What’s next?

We will re imagine our after-school program but our values and our vision remain steadfast. We are committed to offer a safe program that will address our students’ academic, socio-emotional, and physical needs. We will do this by remaining responsive, adaptive, and of course, with the support of you all. We also know that what we initially thought was just going to be an emergency response, we now realize must extend beyond the summer as equal access to healthy, nutritious food continues to be a concern in our community. With enough support, we can do both: continue the meal distribution and ensure ourBRIDGE students are ready for another year of learning and growing.

These have been trying times, and while they are not over, we now know that even in the face of a global upheaval our community can come together stronger than ever to address inequities to support each other and stand together.

I’ll leave this photo to end this message. We took it on one of the last Fun Fridays we had when we celebrated Holi, or Festivals of Colors. No one could have imagined what was in store for this world in the weeks that followed. It makes me happy to see their smiling faces though. I feel encouraged, and hopeful and I can’t wait to see the kids at the center again.

Sil Ganzo & the ourBRIDGE Team

• Ryan Pitkin – Charlotte Nerve: ourBRIDGE Adapts in a Crisis with New Drop-Off Services
• Corey Mitchen – Education Week: Coronavirus Upends After-School World
• Greg Asciutto – EDNC: ‘We always say yes.’ ourBRIDGE for KIDS adapts to meet needs of Charlotte immigrant, refugee children.
• Carol Bono – EDNC Videos:
‣ Recognizing the Power of Identity
‣ One day, all kids will be safe: Trauma-informed care (ourBRIDGE for KIDS)
‣ Wherever I place my feet upon (ourBRIDGE for KIDS)
• Nikki Yamashiro – Afterschool Alliance: Program spotlight: ourBRIDGE for KIDS working with immigrant and refugee families amidst COVID-19