Community Bridges Incorporated

COMMUNITY BRIDGES EMPOWERS DIVERSE GIRLS TO BECOME EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS, POSITIVE LEADERS AND HEALTHY YOUNG WOMEN. WE ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT DEVELOP THE GIRLS ACADEMIC SELF-ESTEEM, LEADERSHIP, AND UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES THAT IMPACT WOMEN AND GIRLS.

OUR INTEGRATED PROGRAMMING ENCOURAGES OUR GIRLS TO LEAD HOLISTICALLY HEALTHY LIVES: EMOTIONALLY, SOCIALLY, AND PHYSICALLY. WEEKLY LESSONS FOCUS ON TOPICS SUCH AS HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, CULTURAL AWARENESS, AND LEADERSHIP AND GOAL SETTING. LESSONS ARE REINFORCED WITH OUT-OF-SCHOOL TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PARTICIPATION IN OUR ANNUAL CAREER & INNOVATION SUMMIT, ATTENDANCE AT YOUTH EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, COLLEGE TOURS, AND MORE.THE COMMUNITY BRIDGES SCHOOL-BASED GIRLS PROGRAM ENCOURAGES GIRLS IN 4TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES TO EXPLORE THEIR IDENTITY, INCREASE THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, AND BUILD THEIR CHARACTER IN A SAFE AND NURTURING SPACE. USING A TESTED, GRADE-INTEGRATED CURRICULUM GIRLS IN OUR CB GIRLS PROGRAM DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF EXPERIENTIAL AND IN-CLASSROOM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. OUR GIRLS PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE GROWTH OF OUR YOUNG WOMEN OVER A 9-YEAR CONTINUUM BY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR POTENTIAL AND LIFE CHOICES, LEARN CREATIVE STRATEGIES TO BECOME LEADERS, AND BREAK THEIR FAMILYS CYCLE OF POVERTY USING EDUCATION AS A VEHICLE.CB HAD AN AMERICORPS VISTA IN FY22 WHO WAS DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE FORMAL ALUMNAE PROGRAM. THE VISTA STARTED A CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING A SYSTEM TO TRACK CB ALUMNAE'S SUCCESSES, STRUGGLES AND COLLEGE RETENTION. AS ALUMNAE CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED WITH THE ORGANIZATION, IN TURN THEY WILL THEN SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS FOR THE CB VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. OUR ALUMNAE NETWORK SERVES OVER 200 GIRLS ATTENDING COLLEGES SUCH AS MONTGOMERY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND (COLLEGE PARK/BALTIMORE COUNTY), TOWSON, CORNELL, MORGAN STATE AND BOWIE STATE.

THE COMMUNITY BRIDGES COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING PROGRAM PROVIDES GIRLS IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR THEIR NEXT STEPS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. EACH GIRL RECEIVES WEEKLY ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING WITH OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING SPECIALIST ON COLLEGE AND CAREER PROSPECTS, COACHING THROUGH HER FAFSA AND COMMON APPLICATION PROCESSES, WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS SUCH AS JOB INTERVIEW PREPARATION, ESSAY WRITING, AND NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID, MONTHLY OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES, JOB SHADOWING OPPORTUNITIES, AND ANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED FOR HER PERSONAL SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON SUCCESS DURING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION THE COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING PROGRAM STRIVES TO INCREASE OUR GRADUATES LEVEL OF PREPARATION, APPLICATION, ACCEPTANCE, AND ENROLLMENT IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. WE HAD OVER 100 GIRLS PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. 42 GIRLS GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND 100% APPLIED AND ENROLLED IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM TOOK GIRLS ON 7 IN PERSON COLLEGE TOURS, 1 COLLEGE FAIR, 2 VIRTUAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SESSIONS AND 15 COLLEGE AND CAREER WORKSHOPS.

THE COMMUNITY BRIDGES ELEMENTARY PROGRAM CONDUCTED 37 WEEKS OF SUMMER AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM SESSIONS IN AREAS THAT SUPPORT ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, POSITIVE LEADERSHIP, PERSONAL HEALTH AND TEAM BUILDING BY INVOLVING ALL PARTICIPANTS IN PLANNED AND MONITORED COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES AT THEIR SCHOOLS AND IN THE COMMUNITY.