Building Bridges draws on the power of solidarity and creative expression to bring people together and create a bridge across difference. 

Our second annual Building Bridges Showcase Event featured an exhibition of worker art, displays by immigrant workers, the Building Bridges Art Installation, workshops, performances and great food. We doubled the number of exhibitors this year with more than 90 staff members participating and with 48 co-sponsoring units and colleges across campus.

This daylong event brought together over 750 people from across campus to view, participate in, and celebrate the many talents and voices of UMass staff. There are three core projects that are part of Building Bridges, including art installations and two courses. The first course, called Our Immigrant Voices, seeks to amplify the voices of immigrant workers on campus. The second, called Showcasing Worker Artists at UMass, invites worker artists to explore ways of highlighting the art created by UMass employees. 

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to get involved in Building Bridges in a way that feels meaningful to them, whether by enrolling in a course, attending or hosting an event, or contributing to the Building Bridges art installations.  This is an ongoing partnership effort between the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Civic Engagement and Service-Learning, and The Partnership for Worker Education, Division of Human Resources.

Click here to see pictures from the event.

Click here to see Guestbook comments from the 2019 event.

Click here to learn more about the Building Bridges public art and engagement initiative.

For more information and to get involved, contact Jacob Carter at jacarter@umass.edu or 413-545-1826.