Bridge Leaders Program
About the Bridge Leaders Program
Bridge Leaders is designed for young people of color ages 17-25 to collaborate and grow within the CMSS community. Together, the students build leadership, practical, and musical skills, learning from CMSS faculty, staff, and each other. The program supports our community’s young creatives as they transition to adulthood and the support systems from their high school years become more difficult to access. We help bridge this gap and develop their creative potential to become the future leaders of Springfield’s artistic community.
With the support of CMSS faculty, the Bridge Leaders meet on a weekly basis, connecting with each other and themselves to identify individual areas of strength and areas that need growth. We believe that in order to grow our young people into successful professionals and future leaders, we must support them in connecting fully with their authentic individual selves. We explore this self-knowledge through creative expression as well as through learning practical tools to support self-efficacy. Bridge Leaders develop and participate in projects based on their own ideas, strengths, and identified areas of need in the CMSS and Springfield community. At the same time, they further their musical development with private lessons under a full scholarship.
These scholarships are funded in part by the Springfield Cultural Council, which is funded by the opens in a new windowMassachusetts Cultural Council.
Program Director: opens in a new windowLiz Simmons
Assistant Manager: Gabriela Sepulveda
Joining the Bridge Leaders
Bridge Leaders participant selection is based on CMSS faculty recommendation and student application. Although participant recruitment prioritizes inclusion of people of color, people of any race or ethnicity are eligible to apply. CMSS is able to accept a limited number of participants each year, based on funding available. To apply, please fill out opens in a new windowthis form.