Established in 1997 to fundraise, design, build, and manage the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus, familiarly known as THEARC, Building Bridges' importance to the revitalization of Southeast DC cannot be overstated. Today, the campus houses over a dozen nonprofits in the arts, education, health, recreation, and workforce development fields, and Building Bridges manages two theaters, seven urban farms, a technical theater internship program, and more. It is the engine behind it all, providing nonprofit partners with space, marketing, and management free of charge, and leading projects such as the Skyland Workforce Center and the 11th Street Bridge Park, a new outdoor civic venue designed to generate economic opportunity for the surrounding communities. It’s all about making collaboration a force multiplier – addressing multiple disparities, creating better outcomes for the people THEARC serves, and equipping the residents of Wards 7 and 8 not only to survive, but to thrive.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 8

Where They Operate: DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8; THEARC is located in Congress Heights, Washington, DC.

Age Groups Served: Infants (0-2); Pre-K (3-4); Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49); Seniors (50+); All

Population(s) Served: Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Men/Boys; Women/Girls; Students

Schools They Work In: Building Bridges Across the River and its partners at THEARC collaborate with local public, charter, and private schools east of the Anacostia River to provide high-quality, low-cost cultural and social programs for at-risk children and youth. Schools on THEARC's campus include Washington School for Girls (Grades 3–8), Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys (Grades K–5), AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation (Pre-K3 and Pre-K4), and Trinity Washington University, which offers an associate degree program.

Awards & Recognition

The Committee of 100 of the Federal City Vision Award (2005)
Urban Land Institute Award for Excellence (2007)
Walmart Foundation Community Partnership Award (2013)
Neighborhood Builders Award (2015)
Spark Award Winner (2017) – Scott Kratz, President & CEO
One of Washington, DC's Best Small Charities (2020)
District of Columbia Building Industry Association Community Impact Award (2022)
Leadership Greater Washington Community Service Award (2023)
Washington Business Journal Diversity in Business Award (2025) – Rahsaan Bernard, former President & CEO
Washington Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award – Jessica Smith Lennan, Deputy Director, 11th Street Bridge Park (2025)
Mayor’s Arts Awards: Excellence in Community Arts Philanthropy (2025) – Rahsaan Bernard, former President & CEO
Recognition for DC Voices of Health and Care — Georgetown University and DC History Center (2026)

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • The current budget for Building Bridges Across the River is: $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

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