![\"Future](\"http:\/\/www.icbie.net\/blog_old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/icbiefutteatros.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMore than a year ago, our friend Phillip Wagner of Rhythm of Hope<\/a>, after hearing of our dream of building a theater, convinced us to compile EWB’s long and detailed application form.\u00a0 Without Phillip’s help (he had already worked with them on a sanitation project on Itaparica island), we never would have done this, so we owe him a huge barrelful of thank-you’s for his implacable insistence. \u00a0 At any rate, last January we were informed that the central office had enthusiastically accepted our application.\u00a0 But after that, one of their chapters had to choose to realize the project, and the long wait began. \u00a0 Every month that passed, the subject became more remote, until it had quite entirely disappeared from our minds.<\/p>\n So their email came as a surprise, and at the perfect time!\u00a0 Since then, we have exchanged a flurry of emails, and last Sunday we had a conference call between Washington, DC, Rome and Salvador, to introduce ourselves and to hash out the logistics for their preliminary visit to Salvador.\u00a0 We spoke with Jomari Peterson, their dynamic project coordinator, Alexandria McBride, president of the Howard University EWB chapter, Bianca Bailey, fundraising coordinator, and with two participating students, Tiffany Smith and Aaron, their mental guru.\u00a0 Phillip Wagner in Indianapolis, Pietro in Salvador and Roy in Rome completed the full polyphony of voices, as we discussed living conditions and cultural opportunities, blueprints and building permits, and decided upon dates \u2014 January 2 – 9 \u2014 for their first visit, when we will decide upon an archetectural design, survey the terrain, apply for permits and arrange for materials.\u00a0 Later in 2009, they will return to begin the construction.<\/p>\n