Through its affiliates and programs, manchester bidwell corporation (MBC) seeks to enable community members to become productive members of society by creating an empowering environment of art, light, music, and a staff that strives to realize the genius in everyone. In 1999, MBC was founded as a parent organization for manchester craftsmen's guild specializing in youth arts and JAZZ programming) and bidwell training center (specializing in adult career training). Both organizations were founded in 1968, and had been LED by founder and executive chair william e. Strickland, JR., who believed that the combination of adult career training and youth arts programming provided a holistic means of addressing the community's needs. In 2006, the national center for arts and technology (NCAT) was incorporated and included in the MBC family of organizations to replicate the manchester bidwell education model nationally and internationally. Additional programs include the DREW mathieson greenhouse at bidwell training center - one of southwestern pennsylvania's only urban educational greenhouses. The formation of MBC has allowed for the efficacy and financial savings of shared services. MBC operates under three philosophies: 1) people thrive when they are treated as assets; 2) creativity fuels innovation; and 3) environment shapes behavior. By constructing an empowering atmosphere with a staff that strives to realize every individual's potential, MBC strengthens the community and community members. MBC is responsible for the management, administration, and governance of its affiliates through which it provides youth arts programming, adult career training, and consultation services for organizations serving youth and adults nationally and internationally. Thousands of youth and adults were impacted by the work of manchester bidwell corporation and its affiliates in fiscal year 2023-24.
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