Who We Are

The Bridge CDC is a 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit organization that is committed to improving lives by reducing socio-economic barriers by creating strategic collaborations throughout Richmond, VA.

Vision

To create a city where upward socio-economic mobility is easily accessible to all

We will do this by:

• Supporting human services organizations to create effective and immediate results
  
  
• Uniting human services organizations to achieve wholestic solutions
  
  
• Creating new and innovative human services programs
  

Values

• EFFECTIVENESS: The Bridge CDC is committed to accurately identifying problems by conducting extensive research in order to develop solutions that work.
  
  
• ACCESS: The Bridge CDC is dedicated to providing immediate positive options to disenfranchised communities.
  
  
• COLLABORATION: The Bridge CDC is committed to uniting the resources of businesses, government agencies, civic organizations, other nonprofit organizations, and churches for the betterment of the community.
  
  
• INTEGRITY: The Bridge CDC shall operate with honesty and all actions shall be with the intent of upholding the mission.
  
  
• BEING AN EXAMPLE OF GOD'S CHARACTER: The Bridge CDC is committed to promoting hope and the love and concern of God for everyone.

History and Accomplishments:

The Bridge Community Development Corporation (The Bridge CDC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by local college students who sought effective ways to create positive change in the Richmond community.  

After becoming incorporated in 2006, volunteers of The Bridge CDC participated in an English as a Second Language (ESL) training for instructors.  dditionally, the Executive Director and ESL Programs Director participated in a more intensive ESL training with leaders from over eight other ESL programs throughout Richmond, VA.  Within a few months, The Bridge CDC launched its own ESL program.  

Since then The Bridge CDC has been very active in the community helping organizations such as the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Que Pasa! and Feria de la Oportunidad, the Farmer’s Market for Mercado, and the City of Richmond for the Imagine Festival.  

In 2007, the Bridge CDC enlisted the help of ESL professionals, research specialist, community leaders, and community residents to conduct a thorough assessment of ESL programs in Richmond and the population they serve.

This research was used to initiate the ESL Collaborative Network (ECN).  The ECN is a growing association of existing ESL programs in Greater Richmond dedicated to providing quality services to nonnative English Speakers.  Member programs of the ECN aim to achieve this objective by sharing resources to combat student attrition, increase ESL programs' purchasing power, ensure quality training, secure quality facilities, ensure the use of quality materials and conduct accurate assessments of student progression.

 In November of 2007, The Bridge CDC organized and hosted the ECN Outcome Goals Forum.  The forum opened a dialogue of collaboration between the numerous ESL professionals and program directors of the Richmond community. The Bridge CDC also shared its findings from its assessment of the ESL community and offered a formulized plan of how the programs can collaborate.

This year, The Bridge CDC is partnering with two ESL programs to employ the retention strategies the ECN developed.  The Bridge CDC is also partnering with Richmond Public Schools to eliminate the language barrier that exists between native Spanish speaking parents and the native English speaking faculty of the school system.

The Bridge CDC continues to strive towards excellence in the nonprofit sector.