Our Community

Bridges to Brighter Futures is building a community.

Our work brings together students, workers, educational institutions, employers, and other organizations, to support a diverse community of adults on pathways to good careers:

  • Black and Latinx adults who are graduates of Chicago public high schools
  • Students currently enrolled in the City Colleges of Chicago or other workforce education programs that build the opportunity to earn a living wage
  • Students living in poverty who are struggling to pay for public transportation to get to class, buy groceries, afford health care, pay for a computer or the internet, and pay tuition on top of everything else
  • Students who are parents and/or have responsibilities to care for other family members
  • Students who work in low wage jobs, and some work multiple jobs while going to school

Bridges to Brighter Futures believes equitable education career pathways prepare students for careers that offer living wages and the opportunity for career advancement with limited debt. 

For some, this might mean earning workforce certifications that lead to a high earnings career in fields such as IT or healthcare. For others, it might include more affordable education options before transferring to institutions to earn a bachelor’s degree.

“Bridges to Brighter Futures has been a tremendous partner to One Million Degrees in our shared mission to provide community college students with pathways to economic mobility."

 

— Aneesh Sohoni, CEO, One Million Degrees

“Support from Bridges to Brighter Futures has allowed us to be advocates for students who need us the most.”

 

— Veronica Herrero, Chief of Staff and Strategy, City Colleges of Chicago

“Doing school at home was stressful for our students. If you are completely stressed, academics can take a back burner”

 

— Jasmine Nelson, Senior Manager of Post Secondary Coaching, UtmostU

“Parents are the CEOs of their families, so when they are supported, everyone benefits,”

 

— Sarah Spunt, Executive Director, LIFT-Chicago

Community Highlights

City Colleges of Chicago

 

City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) is the largest community college system in Illinois, serving over $75,000 students annually. With Black and Latinx students making up 75% of its student population, CCC sought to improve educational outcomes for students of color. The college system launched an ambitious multi-year plan, “Championing Equity,” that aims to close major educational gaps and increase completion rates to a minimum of 55% for students of color by 2032. CCC received a $1.3+ million-dollar grant from Bridges to Brighter Futures to develop the infrastructure, strategies, and tools to ensure “Championing Equity” can achieve its goals. One of the initiative’s signature tools is a microgrant program that allows equity teams on each CCC campus to identify and invest in various solutions that address challenges unique to that particular campus – whether it is buying new technology or rethinking how course work is sequenced to improve student retention rates. According to Veronica Herrero, chief of staff and strategy, funding from Bridges also helped CCC rethink its role in setting students up for success. “Support from Bridges to Brighter Futures has allowed us to be advocates for students who need us the most,” she said.  

CCC received a $1.3+ million-dollar grant from Bridges to Brighter Futures to develop the infrastructure, strategies, and tools to ensure “Championing Equity” can achieve its goals.

Revolution Workshop

 

Revolution Workshop was founded in 2017 by a group of skill trade employers and workforce development leaders to address a shortage of workers of color in the construction sector and high unemployment rates for Black residents ages 20-24. The organization provides construction and woodworking workforce development for unemployed or underemployed individuals, with an emphasis on social and economic equity. With a $150,000 grant from Bridges to Brighter Futures, Revolution Workshop will be able to expand alumni services for graduates from its Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Job Training Program. Through this expansion, the organization can continue to engage with program alumni even after graduation to ensure they have access to ongoing educational and networking opportunities that are critical to advancing their careers in the construction field. 

With a $150,000 grant from Bridges to Brighter Futures, Revolution Workshop will be able to expand alumni services for graduates from its Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Job Training Program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download the Full Grant List