By CATHARINA THUEMLING

Mind-Builders officially reopened their Creative Arts Center after a long and exhausting time of planning, fund-raising and renovating.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 25 is the prelude to a new era for Mind-Builders, its founder Madaha Kinsey-Lamb, and of course for the children of the community. 

“After 10 years of raising money and four years of renovating” the Creative Arts Center relocated to its former home in Williamsbridge, said Kinsey-Lamb with a touch of zest in her opening speech. For the past four years, the nonprofit had called St. Brendan’s School in Norwood their home while construction crews gave a top-down $9 million renovation to the original headquarters, once a municipal building followed by a Yeshiva school.

With an outstanding program to kick off its opening, Mind-Builders ushered in its inauguration of the renovated four-story center at 3415 Olinville Ave. with flair. With different acts like the performance of the African Dance Class or singer Dominique Garcia, Mind-Builders welcomed its guests and gave the audience, including Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Councilman Andy King and Commissioner of the city Department of Cultural Affairs, a glimpse into the remarkable work of Mind-Builders.

The growth of Mind-Builders has certainly come a long way since opening its doors in 1978. Kinsey-Lamb, a former teacher, recognized the lack of arts education in schools throughout the Bronx and started the after-school program. The decision was a personal one–she wanted to offer her daughter a more enriched background in arts and culture.

At the beginning, there were some skeptical voices who didn’t believe Mind-Builders could sustain itself, though Kinsey-Lamb thought otherwise. She envisioned something great. These days, she’s come a long way, having opened the after-school program with a handful of kids.

In the end, she not only gives children an understanding of art and culture, but she teaches them “a sense of confidence,” Diaz said.

The Center boasts programs that include dance, theatre, music, martial arts for children and adults at a nominal fee. “[But] that all didn’t happen because I snapped my fingers,” said Kinsey-Lamb, adding the success was due to children showing up.

“Mind-Builders was on the map,” acknowledged Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs Tom Finkelpearl. It expressed the need for this after-school program and so Kinsey-Lamb was able to find people with the same vision who helped finance the nonprofit.

“Thanks for investing in the Bronx,” Diaz told supporters of Mind-Builders.