Bridgin Gaps Festival

What started as a free concert at Salem Willows Family Park in Salem, MA organized by a group of homeless people has been developed over 6 years into a 2 day festival called Bridgin Gaps. Each year celebrating the arts and great work of local non profit organizations that are making an impact in the community.  

Justin "Justice Born" Morley, the Founder of Wreck Shop Movement was among that group of homeless people and has since been the main Organizer of the festival.  Presenting sponsor 4 Life Ent (www.4lifeent.com) will be providing to quality sound and lighting.

(EMS performing 2015)

Performances range from local and non local recording artists, live bands, visual artists, dance groups, poets and other performance styles including martial arts and skateboarding demonstrations and more.

( Graffiti Art Mural by Duck. Photo credit: Jennifer Lawless)
(D Ruff Performing. Photo credit: Jennifer Lawless)
(Jessie Nocella performing.  Photo credit: Jennifer Lawless)

(Art by Mutt)

(Video credit: Ryan Mills)



COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT:

At the Bridgin Gaps festival we use the power of music, art and good vibes to draw crowds to enrich lives and connect people with resources, information and opportunities in an atmosphere that's rich in inspiration.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
We invited several local non profit organizations, grassroots groups, community leaders and legislators working towards making our world a better place for almost everyone so they can come to connect with our audience.  It's our hope that people will become more informed about important issues that affect us all and be inspired to make better decisions and even be pro-active in organizing for these changes we want to see.

CIVIC DUTY
It's an election year and it's every American citizens' right to vote and participate in local government and know who's governing.  Casting a vote for or against laws and ordinances and electing your local government officials or to run for office yourself is empowering. It's a power of the people that 's not being tapped in to by enough people so we're encouraging everyone to register to vote at the New Lynn Coalition (www.newlynn.org) table on site.

LOCAL TEMP JOBS
We will be hiring local homeless people to distribute flyers while inviting people to come with their families, put up posters and help out at the festival. Although it's only temporary work for now, promotions and networking leads to new connections and opportunities. It will also give some of them something positive to do and feel good about. 

Participating Non Profit Organizations for 2017:

Disclaimer:
This crowdfunding campaign is not for the following organizations but they will have an exibition booth at the festival and will accept donations on behalf of their organizations.

Mass Campaign for Jobs Not Jails
https://www.facebook.com/jobsnotjails

Salem No Place for Hate Committee www.facebook.com/SalemNoPlaceforHate

Timmys Angels
https://www.facebook.com/TimmysAngels

Banyan Treatment Center Massachusetts
www.facebook.com/BanyanMass

Triangle
https://triangle-inc.org 

HAWC
http://hawcdv.org 

One Community One Voice
www.facebook.com/OCOVMA 

North Shore Connections
www.nsconnections.org 

Big Sisters of Boston
http://www.bigsister.org

Foodies Without Borders 
www.foodieswithoutborders.org 

Centerboard & Family Resource Center
www.centerboard.org 

Authentic Caribbean Foundation
http://authenticcaribbeanfoundation.org

North American Indian Center of Boston
www.naicob.org

Somali Bantu of Boston
http://www.somalibantuboston.org

The Haven Project
www.havenproject.net 

Bosnian Community Center for Resource Development
http://bccrd.org

Sisters In Charge Inc
www.sistersinchargeinc.org 

Climate Creatives
www.climatecreatives.com 

North East ARC
https://ne-arc.org

Together North Shore
http://togethernorthshore.org

Raise Up
www.raiseupma.org

New Lynn Coalition
http://newlynn.org

Mass Recreational Consumer Council
http://massreccouncil.com 

MassCann/Norml
www.masscann.org 


THE BUDGET:  $25K

-Operating Costs & Staffing (sound, lighting, materials for murals, safety, police details, insurance)
-Artist Compensation (Every artist who touches the stage will get paid)
-Marketing & Promotions 
-Permits

FUNDRAISING:

We started this crowfunding campaign for these main 3 purposes;

1. To  encourage people to support the arts, artists, community initiatives as well as entrepreneurs through crowdfunding. 

2. To build up a wave of awareness and support for artists and local organizations in Massachusetts leading up to the festival.

3. To create entry level temp jobs for homeless people in event staffing and flier distribution at a rate of $100 per day.

Any amount exceeding the $25K goal Justice will use to personally interview and hire homeless people to distribute fliers promoting the festival. They will also be given Bridgin Gaps T shirts to wear and will be connected to more resources to help them get back on their feet.

LONG TERM VISION

Besides making the festival better every year at Salem Willows Family Park in Salem one of the goals is to bring Brigin Gaps to Lynn on the water front and ultimately purchase a building in Lynn to transform into a performance venue and community hub for entertainment.  However, that's a separate business plan.  For now the focus is on the festival.

A CALL TO ACTION:
We are calling on Massachusetts residents including but not limited to journalists, reporters, community leaders, activists and elected officials to support this initiative through donations, attendance, articles or shares on social media!

North Shore Workers Community Fund is our fiscal sponsor for donations received outside of this crowfunding campaign. Checks or money orders can be made out to them with #BridginGaps on the memo and be mailed to 112 Exchange St Lynn MA 01901


Follow updates on our Facebook page too!

www.facebook.com/bridgingapsinc 

August 5th, 2017
www.facebook.com/events/1824266377785404/?ref=br_rs

August 6th, 2017
www.facebook.com/events/243766929387620/?ref=br_rs