2024 Annual Report

Smiling young latin woman with dark hair in red dress working in department store

2024 Annual Report

Power of a Job 2

AN EMAIL FROM GRATEFUL MOM IN DALLAS

This is Kevin’s Mom.
Kevin had his five-year anniversary at the Hyatt. I’ve been meaning to email you about this milestone for months now.

Here is a photo his manager took of him on that day with his certificate. He also got a nifty catalog and got to pick out a five-year anniversary gift. He opted for a pair of wireless earbuds. 🙂

Thanks for all the work you do to help young adults like Kevin find employment. He has had a wonderful five years at the Hyatt!!

kevin's mom

Kevin Cartier

Kevin
Dallas

AISHA BUFORD OF CHICAGO

Chicago Bridges alumna Aisha Buford-Morrison got early work experience as a sales associate with Dylan’s Candy Bar. She performed so well that Bridges helped her progress into a role with Accenture as a location services associate, a position she held for more than four years.

Since August 2021, Aisha has worked as a claims assistant with the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, where she is a member of the union with full benefits, including a pension.

Two African American young people in winter coats standing in front of the entrance to JPMorgan Chase in Chicago

Aisha Buford
Chicago

PAUL OF GRAPEVINE, TX

At a Bridges event held in October 2023 at the Dallas Marriott Uptown, we recognized program alumnus Paul of Grapevine, TX. Paul has been employed more than four years at Michael’s, the arts and crafts store.

Paul, now 25, is pictured below with his senior youth employment specialist, Erica Jones, and his human resources manager from Michaels, Lauren Tarpley.

Paul’s mom, Heather, feared that her son, who has an intellectual disability, would never be able to get a job. Heather wrote a detailed testimonial explaining what Bridges has meant to her and Paul. To the right is an excerpt.

Paul-Cox-Eric-and-his-manager-at-DFW-BRR

Left to Right: Lauren Tarpley, Micheals Human Resources Manager; Paul, Bridges Alumna; Erica Jones, Senior Youth Employment Specialist

Paul has been at Artistree, a subsidiary of Michael’s, for over three years, where he works full-time, with good pay and full benefits. Every day that he has a job is a miracle to me.

Erica Jones with the Bridges program coached Paul through the interview and job application process. She helped him through the transition from being a sheltered special education student to an adult employee, including innumerable obstacles that emerged during the pandemic.”

 

HEATHER C

ARMARK HIRES CHAMPIONS

Twenty-five-year-old Cameron of Plano, Texas, is a champion, whether he’s feeding a hungry lunch crowd or competing in a Special Olympics swim meet.

Cameron, pictured here and with his co-workers below, has worked full-time for nearly three years in the Capital One cafeteria managed by Aramark, where his co workers, along with his Bridges employment specialist Cassandra Poole, are always cheering him on.

C-Delafield-Team-Photo
Photo of a smiling young man in glasses and smiling young woman standing at the front desk of a hotel.

Cameron
Plano

A CULINARY WORK ANNIVERSARY

A graduate of Moises Molina High School, Pedro, 21, has already surpassed 18 months of employment at the Dallas Renaissance Hotel, where he works full-time as a prep cook. Renaissance Human Resources Manager Blanca Barbosa says “Pedro is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is so sweet and kind and loves learning new culinary techniques. He even helps us recruit and has referred multiple people to apply for our openings.”

Photo of a smiling young man in glasses and smiling young woman standing at the front desk of a hotel.

Pedro
Dallas