validate the candidates’ experience. Opportunities for business executives, elected officials, civic leaders, and educational administrators to meet with the candidates will occur throughout the year. There will be special occasions for the community-at-large to attend events celebrating the completion of specific phases of passage, validating for the adolescents that they are on the right path. This program relies strongly on spiritual development and additional resources that can come from churches, mosques and synagogues.

Performing arts is another component of this program where Hip-Hop meets MAAT (Kunjufu, 1995). Each passage candidate is encouraged to participate in one of the PGC and ILOV performance teams (cane, dance, military drills, speech, or step). The most innovative aspect of our program is building on the village concept. The candidates complete specific requirements as a group to prepare for a series of challenges that will test their ability to live in this society as a man and woman. The village concept is circular, not linear. Once the passage candidate completes all of the requirements, he or she is then elevated to another circle, and is responsible for developing a younger passage candidate. This program is designed to keep a young man or woman involved until at least their 25th birthday. Because African American do practically everything together – but study – it is critical that we create a place where that is the norm. During the weekly three-hour sessions, students will work in small groups under the tutelage of a college tutor and improve their reading, writing, technical and mathematical skills while completing projects that prepare them for rites of passage. Combining their improved academic success with the celebrity status they encounter through the performance teams, we then create a program where an African American student can be revered for being both popular and smart.

It is time to formalize the natural order of identity and help these adolescents accomplish their goals, live their dreams, capture their ideals, and reach the stars.