Community Bridges, Inc. empowers girls from diverse backgrounds to become exceptional students, positive leaders, and healthy young women by addressing the developmental needs of immigrant and minority girls and their families living at or below the federal poverty level. The school-based Girls Program encourages girls in grades 3-12 to explore their identity, increase their self-esteem, and build their character in a safe and nurturing space. The College Access and Success Program prepares high school students to enroll and succeed in college. Additional programs provide mentoring, support families and alumnae, and work to create systems change that will ensure a pathway to success for students with learning differences. Currently Community Bridges serves more than 550 girls and 2,000 family members from 21 Montgomery County schools.
The 2010 census revealed that immigrant families constitute almost one-third of Montgomery County’s population and almost 40% of poor residents. The gender-specific challenges that girls in low-income immigrant families face are often exacerbated by limited English proficiency, the risk of family separation, and the challenges of bridging ethnic and immigrant cultures with the American school experience. CB employs a culturally responsive and intergenerational approach to meet this community’s needs.
2024 Partner Grant: $69,000
