Bridges Out of Poverty is a framework that helps community partners like businesses, churches, schools and social service organizations address poverty in a comprehensive way. It provides ideas, tools and resources to community partners to further understand the experiences, struggles, barriers and strengths of those living in poverty. 

Many believe poverty simply means a lack of financial resources; however, it’s about more than just money. Poverty is a broader term that encompasses numerous other resources. Lack of access to these essential resources affects people’s health, education, security, and opportunities. These other resources include mental and emotional health, language, social capital, health & wellbeing, trust, relationships, and more. Building our capacity and understanding the needs of those around us helps us build a better tomorrow, together.

We use this framework to develop programs and strategies that improve relationships at the front-line level, improve outcomes at the organizational level and improve systems at the community level. Our goal is to build a community with a comprehensive system of resources to strengthen the workforce and provide opportunities for those who lack important resources.

Reducing the social costs of poverty, strengthening the workforce and building a more prosperous and sustainable community are goals all communities can agree upon. Bridges Out of Poverty helps employers, organizations, agencies and individuals understand, address and reduce poverty together in a comprehensive way.

Together, We Can Become a Bridges Community.

Our agency is able to provide trainings to our community partners, so we can create greater awareness and collaboration as we work to implement this model in our communities. 

The Bridges Out of Poverty training offers concepts, strategies, ideas, and useful tools that a community needs to reduce, minimize, and support individuals who are living in poverty.

On average, the training is 8 hours. The training may be done all in one day, broken down into two 4-hour sessions, or broken down into four 2 hours sessions.

Those who may benefit from this training are:

• Companies
• Churches/ faith communities
• Law enforcement
• Schools/ K-12 educators
• Social service groups
• Local government officials
• Banking community
• Higher education
• Healthcare
• Arts and entertainment
• Media