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OUR VISION
Because we believe that diversity and the arts enrich our local and global communities, we endeavor to "bridge worlds" by nurturing intercultural connection through artistic events and in educational settings.
OUR MISSION
We work to create and support educational programming and artistic cultural initiatives that celebrate diversity and nurture empathy.
OUR PARTNERS
The organization is able to bring programming and events to schools, hospitals and other establishments locally and globally through the support of public partners and private philanthropists.
Meet The Team
Kelsie Godoy
Kelsie is a native Hoosier, who has lived, studied and worked abroad in Europe and South America (The Netherlands, Greece, Spain and Chile). She speaks Spanish and basic modern Greek. She was an Eli Lilly scholar and received her B.A. from Butler University in International Studies and Spanish. She holds a Master's Degree in International Laws from the University of Maastricht, The Netherlands & the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Kelsie has served as an adjunct instructor at Purdue Fort Wayne University in the Foreign Language & Culture Studies Department. She is a mother, wife and avid heirloom seed protector, as well as an artist and singer-songwriter. She is very grateful to be a part of this organization together with others who reach for the Stars and work on the Earth.
Maria Sutherland
Maria was born and raised in Bolivia and is bilingual in Spanish and English. She received her B.A. in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State. She has worked invarious capacities over the past decade to effect positive change in community development and education, including with organizations and business including Allen County Purdue Extension Office, Southwest Honey Company, Brightpoint, Waynedale News, and more. Most recently Maria served as an Immigration Specialist and Case Manager with Fort Wayne Catholic Charities. She is currently enrolled in law school to continue to effect even more change as an attorney.
In her free time she enjoys being in nature and travelling. She is proud to be on the board of this organization uplifting culture, diversity and bilingualism - all passions close to her heart.
Antoinette Murray
Toni is a retired teacher and life-long supporter of arts and education initiatives both locally and globally. She has been involved in Project Reads supporting the love of learning and literacy from an early age. She also gives philanthropically to organizations she believes in and institutes of higher education, such as Indiana Wesleyan and her alma matter, St. Francis University, where she received her Bachelor and Master's degrees. She enjoys spending time with family and especially her great nieces and nephews. In her free time she enjoys travelling internationally and will soon accomplish a life-goal to set foot on all 7 continents! She is honored to be on the board of this non-profit with a mission that aligns with her own life mission of bringing quality arts, education and cultural learning experiences to young people.
Maria Sutherland
Maria was born and raised in Bolivia and is bilingual in Spanish and English. She received her B.A. in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State. She has now lived in Fort Wayne for over 7 years working to effect positive change in community development and education. She has worked and volunteered with various organizations and business including Allen County Purdue Extension Office, Southwest Honey Company, Catholic Charities, Brightpoint, Waynedale News, and more. In her free time she enjoys being in nature and travelling. She is proud to be on the board of this organization bringing culture, diversity and bilingualism - all passions close to her heart.
Megan Ryan
Megan is a Bishop Luers alumna, and graduate of St. Mary's College of Notre Dame with a master's in Special Education from the University of St. Francis. She has taught in Ghana, West Africa and locally at Towles Montessori School (FWCS) with children in grades 1 through 6 in areas of reading, math, and social development. She continues to teach state-wide. She co-founded an educational enrichment program teaching conservation of pollinator-bees. Megan enjoys learning and exploring cultures and has travelled to Japan, Egypt and Costa Rica. In addition, she has also served on the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir Board and has a special connection to the arts, and multicultural learning that celebrate diversity and nurture empathy. She is excited to add her talent and heart to this organization building bridges of change!
OUR TEAM
Kelsie Godoy
Kelsie, originally from Indiana, has lived, studied, and worked in Europe and South America (The Netherlands, Greece, Spain, and Chile). She is fluent in Spanish and speaks basic modern Greek. As an Eli Lilly Scholar she received her Bachelor's from Butler University in International Studies and Spanish. She holds a Master's Degree in International Laws from the University of Maastricht, The Netherlands and the Pontifical Catholic University of Santiago de Chile. Kelsie has served as an adjunct instructor at Purdue Fort Wayne University in the Foreign Language & Culture Studies Department. She and her husband are raising their children in a bilingual multicultural family. Kelsie is grateful to be a part of this woman led organization nurturing artistic sensitivity and a more culturally aware community in Fort Wayne and beyond.
Maria Sutherland
Maria, born and raised in Bolivia, is fluent in both Spanish and English. She holds a B.A. in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State University. Over the last decade, she has been actively involved in various roles focusing on community development and education. Her experience includes working with organizations such as Allen County Purdue Extension Office, Southwest Honey Company, Brightpoint, Waynedale News, among others. Maria most recently worked as an Immigration Specialist and Case Manager at Fort Wayne Catholic Charities. Currently, she is pursuing a law degree to further her impact as an attorney. Outside of work, she enjoys nature and traveling. Maria takes pride in serving on the board of an organization that promotes culture, diversity, and bilingualism, all passions close to her heart.
Antoinette Murray
Toni, a retired teacher, is a dedicated advocate for arts and education initiatives on both local and global levels. She has actively supported Project Reads to nurture a love for learning and literacy from a young age. Additionally, she generously donates to organizations she believes in, as well as higher education institutions like Indiana Wesleyan and her alma mater, St. Francis University, where she obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Outside of her philanthropic work, she cherishes spending time with her family, especially her great nieces and nephews. She further enjoys international travel and is on the verge of achieving her lifelong dream of setting foot on all seven continents. Toni is honored to be on the board of this non-profit with a mission that aligns with her own life mission of bringing quality arts, education and cultural learning experiences to young people.
Amber Oda
Amber returned to Indiana after spending time in Uganda, Sudan, and various locations in the U.S. She speaks basic Sudanese Arabic and has more than fifteen years of experience collaborating with nonprofits and communities in the United States and Africa, with a strong focus on trauma healing and justice. She has experience working as a Programs Specialist, ESL Instructor and Research Consultant. Amber received her Bachelor's Degree in Global Studies from Azusa Pacific University in California. She holds a Master's Degree in Transformational Leadership and currently works as a violence prevention facilitator with youth in Ft. Wayne. Raising her three children is Amber's most beautiful and transformative experience. She is excited to be part of Bridging Worlds and to contribute her gifts and expertise to foster empathy and connection through the arts.
Megan Ryan
Megan is an alumna of Bishop Luers and a graduate of St. Mary's College of Notre Dame. She holds a Master's degree in Special Education from the University of St. Francis. Megan has a diverse background including experience living and teaching in Ghana, West Africa. For the past decade she has worked as an educator at Towles Montessori School (FWCS) focusing on reading, math, and social development, and currently teaches state-wide. Additionally, he cofounded an education program that teaches the importance of conserving pollinator bees. Megan's passion for learning and exploring different cultures has taken her to Japan, Egypt, Belize, and Costa Rica. Megan is eager to contribute her skills and passion to this organization, fostering positive change and building cross-cultural bridges through arts and education. She is excited to add her talent and heart to this organization building bridges of change!