Saudi Arabian Immigrant Creates Social Movement in Pittsburgh to Encourage Inclusion and Connection Through Art

After her son encountered bullying when he was young, Ebtehal Badawi created a social movement to encourage inclusion and connection in Pittsburgh. Badawi grew up in Saudi Arabia and graduated with a degree in microbiology, thinking that a career in science would land her a good job. She met her American-born husband, moved to California, and later, to Morganton, West Virginia, for her husband to complete his medical training. Badawi also began studying for a master’s degree in industrial hygiene from West Virginia University.

In 2014, they relocated to Pittsburgh for her husband’s job and Badawi realized science wasn’t her calling. She began working as an artist and found work as a teacher’s assistant as she rethought her career. She then decided to focus on art therapy and enrolled in art and psychology classes at the Community College of Allegheny County and studied art at the Malian Art Institute. “Ever since I was little, I wanted to be an artist,” Badawi says, “but everyone told me it was just a hobby. Once I learned about art therapy, however, I realized art could be a viable career.”

Then, in 2018, while her son was playing in one of the local sports team, he encountered a racist comment. “It hurt that my son went through that,” Badawi says. “I'd always felt welcome in America and didn’t expect to encounter this type of thing in Pittsburgh.” His teammate apologized, but not long after, Badawi learned that kids were sharing a video of a local high school student beating up a Syrian refugee.

These two incidents inspired Badawi to paint an image of a yellow bridge with hands of all different skin colors lining the top. She asked the principal at her son’s school if she could display it in the cafeteria. “Afterward, a friend from Puerto Rico called to say that her son had seen the painting in the midst of a panic attack, and it helped calm him down,” she says. “Seeing it made him feel safe.”

This response prompted Badawi to launch the Pittsburgh Builds Bridges initiative, a social movement that encourages inclusion and connection through community art projects. Versions of the painting can be seen on walls throughout the city, including at Penn State and Carlow University. She invites residents to add their own brushstrokes; nearly 4,000 people across Pittsburgh have contributed.

Recently, Allegheny County and the city of Pittsburgh named August 12 Building Bridges Day to be celebrated with art, food, and music from diverse cultures. Badawi has been impressed by the city’s response and hopes to see similar events in other schools and communities. “Even if we look different or have different beliefs, we still can come together to plant seeds of love and acceptance,” she says.