Mission

Building Bridges Across the River is the 501-c-3 nonprofit organization. The mission of Building Bridges Across the River is to improve the quality of life for children and adults who reside east of the Anacostia River by providing leadership, management and financial oversight of the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC),  11th Street Bridge Park,  THEARC Farm, THEARC Theater & Skyland Workforce Center. Through these projects, BBAR uses a multi-sector approach to address significant social, health, environmental & economic disparities that exist in DC.

Our Story

Building Bridges Across the River was incorporated as a (501-c-3) nonprofit organization in 1997. BBAR was an idea first conceived by Chris Smith, CEO of the DC-based developer WC Smith. Smith envisioned a nonprofit that would lead the sprawling, state-of-the-art campus that would later become the Town Hall Education Arts & Recreation Campus (THEARC). With the support of community stakeholders, elected officials and an engaged board of directors, BBAR raised capital funds and oversaw construction of the 110,000 square-foot facility.

As THEARC’s managing partner, BBAR is the engine behind all of the facility’s services. The organization oversees and maintains the campus, fosters collaboration between its resident partners, manages THEARC Theater, THEARC Farm, Skyland Workforce Center and the 11th Street Bridge Park.

Through collaboration of partner organizations, BBAR provides access to high quality educational, health, cultural, recreation, and social service programs.  By providing these programs, BBAR and its partners aim to contribute to the revitalization of the community in southeastern Washington.

OUR BOARD

OUR STAFF

Mission

Building Bridges Across the River is the 501-c-3 nonprofit organization. The mission of Building Bridges Across the River is to improve the quality of life for children and adults who reside east of the Anacostia River by providing leadership, management and financial oversight of the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC),  11th Street Bridge Park,  THEARC Farm, THEARC Theater & Skyland Workforce Center. Through these projects, BBAR uses a multi-sector approach to address significant social, health, environmental & economic disparities that exist in DC.

Our Story

Building Bridges Across the River was incorporated as a (501-c-3) nonprofit organization in 1997. BBAR was an idea first conceived by Chris Smith, CEO of the DC-based developer WC Smith. Smith envisioned a nonprofit that would lead the sprawling, state-of-the-art campus that would later become the Town Hall Education Arts & Recreation Campus (THEARC). With the support of community stakeholders, elected officials and an engaged board of directors, BBAR raised capital funds and oversaw construction of the 110,000 square-foot facility.

As THEARC’s managing partner, BBAR is the engine behind all of the facility’s services. The organization oversees and maintains the campus, fosters collaboration between its resident partners, manages THEARC Theater, THEARC Farm, Skyland Workforce Center and the 11th Street Bridge Park.

Through collaboration of partner organizations, BBAR provides access to high quality educational, health, cultural, recreation, and social service programs.  By providing these programs, BBAR and its partners aim to contribute to the revitalization of the community in southeastern Washington.

OUR BOARD

OUR STAFF