Youth Programs | BRIDGES USA

Bridge Builders Youth Programs

Turn up the volume of youth voices.

Connect, Collaborate, and Change are the foundation of our Bridge Builders programs. For 30 years, we have been connecting and equipping youth with the resources they need to be mature leaders with the critical thinking skills to create meaningful change.

Become a Bridge Builder

We equip youth with resources to collaboratively work through difficult issues facing Memphis today.

BRIDGE BUILDERS LEVEL 1

Connect

Custom Workshops & Experiences

Our Connect Team works with teachers and leaders to create custom experiences for students that complement classroom curriculum. These sessions grow relationships, problem-solving skills, empathy, and confidence.

Explore the Connect experience

BRIDGE BUILDERS LEVEL 2

Collaborate

Summer & Year-Round Leadership

Our Collaborate program kicks off with a 5-day summer conference to help youth unlock their true leadership potential. Students will focus on building skills and relationships to help them grow throughout the school year.

Discover your leadership potential

BRIDGE BUILDERS LEVEL 3

Change

Fellowships

Students in grades 8-12 enroll in this one-year community service project to become influential community organizers and advocates.

Create change in Memphis

This experience taught me how to be more patient and try to work together more than work against each other. It helped me learn a lot about my classmates.”

7th grade CONNECT participant

Bridge Builders has influenced me to speak up for what I believe in, value others’ opinions and backgrounds, and to focus on myself and well-being.”

7th grade COLLABORATE student

My students said they realized it can be difficult to work as one group because of everyone's personalities. Different opinions can make teamwork hard at times, but everyone's opinion matters. I’m looking forward to them putting what they learned into good practice.”

Teacher, CONNECT participant

CHANGE has made me a better person in my community. The work that I have done with BRIDGES made me feel like making a difference in our communities is not just an adult job, it also has everything to do with the youth as well. We should let our voice be heard.”

11th grade CHANGE fellow

Every student counts.

Young people are born with creativity and passion to lead. BRIDGES has worked with thousands of students to unlock that potential and activate new generations of leaders across Memphis.

Support our work

*Data from 2022-2023