“Education is all a matter of building bridges”
~Ralph Ellison
The Bridge to Success (Academic & Literacy Programs)
Through rigorous work with authentic texts and opportunities to enhance writing and speaking skills, students are prepared to succeed in college, career and life.
Academic Literacy:
Students will work to become active and effective readers, listeners, and speakers through engaging in authentic complex texts. To build these literacies, BRIDGE Participants will work to analyze the strategies that authors use to develop their writing, and use this knowledge to further develop an understanding of how texts work. By considering various genres with diverse purposes, students will learn to use these same strategies in their own writing as a means of growth in written communication. As this practice becomes a natural one, students will increase their vocabulary and work to infuse their strengthened knowledge of the power of words in speaking activities designed to demonstrate comprehension as well as confidence in oral communication.
Financial Literacy:
Students will develop the skills to make responsible financial decisions that impact their socioeconomic progress. Through practice with budgets and planning, BRIDGE Participants will learn about the cost of living and maintaining their desired lifestyles, as well as how to prioritize financial obligations and track spending. As students connect with community partners and attend workshops to build their understanding of credit, savings, and investments, they will be better prepared to manage their income and plan for a stable financial future.
Information Literacy:
Students will develop their ability to determine when there is a need for information, and be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information to help them address an issue or solve a problem. Through workshops and activities in problem solving and information use, BRIDGE Participants will generate an effective understanding of how to approach and address issues they face by seeking out and evaluating information that will allow them to develop real world solutions. As students consider presented scenarios or work to address personal and societal obstacles they find relevant, they will build their ability to identify the most helpful information, know where to find appropriate resources, evaluate how information will be the most beneficial, and apply what they find to their own solutions.
Technology Literacy:
Students will hone their ability to use technology to problem solve, communicate with others, and improve society. As students work within their academic and information literacies, BRIDGE Participants will also build their capacity to recognize the benefits as well as detriments of technology use, and determine the most appropriate ways to apply technology in their own growth. Through seminars regarding usage, exposure to new and innovative technologies, and opportunities to utilize technology for positive communication, students will be better prepared to develop creative solutions and engage with technology as a means of personal and societal improvement.
Media Literacy:
Students will develop the ability to interpret, respond to, and create media messages in a variety of forms. As they are exposed to the many avenues of communication and the impact of media messages, BRIDGE Participants will build their understanding of how these messages are designed, what they are intended to accomplish, and how they influence individuals. Through activities and opportunities focused on messaging, students will be better prepared to measure their own responses as well as use effective strategies in conjunction with other literacies to generate messages that will aid in personal and community progress.
Cultural & Social Literacy:
Students will develop the ability to recognize and accept differences in cultures free from judgments. Through exposure to various experiences and people, BRIDGE Participants will build their understanding of how to engage with others and how to operate in new environments with confidence. As they consistently explore new and diverse settings and opportunities, students will be better prepared to communicate with varied audiences and function effectively in varied environments.
The Bridge to the Future (Exposure Programs)
Through exposure to new experiences and opportunities, students are able to envision and work toward a brighter future.
Campus Tours:
Students will tour a variety of campuses to gain understanding of the many post-secondary options offered. As they speak with students, admissions advisors, and counselors BRIDGE Participants will be informed of the preparation and processes they can anticipate in their immediate futures. Through these tours students are provided with knowledge regarding their post-secondary options and are better prepared to meet the expectations and take the necessary steps toward college preparedness and career readiness.
College Camps:
Students will experience dorm life, college courses, and campus events to ignite their desire to succeed and to provide a sense of what to expect as they prepare for college. Through engagement in an authentic college experience, BRIDGE Participants will build their understanding of how personal habits, academic obligations, and social interests will be factors influencing their post-secondary experience and ultimate success. As they are exposed to campus life students will be better prepared to meet the challenges of living independently, managing time effectively, and feeding their passions appropriately as they work to earn their degrees and become educated citizens.
Cultural Exposure:
Students will participate in outings that provide experiences ranging from the everyday (dinner in a restaurant) to the exclusive (visiting the symphony). Through these opportunities, BRIDGE Participants will develop cultural & social literacy and self-confidence in diverse and unfamiliar settings. As they engage in their communities and changes to explore new ideas and experiences, students will be better prepared to effectively and confidently operate in any environment.
Professional Prep:
Students will develop a repertoire of professional skills and materials. Through workshops, mock interviews, and shadowing experiences, BRIDGE Participants will build their level of readiness and confidence in professional settings. As they work with community partners in resume writing, self-presentation, and communication, students will be better prepared to earn positions and opportunities aligned with their chosen career pathways.
A Day in the Life Professional Shadowing:
Students will gain authentic experience in careers of interest. Through professional shadowing, BRIDGE Participants will build an understanding of how employment in their chosen field of interest looks and feels. As they work closely with community partners already employed in diverse areas, students will be encouraged to consider a pathway they desire, inspired to take essential steps aligned to that pathway, and better prepared to rise to the expectations of their selected work environment.
Community Service:
Students will participate in community service activities that include community restoration, food and clothing drives, and giving back. Through developing service projects and supporting the efforts of other organizations, BRIDGE Participants will build their capacity to support and grow their communities. As they collaborate to design service projects of their own interest and offer their time and energy to endeavors that serve others, students will be better prepared to recognize and fill the needs in their communities and become agents of change.
The Bridge to Potential (Community Partnerships)
Through connections and relationships with community partners students are empowered to determine and traverse diverse pathways.