BRIDGES: Mentoring, Literacy, and Life Skills Program for Middle and High School Girls

BRIDGES is a book discussion and mentoring program designed to support the personal growth and development of high school girls by engaging them in discussions of empowering themes from contemporary literature and age-appropriate films explored within a positive, affirming environment facilitated by college students and young professional women to whom the girls can relate. By supporting the development of teen girls, the facilitators function as “bridges” to success for the younger women. This program enhances Dayspring’s mission by promoting reading and comprehension skills within a larger context of girls’ social, emotional, and spiritual development. Girls also have cooking opportunities during several meetings where they use easy-to-make recipes to prepare simple dishes for sharing with one another. Bridges meets one evening per week for two eight-week sessions during the school year.