Bridge Builders Foundation (BBF), a 501c3 non-profit, is a “community influencers” that currently serves over 500 youth of color annually through one of three Dedicated Programs (STEM, Mentor, and Scholars) and and underrepresented communities within Greater Los Angeles through their targeted initiatives on healthcare awareness and financial literacy.
Mentoring is a process that involves sharing prosocial values, becoming a role model, and building trust. Mentoring relationships can be formal or informal and occur in various settings, including workplaces, schools, and communities.
Mentoring is critical in Positive Youth Development and starts with sharing prosocial values. This involves establishing a common ground of shared values, beliefs, and principles that guide behavior. Prospective mentors must understand their mentee’s goals and aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, and the context in which they operate. By sharing their experiences, values, and insights, mentors can help mentees navigate challenging situations, learn from past mistakes, and make informed decisions.
BBF is a social impact organization leveraging relationships of its network of communitybased organizations and stakeholders to strengthen the capacity of smaller grassroots organizations.
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Over time, the mentor becomes perceived as a role model. Mentees look up to their mentors as exemplars of the values and behaviors they aspire to emulate. This perception is reinforced through the mentor’s actions, attitudes, and behaviors, which align with the shared values established at the outset of the mentoring relationship.
Once trust is built between the mentor and mentees, work collaboratively to identify and pursue goals, share feedback, and support each other’s growth and development. This two-way process enables both parties to learn from each other, gain new perspectives, and develop new skills. Mentors benefit from the opportunity to reflect on their own experiences and learn from the mentee’s perspectives, while mentees benefit from the mentor’s guidance, support, and expertise.
SUMMER 2023
:: A CALL TO ACTION :: Why we MUST be active and intimate participants in Youth Development
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For many young Black boys, the lack of mentors and positive male role models can lead to feelings of hopelessness, anger, and confusion. This can have serious consequences, including dropping out of school, involvement in crime, and perpetuating negative stereotypes.
Mentors and positive male role models can take many forms, from fathers and grandfathers to coaches, mentors, and community leaders. These men can guide, support, and encourage young Black boys, helping them develop into confident, responsible, and successful individuals.
Furthermore, Black men who serve as role models for young Black boys can help to break down negative stereotypes and promote positive representations of Black masculinity. By demonstrating integrity, responsibility, and leadership, they can challenge the media-driven images of Black men as violent, uneducated, and irresponsible. The value of Black men serving as role models and mentors for young Black boys cannot be overstated. By stepping up and serving as positive influences in the lives of young Black boys, we can help to create a brighter future for our communities and the next generation.
Bridge Builders Programs actively recruits mentors and provides training and certifications. To volunteer and learn more, please visit our website:
www.bridgebuildersla.org/volunteer/
2 | BRIDGE BUILDERS NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2023
Empowering Communities of Color: The Vital Role of STEM Education
STEM education in communities of color is essential for several reasons. First and foremost, it provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s rapidly changing world. STEM fields are at the forefront of innovation, and the demand for workers with these skills is high. By equipping students with a solid STEM foundation, we can help them secure high-paying, in-demand jobs and contribute to the growth of our economy.
STEM education also promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. These skills are invaluable in all areas of life, not just STEM-related fields. When students learn how to approach complex problems and find solutions, they develop the confidence and skills they need to tackle any challenge that comes their way.
The benefits of STEM education are clear, but unfortunately, significant barriers still prevent many students from pursuing careers in STEM. One of the main barriers is access to quality STEM education. Many
students of color attend schools without the resources to provide a robust STEM curriculum. This means they may not have access to the classes and equipment needed to develop their STEM skills.
Another barrier is the lack of role models and mentors in STEM fields. When students do not see people who look like them succeeding in STEM careers, they may not believe it is viable. It is crucial to provide students of color with opportunities to meet and learn from successful STEM professionals who can serve as role models and mentors.
Additionally, there is a pervasive stereotype that minority students are not interested in STEM or cannot excel in these fields. This stereotype is not only false but also harmful. It can lead to lower expectations from teachers and peers, which can, in turn, affect students’ self-esteem and performance in STEM subjects. Challenging this stereotype and
providing ethnic minority students with the support and encouragement they need to pursue their STEM interests and abilities is essential.
Bridge Builders Foundation provides a year-round Saturday Science Academy (January through July) and two summer marine science camps. The Urban Bridges camp targets 11th and 12th-grade students and is a weeklong partnership with UCSD/ Scripps Institute, where students stay on the UCSD campus and receive intensive instruction from staff at the Scripps Institute. In addition, BBF provides a three-weekend camp for 5th through 10th graders that involve trips to southland venues and capstones with a 3-day, 2-night stay at the USC/Wrigley Marine Science Center. The staff at USC leads this instruction, and Dr. Dijanna Figueroa oversees the curriculum delivery at both UCSD and USC.
Bridge Builders Foundation strengthens ties with Long Beach Unified School District
Bridge Builders Foundation (BBF) is thrilled to announce an expanded partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). Starting in the fall of 2023, BBF will provide bi-weekly mentoring support on two additional LBUSD campuses: Lakewood High School and Long Beach Wilson High School. This collaboration is part of the LBUSD Black Student Achievement Initiative (BASI) and aims to empower and uplift targeted youth through enriching experiences.
The engagement with BBF will expose students to recurring social, emotional, and cultural inputs, community enrichment field trips, weekly virtual math tutoring, and employment opportunities as Youth Ambassadors. Furthermore, it will create a pipeline for youth to access BBF’s existing STEM, Scholarship, and Mentoring resources.
BBF’s renowned “Thriving Under The Influence” Youth Leadership and Mentoring Program has been funded through the Los Angeles County “Ready to Rise” Initiative, which includes the California Community Foundation, Los Angeles County Probation Department, and Liberty Hill. The program has been successfully implemented in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for several years and has recently had a partial presence on the Long Beach Jordan High School campus.
With this formal agreement, BBF will serve as a consultant and service provider, enabling them to develop augmentative resources that address the unique needs of African American males and youth.
The Black Student Achievement Initiative was established as part of the 2021-22 LBUSD Learning Acceleration and Support Plan (LASP), which aims to provide excellent and equitable educational opportunities for students in the post-pandemic era. The plan brings together various resources to meet the needs of students and actively involves stakeholders through the BSAI Advisory Committee, which focuses on issues affecting Black students.
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Credit: Justin Grayson, LBUSD Chief Communications & Community Engagement Officer)
