BridgeYear

A strong decade starts with a strong team!

Before jumping into another school year, BridgeYear’s staff came together for our annual All-Team Retreat to reflect, reconnect, spend intentional time preparing for what’s ahead, and celebrate a decade of impact at BridgeYear.

Between learning more about each other’s work, connecting with our Board, team activities, and some much-needed time to recharge, we left with an even stronger sense of the people and teamwork behind our mission.

We’re grateful for the team that makes this work possible and excited for another year of serving Houston students and our community! 💙

📣 Big news: BridgeYear is in the running for a panel at SXSW EDU 2027! 📣

Our session, “Credentials of Value: Building Pathways to Good Careers,” brings together nonprofit, community college, employer, and philanthropy leaders to tackle how we bridge the gap between high school and high-wage technical careers.

We need your help to get on the official schedule! Community voting via PanelPicker® is open NOW through August 23rd.

How to vote:
1️⃣ Tap the link in our bio!
2️⃣ Log in or create a free PanelPicker® account.
3️⃣ Tap the ❤️ next to our session title!

Looking for a fun, hands-on way to give back? 🙌

Volunteer with BridgeYear and experience our Career Test Drive® Program simulations just like our students do! Your feedback will help our new facilitators grow while helping BridgeYear test and refine its programming with real community input before bringing it to Houston schools.

• Tuesday, September 8 | 1:00 to 3:00 PM
• Third Ward Multi-Service Center | 3611 Ennis St, Houston, TX 77004

Ready to join us? Sign up to volunteer: https://www.tfaforms.com/5230686 or contact [email protected] with any additional questions!

Five weeks. Countless hours of hard work. One incredible accomplishment. ⚡🎓

Congratulations to the four BridgeYear Career Cohort participants who completed the TRIO Electric training program in partnership with Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM) and earned their OSHA certification!

Every milestone like this brings our graduates one step closer to rewarding careers in the skilled trades. We're excited to see what's next! 💙

Help prepare the next generation of talent!

BridgeYear is looking for volunteers for our Career Cohort Student Mock Interviews on Wednesday, August 5, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Support students as they build confidence and practice interview skills before their apprenticeship interviews. No interview experience is required.

📍 Hermann Park Centennial Garden

Dinner provided | Free parking | Business casual attire

Register here: https://www.tfaforms.com/5192371

There's a lot to celebrate at BridgeYear! 💙💚💛

We're excited to welcome some incredible additions to our team and celebrate new opportunities within it. Every person brings unique talents, fresh perspectives, and a shared passion for helping Houston's youth discover what's possible.

We can't wait to see all that we'll accomplish together. Please join us in celebrating this exciting new chapter! 🎉

A new career is coming to BridgeYear's Career Test Drive® Program! 🦷

We're excited to introduce our newest hands-on career simulation: Dental Hygienist.

Students will soon have the opportunity to explore this growing healthcare profession through an interactive experience that brings the career to life. With an average annual salary of approximately $98,479, it's a pathway that offers strong long-term opportunities.

We can't wait to see the first students step into this simulation and experience what a future in dental hygiene could look like.

Building a career isn't just about learning new skills. It's also about building meaningful connections.

That's what stood out in Elissa's reflection during BridgeYear's Automotive Technician Pre-Apprenticeship.

She shared that she's excited about the opportunity to meet industry professionals, grow her network, and discover where those connections might lead because she recognizes that every connection has the potential to become a future opportunity. 🤝

Most students graduate from high school without a clear vision for what's next.

At BridgeYear, we're changing that through hands-on career exploration, essential workplace skills, direct connections to training pathways, and the support students need to confidently launch into the workforce.

Swipe to see how we're helping Houston's youth turn career exploration into opportunity. 💙

A new chapter is underway! 💊

This week, 17 students officially began their journey in BridgeYear's newest Pharmacy Technician Career Cohort in partnership with Uncharted Territory Solutions.

Over the coming months, they'll complete online coursework as they work toward earning an industry-recognized Pharmacy Technician certification. By earning this credential, they're preparing for careers in one of Houston's growing healthcare fields, where Pharmacy Technicians can earn an average starting wage of $18 per hour, with opportunities to increase their earning potential through experience, additional certifications, and specialized roles.

Along the way, BridgeYear advisors will provide career coaching, mock interviews, and ongoing support to help students confidently prepare for the workforce.

Join us in wishing our newest cohort the best as they take this exciting step toward their future! 🎉