Multicultural / International Partnership(s)
Building Bridges Program
The Building Bridges initiative is an international /Multicultural education program designed to give students, staff, and faculty opportunities to engage in a field experience relative to community outreach and cultural exchange in a university life context. Building Bridges is a GMU-University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) project developed by the MRRC in University Life.
The program piloted from June 26, 2008 until July 26, 2008. Our experience included an academic component focused on global health, culture, identity and HIV/AIDS in a South African context, community engagement portion, centered onyouth, gender and culture in the Durban metropolitan area, and partering with UKZN (organizations, faculties and departments).
Pilot Program Participants
Mr. T. Garey Davis - Program Coordinator
Dr. J. DeWitt Webster - Assistant Professor, Global and Community Health
Whitney Gecker - Class of 2009, Integrative Studies Major
Alex Sims - Class of 2009, Anthropology Major/ Pre-Med
John Robinson - Graduate Student, Sociology
Share our experience through the blog! http://buildingbridgesprogram.blogspot.com/
National Coalition Building Institute Affiliate
The National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) http://ncbi.org/, founded in 1984, is a leadership development organization that focuses on addressing prejudicial reduction, conflict resolution, and resource development for constituency groups - African Heritage, Latino Heritage, Asian Heritage, Jewish Heritage, Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, and Mens' and Womens' work. NCBI has affiliates on over 60 campuses in the United States, and more than 30 community groups working throughout the world, including in Canada, England, Switzerland, Germany, Bosnia, and South Africa.