As Learning Bridge continues to grow, answering the call from more youth in need of academic support, we’re constantly amazed by how our Austin community shows up. Not just with good intentions, but with rolled-up sleeves and genuine commitment to making a difference in young people’s lives. Our Program Manager, Monica, recently experienced this community spirit firsthand, and the ripple effects are still unfolding:
I was having coffee with fellow nonprofit leaders when I met Terri, the executive director of Sail Strong. As we talked, I learned that her organization helps vulnerable youth build confidence and life skills through learning to sail. Different method, yet same heart – we both dedicate to under-served kids who deserve every opportunity to thrive.
Terri immediately started thinking about who else might want to get involved and gave me some suggestions.Then, a couple of weeks following our coffee chat, Terri had applied to join us as a Learning Bridge tutor!
That’s just the spirit of Austin’s nonprofit community – when you find people doing good work, they don’t just applaud from the sidelines. They jump in and bring others with them.
Thanks to Terri, I had the privilege of connecting with Tanya Walker, the founder of Black Women Who, to share our mission in hopes of growing our tutor pool supporting our Black and African American student population. Tanya not only welcomed me warmly but immediately set up a meeting and invited me to share our mission in their Facebook group. She understood right away why it was important for us to have tutors who could relate to and support our Black and African American students.
The response was swift and heartwarming. Within 24 hours of my post, a member of Black Women Who had already stepped forward – ready to support a young woman who had recently aged out of foster care but was determined to earn her GED by fall. This young woman could have given up; she’s faced incredible challenges through the foster system. But she’s fighting for her education, and now she has someone fighting alongside her thanks to Terri and Tanya.
From one coffee conversation:
- Terri became a tutor
- Black Women Who opened their network to support our mission
- A young woman aging out of care gained an academic advocate
- Three organizations discovered new ways to collaborate
I’m so grateful for the generosity and collaboration of others in our community who help us ensure every youth gets the support they deserve. Now we have new tutors, new partnerships, and most importantly, students getting the support they need to succeed.
— Monica Wyatt, Program manager
Want to be part of expanding our circle of support? Whether you’re interested in tutoring, know someone who might be, or represent an organization that shares our mission, we’d love to connect. Reach out to us at info@learningbridgetx.org – you never know where the conversation might lead.
Sail Strong empowers under-served youth to navigate life’s challenges through the transformative power of sailing to instill confidence, resilience, and essential life skills. Through hands-on experiences and mentorship on the water, we strive to create a supportive community where young people can chart their own courses toward brighter futures.
Black Women Who is an organization dedicated to empowering Black women through movement and the outdoors. BWW aims to educate, inspire and empower black and brown women to overcome barriers, build confidence, and discover their potential through outdoor activities.
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