Shannon Babe-Thomas, Executive Director of Community Bridges
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” — Harriet Tubman.
Community Bridges empowers young women from diverse backgrounds to become exceptional students, positive leaders and healthy young women. For 19 years,Community Bridges(CB) has provided an integrated, holistic program for girls from elementary through high school.
“CB has helped me become a better leader, by learning to speak up for myself on things I know aren’t right. I also know that as a woman I have a lot of power to make a difference.”
CB Girls provides daily, weekend, after-school and out-of-school programming in nine elementary, middle and high schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. CB uses a “feeder model” approach to ensure that culturally responsive services and opportunities are available for 250 girls through every critical transition they experience as adolescents growing up in poverty.
There are 38 adult mentors that work with older girls to expand their horizons and provide alternative role models. CB’s College and Career Planning Program had 100% of seniors graduate and enroll in institutions of higher education in 2014 and 2015.
“[CB's]constant support has inspired me to complete college and to make change in the world.”
Community Bridges’ second annual Career and Innovation Summit for Girls: “Building a Sustainable World” is Saturday, March 11th. Girls grades 6-12 will have the opportunity to meet with career experts and explore diverse career options through a variety of panels, interactive workshops, and participation in a group competition. For more information or to volunteer with Community Bridges contact:(301)585-7155 or email inform@communitybridges-md.org.
“Being in Community Bridges has influenced me in a lot of ways. For one, being more confident in myself, learning how to express myself, never giving up on anything, and also having the knowledge that women can have the capacity just like everyone else to be someone in life with just a little push.”
At Community Bridges we celebrate the women who believe in our mission and help us build bonds that connect our girls to their families, schools and communities. We celebrate the amazing staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly for the empowerment of girls in our community. We celebrate every Community Bridges mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and cousin who understood that a Community Bridges girl does not succeed by virtue of after school programming alone, but by the love and support of the family. Last, we celebrate all the CB girls, past, present, and future, without whom Community Bridges would not be possible — Thank you!
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A few weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of helping “suit” a group of women who were completing the culinary training program at DC Central Kitchen. They were about to graduate from the program and came to Suited for Change for interview clothing. I was lucky to attend their graduation breakfast and hear their stories and their extraordinary journeys. One of the women who had been through the suiting program had never held a job. She was a single parent and shy. She emerged from the boutique beautifully dressed in a black suit with a white silk blouse and pearls. At the graduation, I was delighted to learn that she had been hired at the Ritz Carlton as a pastry chef. This is just one story of many each day.
February is Black History Month, a joyous time of celebration and reflection. We applaud the many contributions of men and women of African ancestry, many of whom accomplished feats of greatness despite considerable challenges.
Kahina Haynes, DIW’s new Executive Director is working diligently with the board, staff and community to strengthen DIW’s operations, programs and partnerships to secure DIW’s position as a beacon of hope and launchpad of talent for years to come.
