2022 COMBAT Funding: $150,231.00

In Bridge Leadership Academy' Own Words

For Youth 12-18

Bridge Leadership Academy (The Bridge) is a youth-empowerment program that is proud to have served families, student, and community-based organizations in the Hickman Mills School District and surrounding metropolitan communities since 2016. 

The Bridge serves youth, ages 12-18 who reside in South Kansas City and areas considered hot spots for crime.

Reducing Factors That Lead To Violent Situations

The Bridge Youth Violence Prevention Program (The Bridge YVP) is designed to prevent and reduce factors that put youth at risk of witnessing a violent crime, being a victim of violence and/or making unhealthy choices. 

The Bridge YVP program consists of a series of life skills and leadership development workshops designed to help students to develop and employ healthy strategies when dealing with conflicts in everyday life. Workshops topics include communication strategies, goal setting, healthy relationships, positive self-talk, basic self-care, and healthy coping mechanisms. 

Addressing Trauma, Anxiety & Stress

The Bridge also provides on-site psychologists who facilitate counseling sessions to address trauma, anxiety, and stress, empowering our youth to develop behaviors that foster safe and healthy environments for themselves. The Bridge looks forward to collaborating with The Center for Conflict Resolution, which will assist us with restorative justice seminars and additional wrap-around services.

Effective Prevention Strategies

The Bridge YVP structures curriculum based on evidence, research and resources regarding the effectiveness of youth violence prevention strategies. The sources informing our work and programming include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S Department of Health and Human Services, The National Task Force of Children Exposed to Violence, and a variety of other peer-reviewed articles and studies.

Program Launched In 2018

The Bridge YVP program was launched and funded by COMBAT in 2018. During this time, the program has served 65 youth; 90% female and 10% male, with a 98% completion rate. The outcomes of the program have steadily improved over time, with 40% reporting a reduction in their participation in bullying; 86% of participants reporting experiencing healthier relationships with key family members; and 100% of participants reporting having no physical fights during the program. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Bridge YVP has adopted a new learning and social platform to interact with and deliver services to participants. Prior to and since the pandemic, The Bridge YVP has been in constant communications with participants, providing food, facilitating virtual workshops online and conducting enrichment activities, such as virtual dance competitions, art workshops, poetry competitions and much more.