Colorful Bridges Founder Allison Liu Visits Section 36!

Colorful Bridges is an organization that, as their website says,
“uses the arts to build bridges to a bright future full of opportunities for youth in your local community.” It’s definitely an organization I wanted to know more about. So I was thrilled that its founder, Allison Liu, was willing to visit with us to fill us in on all the details.

So, let’s see what happens when Allison, and Colorful Bridges, visits Section 36

What is the mission of Colorful Bridges?

Here at Colorful Bridges our mission is to make the arts more equitable, diverse, and accessible and provide our participants with a lifelong, supportive community. We do this by bringing free interdisciplinary arts education, music therapy, community workshops, and mentorship to youth of all ages and all backgrounds. We've been honored to work with amazing artists from Broadway stars to members of the Boston Symphony and bring amazing opportunities to our participants from across the US, Venezuela, Spain, Iran, Congo, and even Greece!

How did you come up with the idea to start Colorful Bridges?

Colorful Bridges has truly been something on my heart since I

was little. As an artist with a disability, I know what it's like to feel different and lonely growing up. I've always wanted to find a way to use the arts to give others the community I had craved so much when I was younger. I also have a background in dance, visual arts, and musical theatre, as well as my experience as a flutist, so I am very passionate about the interdisciplinary arts. Having worked at a pediatric therapy office, I got to witness first hand not only the power of music and art therapy but of creativity in general, and how it can empower and give a voice to those who are pushed to the margins of society. When the pandemic happened, it seemed like creating community and keeping the arts alive was more important than ever. 

What can a participant expect the program to look like? 

Our Colorful Bridges participants can expect quality lessons in the arts, fun workshops, unique performance opportunities, and a supportive, positive, community that they will always be a part of! Mentees who join can expect weekly meetings with their mentor, performance opportunities, the ability to participate in community discussions, ensembles, and events with other mentees in our program, and lifelong support from CB! Volunteers, teachers, and mentors can expect to not only work with some amazing students but also free meetings and workshops with members of our advisory council and our supporters, which include professional music therapists, members of the Boston Symphony, notable musicians, arts school administrators, and non-profit directors from around the world. Our volunteers also get the opportunity to participate in performances with our students, invaluable teaching experience, and the opportunity to be a part of our Colorful Bridges family!

If someone wanted to help with the organization, how could they do that? 

There are lots of ways to support Colorful Bridges! You can
sign up to volunteer if you'd like to become a mentor, performer, or teacher with us. You can donate instruments, art supplies, or dance attire, or give a gift to help us be able to keep our programs free for all of our students. We also have a membership program where, if you donate a certain amount annually, you can get free merch and the opportunity to participate in member only events! The easiest way to support us, however, is just to spread the word. You can send our brochures to anyone you think might be interested, and following and supporting us on social media will go a long way to help us reach as many people as we can! 

What are the short and long term goals for Colorful Bridges? 

My goal with Colorful Bridges really is just to have as great of

an impact as possible in our participants' lives. We want them to know that they are seen, that they matter, that they have a voice, and that they are valued in this world. And no matter how big or small we are as an organization, that will always be our mission!

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That definitely sounds like a wonderful organization!

If you want to find out more, please check them out all over the internet….whether it’s their website, Facebook, Youtube, or Instagram. And be sure to reach out if you want to take part in one of their programs, or donate to the cause.

Let’s make sure the arts are accessible to everyone! Like they are to Karen.