Bridges Philadelphia

PA · Since 1999

The Philadelphia Bridges program began in 1999. Philadelphia Bridges serves in-school young adults between the ages of 17-26 across 12 select high schools within the School District of Philadelphia.

2,318

Young adults served since 1999

1,811

Placements since 1999

75%

90-day retention (2025)

1,254+

Employer partners

45

Schools served

About this program

Bridges Philadelphia is based at 1100 Ludlow Street in Center City and serves in-school young adults ages 17 to 26 at 12 select high schools within the School District of Philadelphia. The program embeds Youth Employment Specialists in those schools to identify students who can benefit from career readiness support and to coordinate transition planning with school staff.

Founded in 1999, Bridges Philadelphia has built a school-based model focused on long-term partnerships with the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Transition Council. Both in-school career preparation and post-graduation placement and follow-along are coordinated through the program's school-based model.

Bridges Philadelphia has placed young adults into roles across hospitality, retail, grocery, food service, and entertainment employers throughout the city. These employer relationships extend the program's reach across Philadelphia's economy and open a range of first-job pathways for young adults.

Like every Bridges site, the Philadelphia program is free for participants and their families. A Youth Employment Specialist works one-on-one with each young adult to identify career goals, develop interviewing skills, connect with employers, create a résumé, apply for jobs, get a job, and succeed in a job. After a placement, the same specialist supports the new hire through the first year of employment, coordinating with the employer's HR team and following up at 30, 60, and 90-day milestones. The program is funded through grants, donations, and corporate giving. There is no tuition, and no fee to the employer.

The Philadelphia office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Stories

Stories from Philadelphia

Graduates and employers in the Philadelphia community.

See all stories
Calvin Pegram talking-head portrait from his My Bridges Story video, Philadelphia
Participant StoryCleanlogic

A production associate at Cleanlogic near Valley Forge

Calvin Pegram has spent more than two years as a production associate at Cleanlogic, a sustainable bath and body care manufacturer near Valley Forge.

Philadelphia, PAMay 5, 2026
Five years at Accenture at CBRE
Participant StoryCBRE

Five years at Accenture, now CBRE concierge

An Overbrook HS '16 grad, Velaye spent five years at Accenture before moving to CBRE as concierge for a global pharmaceutical account.

Philadelphia, PAMay 5, 2026
Demetrius Terrell on his day off in Center City Philadelphia, 14-year alumnus of the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia
Participant StoryRitz-Carlton Philadelphia

16 years at the Ritz-Carlton, plus a clothing brand, a podcast, and Vogue Italia

Demetrius started at the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia in October 2010, in a role created specifically for Bridges youth. Sixteen years later, he's in Guest Relations, and he's also a registered LLC, a freelance stylist, a Vogue Italia feature, and the host of a podcast.

Philadelphia, PAApril 20, 2026

The Philadelphia network

Who we work with in Philadelphia.

Employers hiring our participants

  • Aramark
  • Five Below
  • Giant Food
  • Ross Dress for Less
  • McDonald's
  • Philadelphia Phillies
  • The Home Depot
  • ShopRite
  • Grocery Outlet
  • Topgolf
  • Walmart
  • Insomnia Cookies

Local partners and districts

  • 12 select high schools within the School District of Philadelphia
  • School District of Philadelphia
  • Philadelphia Transition Council
  • Accenture
  • Aramark
  • Bank of America
  • Marriott
  • TJX
  • Wells Fargo

45

schools in the Philadelphia service area.

View all 45 schools →

  • South Philadelphia High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Roxborough High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Northeast High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Lincoln High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Furness High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Martin Luther King High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Thomas Alva Edison High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Constitution High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Benjamin Franklin High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Franklin Learning Center

    School District of Philadelphia

  • West Philadephia High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • John Bartram High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Overbrook High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • School of the Future

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Murrell Dobbins CTE High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Fels High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Frankford High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Hill-Freeman World Academy High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Parkway West High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Philadelphia High School for Girls

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Girard Academic Music Program

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Randolph Career Academy

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Science Leadership Academy

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Vaux Big Picture High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Walter B. Saul High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Mastery Charter School-Simon Gratz Campus

    School District of Philadelphia

  • George Washington High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Lankenau High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Strawberry Mansion High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Swenson Arts and Tech High School

  • The Workshop School

  • Kensington High School

    School District of Philadelphia

  • MaST - Byberry Campus

    Charter

  • MaST Community Charter School II

    Charter

  • Olney High School

  • Science Leadership Academy @ Beeber

    School District of Philadelphia

  • Esperanza Academy

    Charter

  • Cheltenham High School

  • Lankenau HS

  • Lincoln High School

  • Martin Luther King High School

  • Mill Creek School

  • Penn Treaty School

  • Philadelphia Virtual Academy

  • The Arts Academy of Benjamin Rush

Meet the team

Working alongside young adults and employers in Philadelphia.

Booda Sanchez, M.Ed.

Director

Booda Sanchez, M.Ed.

booda.sanchez@bridgestowork.org

Specialists & support team

Office

1100 Ludlow Street, 7th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm

Common questions

Bridges Philadelphia, answered.

Does Bridges from School to Work serve Philadelphia?
Yes. Bridges has operated in Philadelphia since 1999, helping young adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep competitive jobs with local employers.
Is Bridges Philadelphia free?
Yes. Bridges is always free for participants and their families, and there is no fee to employers. The program is funded through grants, donations, and corporate giving.
Who is eligible for Bridges Philadelphia?
Bridges serves young adults with disabilities who are preparing to enter the workforce, including both in-school students and out-of-school job seekers. The quickest way to find out is to start an interest form or answer a few quick questions on this site.
How does Bridges Philadelphia work?
Bridges follows a Prepare, Place, Support model: one-on-one job-readiness coaching, strength-based matching with local employers, and a dedicated Youth Employment Specialist who stays involved for a full year after a participant is hired.
What kinds of employers hire through Bridges Philadelphia?
Bridges Philadelphia places young adults with local and national employers across retail, hospitality, food service, healthcare, logistics, and other industries, including Aramark, Five Below, Giant Food, Ross Dress for Less, among many others.
How do I get started with Bridges Philadelphia?
Start an interest form on this website, or contact the Philadelphia team directly using the office details on this page. A Youth Employment Specialist will follow up to talk through next steps.
Where is the Bridges Philadelphia office?
The Bridges Philadelphia office is located at 1100 Ludlow Street, 7th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm.
Where you come in

Ready to connect with Bridges Philadelphia?

Whether you’re looking for support, want to hire talent, or are interested in partnering, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply NowSee If Bridges FitsHire from Bridges