Connecting Diverse Youth
Connecting Diverse Youth — the Bridge-Building Concept
EnTeam brings diverse communities together. Our bridge-building workshops encourage students to make connections between diverse communities to learn to win together. This empowers youth to value their community and the communities around them, making them more peaceful and productive members of society.
Since the Brown vs. Board of Education decision that outlawed the segregation of schools, integration efforts have varied widely. Research shows that many students continue to be educated in racially segregated schools. EnTeam believes that students and communities can be better served through the facilitation of collaborative games that empower participants to value, love, and respect each other. One of the pillars of segregation is the belief that some people are inferior and others superior. By bringing diverse communities together through fun and engaging games, adults and children discover their inherent equality. As a result, players learn to collaborate and build healthy relationships with people from diverse communities.
EnTeam serves students, educators, and schools from racially, socioeconomically, and religiously diverse communities. The objective for building bridges is to value each other regardless of their differences. In order to win an EnTeam Game, every player must contribute and participate. Through the use of EnTeam Games, players strengthen their appreciation for the contributions that others bring to the relationship. Players also grow in their ability to bring out the best performance of others. As a result, players see how each individual is valued and worthy. By challenging students to think together and solve problems collaboratively, they are able to have productive and peaceful relationships with those from diverse backgrounds.
For two decades, EnTeam has worked with schools to transport students from diverse backgrounds together to play games at each other’s schools. The pandemic of 2020 has shown us that segregation and isolation can be reduced if the internet is used effectively. With the use of video conferencing, we have the opportunity to build bridges of respect and understanding within communities across the country and around the world. Students from different schools and cultures can connect quickly and inexpensively. To achieve the vision of building bridges between diverse communities, EnTeam aims to engage students through collaborative games that enhance team building, communication, and social skills.
