Bridges Philadelphia
PA · Since 1999
The Philadelphia Bridges program began in 1999. Philadelphia Bridges serves in-school young adults between the ages of 17-26 across 12 select high schools within the School District of Philadelphia.
2,318
Young adults served since 1999
1,811
Placements since 1999
75%
90-day retention (2025)
1,254+
Employer partners
45
Schools served
About this program
Bridges Philadelphia is based at 1100 Ludlow Street in Center City and serves in-school young adults ages 17 to 26 at 12 select high schools within the School District of Philadelphia. The program embeds Youth Employment Specialists in those schools to identify students who can benefit from career readiness support and to coordinate transition planning with school staff.
Founded in 1999, Bridges Philadelphia has built a school-based model focused on long-term partnerships with the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Transition Council. Both in-school career preparation and post-graduation placement and follow-along are coordinated through the program's school-based model.
Bridges Philadelphia has placed young adults into roles across hospitality, retail, grocery, food service, and entertainment employers throughout the city. These employer relationships extend the program's reach across Philadelphia's economy and open a range of first-job pathways for young adults.
Like every Bridges site, the Philadelphia program is free for participants and their families. A Youth Employment Specialist works one-on-one with each young adult to identify career goals, develop interviewing skills, connect with employers, create a résumé, apply for jobs, get a job, and succeed in a job. After a placement, the same specialist supports the new hire through the first year of employment, coordinating with the employer's HR team and following up at 30, 60, and 90-day milestones. The program is funded through grants, donations, and corporate giving. There is no tuition, and no fee to the employer.
The Philadelphia office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.
The Philadelphia network
Who we work with in Philadelphia.
Employers hiring our participants
Local partners and districts
- 12 select high schools within the School District of Philadelphia
- School District of Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Transition Council
- Accenture
- Aramark
Bank of America- Marriott
- TJX
- Wells Fargo
45
schools in the Philadelphia service area.
View all 45 schools →Hide list ↑
South Philadelphia High School
School District of Philadelphia
Roxborough High School
School District of Philadelphia
Northeast High School
School District of Philadelphia
Lincoln High School
School District of Philadelphia
Furness High School
School District of Philadelphia
Martin Luther King High School
School District of Philadelphia
Thomas Alva Edison High School
School District of Philadelphia
Constitution High School
School District of Philadelphia
Benjamin Franklin High School
School District of Philadelphia
Franklin Learning Center
School District of Philadelphia
West Philadephia High School
School District of Philadelphia
John Bartram High School
School District of Philadelphia
Overbrook High School
School District of Philadelphia
School of the Future
School District of Philadelphia
Murrell Dobbins CTE High School
School District of Philadelphia
Fels High School
School District of Philadelphia
Frankford High School
School District of Philadelphia
Hill-Freeman World Academy High School
School District of Philadelphia
Parkway West High School
School District of Philadelphia
Philadelphia High School for Girls
School District of Philadelphia
Girard Academic Music Program
School District of Philadelphia
Randolph Career Academy
School District of Philadelphia
Science Leadership Academy
School District of Philadelphia
Vaux Big Picture High School
School District of Philadelphia
Walter B. Saul High School
School District of Philadelphia
Mastery Charter School-Simon Gratz Campus
School District of Philadelphia
George Washington High School
School District of Philadelphia
Lankenau High School
School District of Philadelphia
Strawberry Mansion High School
School District of Philadelphia
Swenson Arts and Tech High School
The Workshop School
Kensington High School
School District of Philadelphia
MaST - Byberry Campus
Charter
MaST Community Charter School II
Charter
Olney High School
Science Leadership Academy @ Beeber
School District of Philadelphia
Esperanza Academy
Charter
Cheltenham High School
Lankenau HS
Lincoln High School
Martin Luther King High School
Mill Creek School
Penn Treaty School
Philadelphia Virtual Academy
The Arts Academy of Benjamin Rush
Meet the team
Working alongside young adults and employers in Philadelphia.
Specialists & support team
Chris Hatten
Youth Employment Specialist
chris.hatten@bridgestowork.orgCourtney Eibling
Administrative Assistant II
courtney.eibling@bridgestowork.orgAlso supports Atlanta, Chicago
Dan Tate
Youth Employment Specialist II
dan.tate@bridgestowork.orgErica Riberas
Youth Employment Specialist II
erica.riberas@bridgestowork.orgKate O'Leary
Youth Employment Specialist
kate.oleary@bridgestowork.orgKate Silagi
Youth Employment Specialist
kate.silagi@bridgestowork.org
Office
Common questions
Bridges Philadelphia, answered.
- Does Bridges from School to Work serve Philadelphia?
- Yes. Bridges has operated in Philadelphia since 1999, helping young adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep competitive jobs with local employers.
- Is Bridges Philadelphia free?
- Yes. Bridges is always free for participants and their families, and there is no fee to employers. The program is funded through grants, donations, and corporate giving.
- Who is eligible for Bridges Philadelphia?
- Bridges serves young adults with disabilities who are preparing to enter the workforce, including both in-school students and out-of-school job seekers. The quickest way to check eligibility is to start an interest form or take the eligibility quiz on this site.
- How does Bridges Philadelphia work?
- Bridges follows a Prepare, Place, Support model: one-on-one job-readiness coaching, strength-based matching with local employers, and a dedicated Youth Employment Specialist who stays involved for a full year after a participant is hired.
- What kinds of employers hire through Bridges Philadelphia?
- Bridges Philadelphia places young adults with local and national employers across retail, hospitality, food service, healthcare, logistics, and other industries, including Aramark, Five Below, Giant Food, Ross Dress for Less, among many others.
- How do I get started with Bridges Philadelphia?
- Start an interest form on this website, or contact the Philadelphia team directly using the office details on this page. A Youth Employment Specialist will follow up to talk through next steps.
- Where is the Bridges Philadelphia office?
- The Bridges Philadelphia office is located at 1100 Ludlow Street, 7th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm.
Ready to connect with Bridges Philadelphia?
Whether you're looking for support, want to hire talent, or are interested in partnering, we'd love to hear from you.