BRIDGEMAKERS

THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH RAMSEY COUNTY, WE DEVELOPED THE BRIDGEMAKERS' YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR FELLOWSHIP THAT PREPARES YOUNG PEOPLE FOR A LIFELONG CONTRIBUTION AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND LEADER. THIS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, DESIGNED FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS AGED 18-25. WE PRIORITIZE YOUTH FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS, YOUTH OF COLOR, OR YOUTH OTHERWISE FACING THE MOST ADVERSITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR EFFORTS ON INVESTING IN UNDER-RESOURCED YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS WHO FACE BARRIERS TO TRADITIONAL FUNDING OR SUPPORT SUCH AS LOW-INCOME AND YOUTH OF COLOR. IN OUR 2024-25 COHORT, WE CREATED 8 NEW PRODUCTS TO BE SOLD AND SERVICE PROVIDED TO OUR COMMUNITIES. WITH EACH 8-MONTH COHORT WE INVEST $85,400-$122,000 INTO 7-10 YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS WHO INVEST BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION, WE ALSO PRODUCED A RESEARCH REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF OUR LAST BRIDGE 2 SUCCESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM. SHOWCASING TO THE WORLD, WHAT IMPACT COMES WHEN WE INVEST INTO THE IDEAS OF OUR YOUTH.IN 2024, WE ALSO HIRED TWO NEW PROGRAM STAFF AND ONE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND A POLICY DIRECTOR. AS WELL AS HIRING AN OPERATIONS DIRECTOR TO EXPAND OUR ABILITY AND IMPACT AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM. THEY SUPPORTED BRIDGEMAKERS IN DEVELOPING NEW PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING EVENTS. WE DEVELOPED A PATHWAY 2 POLICY PROGRAM, WITH THE INTENTION OF GETTING OUR YOUTH MORE INVOLVED IN OUR CIVIC DEMOCRACY AND LEARNING HOW TO NAVIGATE CHANGE ON A POLICY LEVEL. BY DEVELOPING THEIR VOICE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO TALK AND WORK WITH THOSE IN POWER. IN OCT, WE ALSO STARTED A NEW COMMUNITY ORGANIZING EVENT CALLED INNOVATORS EXCHANGE WHERE WE BROUGHT TOGETHER YOUNG LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS FROM THE METRO AREA TO BUILD THEIR NETWORK AND SOCIAL CAPITAL. WITH THE POWER OF BRINGING TOGETHER AMAZING TALENTED LEADERS TO CONNECT AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND BUILD ON EACH OTHER'S WORK.