IPR Global Citizenship Class Organizes Successful Drive for Homeless Youth

Bridge for Youth Music Gear
IPR’s Global Citizenship class gathered over $1,000 of instruments, gear, and learning materials

Last month the IPR Global Citizenship class, taught by Aneesa Adams, organized Bridge to Music, a donation drive to collect musical instruments and related gear for The Bridge for Youth. The Bridge is a homeless shelter for teens in Minneapolis. The class gathered over $1,000 of instruments, gear, and learning materials to create a music room for young people during their stay at The Bridge.

Founded by Sister Rita Steinhagen, The Bridge was opened in Minneapolis’ West Bank neighborhood in 1970. It is one of the nation’s first shelters for runaway and homeless young people. In 1975, The Bridge relocated to its current location in the East Isles neighborhood of Minneapolis. In the years since its inception, The Bridge has helped tens of thousands of youth and families in crisis.

Taking advantage of five class members who are part of the Digital Video and Media Production degree, the class began their campaign by interviewing the staff at Bridge for Youth. With this footage, they created a promotional video for the campaign. The students were also able to deliver media that the Bridge will use for their own promotions. The class then launched a GoFundMe campaign and solicited for used instruments and gear to donate.

Video shoot
IPR Digital Video and Media Production students Owen Seaton, Megan Becker, and Alec Oesterreich, bring their production skills to Global Citizenship class

The results were incredible. Together the Bridge and IPR students created a music room where there had not been one before. This music room will provide young people in our community the opportunity to play music, have the cathartic release from stress that playing music can provide, and perhaps even develop a passion for music that will change their life.

Bridge for Youth thanked IPR and the Global Citizenship class for the care and hard work that our students put in to make this wish a reality.