1 of 12

BUILDING BRIDGES-JOINING HANDS�HTTP://BUILDINGBRIDGESJOININGHANDS.COM

Developed by

Anita Meinbach, Ed.D.

An Initiative of the National Council of Jewish Women-Kendall

This program is sponsored in part by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Image: “Building Bridges” by Lorenzo Quinn – with permission https://www.lorenzoquinn.com/portfolio-items/building-bridges-venice-italy/

2 of 12

IT ALL BEGAN WITH THREE SEPARATE HATE CRIMES….�YEAR, AFTER YEAR, AFTER YEAR:��2017�2018�2019

The neo-Nazi demonstrations in Charlottesville

The hate-killings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburg

The attacks at two mosques in New Zealand

3 of 12

And then the words of Dr. Martin Luther King

4 of 12

A Clarion Call for Change

The media is filled with ways to prevent killings associated with hate and prejudice, but experts will agree, armed guards in schools and houses of worship are not the answer.

How do we begin conversations among those who have never had the opportunity to meet or know one another?

How do we provide opportunities to learn about the hopes, fears, and perceptions of one another?

Where do we start?

5 of 12

BUILDING BRIDGES - JOINING HANDS was born! �HTTP://BUILDINGBRIDGESJOININGHANDS.COM

Mission:

To create a virtual outreach program to unite children and young adults of different diverse backgrounds- cultural, religious, ethnic-through authentic learning opportunities that will allow them to engage and know one another.

To promote meaningful interactions using Zoom technology to facilitate long-distance, even global, connections among schools and classrooms whose students may never have met or known others who represent cultural, religious, and ethnic groups different from their own.

6 of 12

BUILDING BRIDGES - JOINING HANDS �was born!

Vision:

To create a “Culture of Kindness” – a world of understanding, acceptance, and appreciation for all of humanity

7 of 12

“BUILDING BRIDGES” -- THE MISSING LINK IN EDUCATION TODAY�

Lesson plans aren’t enough to change hearts and minds. We must begin conversations to learn about the hopes, fears, and perceptions of one another in order to find our commonalities and respect our differences.

And.., we must start with the children.

8 of 12

“BUILDING BRIDGES”… �a Lifelong Journey

“Building Bridges” is easily replicated in all classrooms.

Can be integrated into any curriculum or subject area
Appropriate for all grade levels --- K- 12
To reach its potential, needs to be ongoing as students advance in grades
Students discover ways in which the characters, plot, theme, etc. compare with their own perceptions, understandings and their lives in general.
Through repeated interactions, students ultimately realize similarities in terms of shared interests, and values and learn to understand, respect and celebrate their differences.
Costs nothing-all that’s needed is a book to start the conversation, a computer, and the dedication and passion to help create a world that appreciates differences and celebrates our common humanity

Our 10- Step Guide to Building Bridges - Joining Hands, available on our website, will provide all the information, resources, methodologies and strategies needed to implement the program

http://buildingbridgesjoininghands.com

Easy to implement…costs nothing…and the results are priceless!!!!

9 of 12

Becoming a Partner.. Finding a Partner

Seek and connect with other leaders of schools and organizations to help identify partners for your students and provide them with opportunities to meet others in their age group who may not look as they look, pray as they pray.

Our Guide to Building Bridges - Joining Hands, included on our website, http://buildingbridgesjoininghands.com makes it easy to sign up to become a partner school and to help you identify a partner school. You will be provided with:

Information and online signup for those who wish to become a partner
List of schools and school information to help you identify the “perfect” partner school/classroom

Location doesn’t matter—you’ll be zooming!

10 of 12

In their words…results of our pilot study

When I began working on “Building Bridges, I never imagined I would:

“Be making new friends from a different school and religion. I never imagined it because I’ve been at my school for so long, I can’t imagine making friends in a school I was unfamiliar with…”

My Takeaway:

“I learned a lot, but one thing I learned was that just because we are different in some ways doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

*At the onset, one student asked, “Why would we want to meet them-they hate us?” THEY NO LONGER BELIEVE THIS!

’Building Bridges’ is a great way to unite people of diverse background to allow them to know one another….. (Teacher)
The discussions during the readings of texts promote healthy and positive discussion among students and how best to cultivate moral decision-making skills…Hopefully the Building Bridges” program will expand to incorporate more schools in the endeavor.” (Principal)

Students

Teachers and Administrators

11 of 12

IMAGINE ALL THE PEOPLE SHARING ALL THE WORLD….

You may say I'm a dreamer�But I'm not the only one�I hope someday you'll join us�And the world will live as one

-John Lennon

PLEASE JOIN US….

Building Bridges Website--

Add your name to our list of partners

Identify a partner
Begin to Build Bridges….imagine!