SPECIAL FEATURE
GRADUATION
Below are some reflections from our Fellows and graduated Bridgers about their time in the Fellowship. We want to wish a hearty congratulations to all of our graduated Seniors, it has been a pleasure knowing each and every one of you, and we cannot wait to see all that you accomplish in the years to come!
NEW IDEAS AND EXCITEMENT
by Hallel Abrams Gerber
You can tell a lot about a program based on the entrance process. The first time I looked at YouthBridge’s application, admittedly only a few nights before the deadline, I was immediately moved by the meaningful and nuanced questions, the text excerpt, and the commitment to diversity. I excitedly pressed submit, then hoped for the next steps. YouthBridge was my first group interview, and it set the bar too high. I came away brimming with new ideas and excitement, hoping to continue discussing with people I had just met, learn from their experiences, and gain a better understanding of the city I inhabit. When I received the acceptance, there was considerable celebration.
YouthBridge is a true community, a place where you show up knowing no one but walk away with five new conversations in fifteen minutes. A place where a single praise of a snack guarantees its reoccurrence for months to come. And that is because people at YouthBridge pay attention. They listen intently to teachings. They discuss. And they remember.
There is so much I will cherish from YouthBridge, whether memories of sitting on hammocks and looking up at the sky at the retreat or learning to talk–and market myself–to industry professionals. I have grown so deeply—in my confidence and ability to ask difficult questions, my understanding of intersectionality, and so much more.
I will take away the knowledge that I am capable of what I set my mind to, whether making it from school in the Bronx to Midtown in record time or tackling important issues, and that I always have people who will fight for me.
I cannot wait to see what happens next. I know it will be a learning opportunity and a great deal of fun.
A SIGNIFICANT TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE
by Yijin Dong
My name is Yijin Dong, and I am truly honored to have this opportunity to share my experiences at YouthBridge with all of you here. This lovely organization is a place filled with love, kindness, and endless possibilities.
My journey with YouthBridge began officially last summer during the retreat, where I got to meet so many remarkable and talented individuals, many of whom are graduating today and embarking on a new chapter in their lives.
I still vividly remember the moments we spent playing volleyball, indulging in hot Cheetos, and engaging in exciting scavenger hunts together. It fills my heart with pride and joy to see all of you overcoming the challenges of the past year. There is a lot more I want to say to tell you how amazing our seniors are, but for the sake of the time - congratulations and thank you for all of the support.
YouthBridge has been instrumental in teaching me the importance of appreciating the things I have in my life, and highlighting the importance of the various social inequalities that we as high school students can work towards changing. As a member of the healthcare disparities committee, I have had the opportunity to learn crucial topics such as the injustices in the healthcare system, which often goes overlooked in our daily lives. Being part of this organization has been an honor and has marked a significant turning point in my life.
In YouthBridge, I have found a sense of belonging. I have discovered my self-worth and values. Most importantly, I have found an unforgettable community that has had a lasting positive impact on my life.
CARVE AND DEFINE YOUR OWN SUCCESS
by Daiana Azimova
I want to start off by saying Assalamualaikum, which translated from Arabic means “May peace be upon you.” It’s a common phrase used by Muslims to greet one another. I, myself, use this phrase countless times throughout the day. Saying this particularly in the West can definitely send bells ringing. But I decided to start off my speech this way because that’s what YouthBridge taught me: To be myself. To embrace my identity. To be unapologetically me, which sounds super corny, I know, but it’s exactly that.
YouthBridge is like no other program I have been a part of. Not only is it 2 years, but the vastness and depth of the curricula deserves a round of applause.
I chose the Healthcare Disparities committee, aka the best committee, because of my previous experience in this field. Every Monday that we met, we not only had profound and enriching conversations, but also bonding ones. Which groups face the most disparities? What kind of disparities? Are some of the questions we all were thinking about that contributed to the conversation. Not only did I review some of the material I’ve previously learned but also broadened my knowledge of health care disparities. And I got to learn more about the organizations doing the work to combat these issues, like our Bridging the Gap grantee, Together We Can Community Resource Center Inc.
With the knowledge that I’ve gained, I have applied it in multiple settings outside of YouthBridge like class discussions and essay prompts. YouthBridge is not just about learning something we’re passionate and interested in but applying it in our communities and advocating for change.
I think everyone here would agree that YouthBridge has helped shape and enhance our advocacy skills. It taught me to be even more vocal than I already am. And it also taught me to have evidence to back up all of my points, making my argument so much stronger. We were able to use our advocacy skills in all of the workshops we participated in. A skill we will continue using beyond YouthBridge, and for the rest of our lives.
Although I love every memory of YouthBridge equally, my favorite one has to be our first skillbuilding workshop. As I was the first to arrive, I felt completely out of my bubble. When other fellows began entering in, everyone was a new face to me, but there were a couple I recognized either from school or from Popsicles in the Park. In my head I thought, this is going to be so awkward, how do I make friends?
As everyone settled in and we began the workshop, it was not as awkward as I thought it would be. Everyone was really relaxed, enjoying the food and drinks, and engaging in the conversation. But the reason why this is my favorite memory is when we did the interactive activity, the Cultures game, when we were all given a colored card describing how we should act when meeting new people. Everyone was easy to get along with and many laughs were shared that night. I hope you all enjoyed the party me and my brother hosted (if you know, you know). But that night, I knew that YouthBridge was going to be extraordinary… and it has been nothing less than that.
Every meeting, I had the chance to get to know incredible people. We have built strong bonds over many shared experiences of junior year. I know senior year is gonna be a rollercoaster, but I also know that every Thursday that we will meet next year, we each will have a support system; which is always there in- and outside of YouthBridge. I am so excited to continue growing with YouthBridge and with you all.
For graduating Bridgers, I want to congratulate you on reaching another milestone, which you all should be proud of. The next chapter of your life may be a tumultuous one, but it will be filled with joy and life long memories. As the pressure of college and choosing the right path sets in, remember that you don’t have to follow the societal idea of success.
Carve and define your own success.
UNDERSTANDING AND COMMUNITY
by Erina Chowdhury
As someone who’s been surrounded by the same people and like-minded perspectives for their entire life, I needed to branch out and meet new people in an approach that was meaningful to me. My neighborhood had the people I loved, the alluded sights I grew familiar with, and the welcoming smells of home in a town with predominantly Black and Brown immigrants, like mine.
Growing accustomed to this tight-knit bubble made me feel extremely comfortable and not ready for change until the pandemic, when isolation was now the new norm. I found YouthBridge during this reflective time. Not only was I captivated by the possibility of meeting youth across my diverse city, but I wanted to get involved in something bigger than myself through the grant-making process and leadership training I received throughout my years in high school.
After the acceptance, I knew YouthBridge was for me. It was where I began to express myself while being proud of my personal story and perspective.
I’ve met many wonderful individuals who are unique in their own diverse ways — with each person bringing something new to the table every time we meet. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each skill-building workshop and the fun, yet enlightening moments I’ve gained in the Criminal Justice Reform Committee.
I initially chose this committee because I wanted a better understanding of how our criminal legal system works and the ways it implicates BIPOC in all spheres discriminatorily.
I distinctly remember coming 10 minutes earlier to our first committee meeting and I was so nervous while entering the elevator. However, my nerves went away as I saw Tiffany and began to form endless conversations with my peers from icebreakers, to then games of realization. This sense of comfort never left, even when tackling topics that brought discomfort due to their realness.
Each meeting is an experience for me to learn more about the systemic issues that lay the groundwork for this inequitable system, including the prison-industrial complex, the school-to-prison pipeline, and having the ability to hear from the perspectives of those personally impacted by these barriers was powerful. I remember sharing my experiences on metal detectors for the first time and feeling heard in my story because of the safe space YouthBridge has fostered for us Fellows.
Our committee has a sense of deep understanding and community, where we felt we belonged to share our own ideas in a non-judgemental space. I really appreciated the space (and the amazing snacks that were always provided each Tuesday, which made me even happier)!
I’ve loved having discussions with my peers on these topics and why young people like us are needed at the forefront of this change. I’ve learned how to take action through restorative practices and educate my community with knowledge and care. And I am proud to have made an impact through our Bridging the Gap Grant, which we will award to A Beautiful Heart Ministries in support of their work to improve the quality of life for formerly incarcerated women, girls, and gender-fluid individuals through their Alternatives to Incarceration program.
I’ve understood the importance of teamwork while tackling challenges, the necessity to understand new perspectives while forming an opinion, and how new experiences can shape me in an utterly transformative way.
Becoming open-minded to adversity is the number one skill that stuck with me throughout this year. Being open to new perspectives and ideas is something I will bring into every space of my life and will continue to use these new ideas into approaching my life in New York City. I’m excited for my journey into my senior year of high school and transitioning into a new phase of college. I will continue to use the skills of leadership, empathy, and open-mindedness everywhere I lead as a future and (continuing) changemaker within New York City.
A GREAT EYE-OPENER
by Chelsea Mclaurin
My initial motivation for joining this particular committee was the standing history of food inequity in America. I wanted to be a part of the conversation on how we can help solve the huge problem of food insecurity in this country. With that, our meetings happened once every month where we considered various perspectives and became enlightened on problems faced in regards to food justice.
Particularly, one game that I have a vivid memory of is “Spent”. This game, created by Mckinney, allows players to be put into the shoes of different people. It is where I became aware of the struggles faced in our societies. Struggles in regard to poverty and homelessness. I remember when I role-played as two different characters. One was a mother that had to rely on hourly pay that wasn’t cutting it. The amount of money she made was not enough to buy nutritious groceries and pack a lunch for her child. Another character had just immigrated to this country and had difficulty finding their footing in our society. They were afraid of asking for help outside of their ethnic and religious community. On top of that, they were not able to obtain a job due to their lack of communication skills in the English Language.
Spent was surely a great eye-opener. It revealed to me that individual values are based on the circumstances people are dealt. So, when it comes to what I learned being on the Food Justice Committee for YouthBridge, I’ve learned that there are several stories from various people just waiting to be told. People in our society are sometimes dealt with unimaginable circumstances. Times where nutritious food is out of reach in communities that are red-lined making it increasingly difficult for minorities to eat healthy, wages and salaries being not nearly enough for nourishing food, and a lack of opportunities making it nearly impossible for children to be fed on a regular basis.
As a committee, we put ourselves into other people’s shoes and began to see the livelihoods that people endure day to day. Certainly, nutritious food needs to be assured to everyone. But first, the inherent issues in our society need to be addressed.
INSPIRED TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE
by Kristen Lau
It has been an incredible journey that has opened my eyes and strengthened my commitment to addressing food justice.
During our monthly meetings, our small committee has created such a friendly and welcoming environment, which has allowed us to get to know each other very well and become close friends.
As a committee, we focused on understanding and finding solutions for food insecurity, and we analyzed the underlying factors such as limited access to fresh produce, transportation challenges, and economic disparities. To deepen our knowledge, we watched documentaries like "A Place at the Table," "Wasted," and "The American Food Disparity".
"A Place at the Table" showed us the struggles faced by people in the United States who don't have enough nutritious food, and it really emphasized the need for a fair and inclusive food system. "Wasted" highlighted the shocking amount of food wasted throughout the food supply chain. It made us aware of the environmental impact and encouraged us to explore ways to reduce food waste, like composting and food recovery programs. And "The American Food Disparity" documentary shed light on the unequal access to quality food in our communities. It showed us the challenges faced by marginalized and low-income neighborhoods, motivating us to raise awareness, challenge inequalities, and advocate for change.
Seeing firsthand the impact of the hunger crisis on individuals has been truly heart-wrenching and a reminder of my own privilege. In our recent committee meeting, we reflected on our YouthBridge experience and the word "awareness" strongly resonated with me as a word to encapsulate my time as a fellow.
This journey has transformed my understanding of the world, and I have developed a deeper sense of empathy and a heightened awareness of the numerous challenges faced by vulnerable communities. I now feel a much stronger sense of responsibility to address the systemic issues that contribute to food injustice, and I’m inspired to advocate for change, raise awareness, and work towards a more fair society.
CHANGING THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE
by Alishba Waqar
As a committee of three, it was vital that we discussed thoroughly and took everyone’s opinions into account. We had six solid applications, each demonstrating passion, community service, dedication, and excitement to the cause.
When evaluating our grant applicants, our committee focused on their specific mission, their innovativeness, how the organization plans to spend the $500, and the impact the organization plans to make using our grant. This was a difficult process, as it required several discussions filled with deliberation, ultimately relying on our communication and discussion skills, and strengthening the relationship between the members of the Food Justice Committee.
The opportunity to give out a grant was something I have never been given before. We had the ability to make a direct impact in our communities and change the lives of our people as our grant provides people with the necessary resources to implement programs, offer services, and make a positive impact. After two hours of deliberation, there was one application that stuck out to us the most. In this application we saw clear determination, creativity, and a goal that aligns with our values.
The 2023 Bridging the Gap Grant Winner is an organization named Community of Unity. Community of Unity connects with youth, empowers them to make choices that lead to growth, and inspires their pursuit of a personally satisfying future. Through their association with over 200 schools in NYC and beyond, Community of Unity has reached over 30,000 young people through their youth programs, professional development workshops, and consulting materials.
What specifically caught our eye was The Shop. The Shop is Community of Unity’s student run cafe where the New Design High School community comes to eat, drink, celebrate, and collaborate. At The Shop, students are given the opportunity to expand their job experience through training that teaches them to craft high quality products, provide excellent customer service, and run a profitable small business.
Our committee thought this was amazing as it aligned well with our goals in the Food Justice Committee by directly educating and guiding youth towards opportunities and better lifestyle choices.
And we are so happy to support this work.
I FOUND SOMETHING IRREPLACEABLE
by Adom Kirshner
My name is Adom Kirshner, and I am a graduating Bridger.
Whenever I have writer's block, I love to think of a random metaphor and English teacher-ify it.
I remember when it came time to write my college essay, I thought of this wild metaphor of a wall. And throughout the essay, I was getting closer and closer to it. The wall symbolized me getting closer to my inner self or something like that. While it gives “I want to get into college” vibes, I feel like there is some truth in there. I spent a lot of time thinking about what extracurriculars would get me into a “good” college that I didn’t think about what would actually make me happy.
I thank my mom for forcing me to find extracurriculars in my sophomore year of high school because that’s how I found YouthBridge.
I was shy. I didn’t want to talk to people and I thought it would be a boring program just to put on my resume. When we did the first retreat in Harlem during COVID, I was happily surprised to see how nice everyone was and how laid back the program was. But what made me finally fall in love with YouthBridge was the overnight retreat. The first activity that comes to my head when I think of the retreat was when we played YouthBridge Neighborhood, where we were divided into teams and given materials to build our own neighborhood. I learned about how different neighborhoods have different resources but I also built stronger attachments to my fellow Bridgers as we got sent to jail by Tiffany the police officer and comedically struggled to build a functioning society.
If I go back to my college essay metaphor, I can say that I passed that wall. While it started out as something to simply put on my resume, I found something irreplaceable. I learned to communicate with people without feeling in my head. I learned to advocate for what I want, whether it be social justice or simply organizing a project at school. Everyday when I walked out of that building with my fellow Bridgers, I felt accomplished. I could imagine myself actually making a change in politics some time soon instead of it just being a distant dream.
I want to thank Tiffany, Karen, all the Bridgers and Fellows, and the YouthBridge board for making me the person that I am today.
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
by Aishah Awotubo-Qasim
My name is Aishah Awotubo-Qasim and I am currently a high school senior at New Visions AMS2. I am also a graduating YouthBridge Fellow, which brings a mix of emotions including sadness, joy, contentment, and hopefulness.
As someone who is driven and involved in multiple programs, YouthBridge has been a highlight for me. I have had the pleasure of meeting wonderful people, including my fellow peers and friends, two incredible mentors Tiffany and Karen, and various professionals. And let's not forget the pizza delivery people, because I always looked forward to the pizzas.
At the beginning of YouthBridge, I missed a lot as I wasn’t vaccinated yet. This made me miss out on forming a connection with my mentors and fellow peers as I wasn’t able to attend the meetings. This inconvenience made my perspective of YouthBridge not as strong as it is now.
Back then, YouthBridge was just another one of all my extracurriculars. However, when I eventually started attending YouthBridge, I have come to discover that all my programs were incomparable to YouthBridge.
From attending meetings where I felt like my voice was being heard and appreciated, I got the chance to speak on topics I didn’t even think were one. Gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, Women's equality, Healthcare issues in the United States and more. As a member of a minority community in NYC, my experiences with YouthBridge have allowed me to reflect on the systemic inequalities that exist in the United States. It's clear that certain communities are favored over others, but we can overcome this by using our voices, educating ourselves, and helping each other.
I've come to realize that individual success is less important if it's not shared by those around us. Instead, we should strive to lift each other up. Thanks to YouthBridge, I've been empowered to speak up more and take a leadership role, even when I might have previously deferred to others. I'm grateful for this newfound confidence and will continue to use my voice to effect positive change.
To finalize this speech, I am grateful for the memories I made at YouthBridge, including the enjoyable retreats that strengthened our bond; the Stony Point retreat will forever be a memorable one. I am also grateful for the panels and conversations with professionals that gave us valuable insights into the workforce. I am excited to share that I will be attending Colby College in Maine this fall, and I am proud to have featured YouthBridge as one of the most significant programs in my application.
Thank you to all our supporters, we definitely appreciate it. Our beloved mentors, Karen and Tiffany, thank you for being such understanding people, and finally my fellow peers thank you so much for making my experience at YouthBridge unforgettable.