Young Men on a Journey

A bridge participant may…

• have been to college and decided they need better preparation for self-management or a more developed sense of passion and motivation before going back.
• be considering a more technical, hands-on vocational path and need life experience, work experience, professionalism training, & vocational exploration before going into the work world or choosing a technical college for education.
• have unique skills and personal resources, but needs to continue to strengthen their support network & individual resources to allow them to better navigate through adult life.

A bridge participant may not know exactly where he wants to go in life. Or he may know where he wants to go, but needs support in making the changes necessary to get there. In any case, these young men have the level of insight needed to recognize that they would benefit from a supportive and eye-opening preparatory experience before making the next step.

Quick Look at Participants

• 8-14 participants at a time
• 17-22 years olds
• All Male
• Completed high school (or only have a few credits remaining to complete the diploma, which can be done at New Summit Academy)
• Looking for a gap semester or hybrid gap year
• Enrollment between 6 months and 18 months, average of 8-9 months

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A Bridge participant may be... 

• intellectually bright but lacking the executive functioning skills (time management, future planning, organization, decision-making) to follow through.
• allowing their world to shrink in on them without reaching out for support and are functioning with few & inefficient resources to productively prepare for their future.
• a nontraditional learner (i.e. artistically talented) and struggling with a level of anxiety or depression that dampens his performance and damages confidence.
• motivated to change but not knowing exactly how and may be avoiding doing what it takes to make change happen.
• losing confidence in himself because he made some poor decisions, possibly leading to insecurity about the direction of his vocational path or ability to manage independent living as an adult.

What We Offer

• Career exploration through internships & work experience with professional mentors
• Service learning & community service hours
• Classes online or at bilingual universities (or New Summit Academy for high school seniors nearing completion of their diploma)
• Community living with staff mentors & peers
• Individualized support & mentoring
• Holistic, individualized goal-planning and follow up
• College counseling support
• Family involvement & growth
• Cultural immersion home stays & Aventura trips
• Spanish language lessons & cross-cultural immersion
• Character development of work ethic, responsibility, & relationship building
• Self-sufficiency and development of independence through life skill workshops & community living
• Healthy recreation and social integration

How We Support

We love everyone in our community.
We are not as interested in your problems as we are in your passions
​and your potential to build resilience and overcome problems.
We are all perfectly imperfect, striving to learn, grow, and give.
​Let us accompany you in discovering your passions and your own unique path.

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Testimonials

“I feel much more confident about myself as a person, and have matured a lot since being here.”

“I’m learning more about myself, learning important life skills, practicing Spanish, living more independently with a crucial safety net, and gaining confidence that I’ll succeed outside of here.”

“I have practiced staying busy and productive for almost all of the day. I now manage and schedule my time to organize my day and follow my priorities.”

More Testimonials