Stories

Real young adults. Real employers. Real outcomes.

Each story below is a Bridges journey — career exploration, preparation, placement, and the long-tail support that turns a first job into a career.

A Bridges Youth Employment Specialist demonstrating a career interest profiler in a classroom
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Press & Funding

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City placeholderNovember 4, 2025
Tasha Lewis at Accenture
Participant StoryAccenture

Proving them wrong, one shift at a time

Tasha was told she'd face limits because of her disability. Her job at Accenture says otherwise.

Atlanta, GASeptember 15, 2025
A Bridges-supported hospitality worker in uniform
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Employer FeatureMarriott International

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City placeholderAugust 18, 2025
Ku at Lincoln Park Zoo
Participant StoryLincoln Park Zoo

Ready, on day one

Bridges helped Ku prepare for the job, the interview, and everything in between.

Chicago, ILJuly 22, 2025
Elisa in her Target uniform
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Participant StoryTarget

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City placeholderMay 2, 2025
Jayla at Safeway
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Participant StorySafeway

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City placeholderApril 18, 2025
Jonathan at Urban Air Adventure Park
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Participant StoryUrban Air Adventure Park

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City placeholderMarch 30, 2025
Bobby in front of The Home Depot's 'Now Hiring' poster
Participant StoryThe Home Depot

The face of 'Now Hiring'

In under a year at Home Depot's Midtown Atlanta store, Bobby's picture ended up on Now Hiring posters nationwide — and three Homer Awards on his apron.

Atlanta, GAMarch 1, 2025
Faith working her job at a PetSmart in Chicago
Participant StoryPetSmart

Empathy behind the counter

Faith is a 20-year-old pet-lover who brings empathy, humor, and kindness to her work — and to the animals and children she sees every day.

Chicago, ILMarch 1, 2025
Hector in his warehouse safety vest
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Participant StoryRegional distribution center

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City placeholderFebruary 14, 2025
Five Philadelphia Bridges alumni at the Get Inspired panel event
Participant StoryMultiple employers

Five alumni, five careers

At a December 2024 alumni event, five Philadelphia Bridges graduates shared what their first job became — from a movie-theater concession stand to a K-9 police unit.

Philadelphia, PAFebruary 1, 2025
Denardo at the Philadelphia Zoo
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Participant StoryPhiladelphia Zoo

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City placeholderJanuary 25, 2025
Anahi at Ben & Jerry's
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Participant StoryBen & Jerry's

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City placeholderDecember 2, 2024
Jasmine at aviation simulator training
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Participant StoryAviation training center

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City placeholderNovember 11, 2024
Demetrius Terrell, 14-year employee of the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia
Participant StoryThe Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia

Fourteen years — and a house of his own

Fourteen years at the Ritz-Carlton Center City, accolades for guest service — and a first house to show for it.

Philadelphia, PANovember 1, 2024
Nick Bell and Max at the Claremont Club & Spa in Oakland
Participant StoryClaremont Club & Spa (Fairmont)

Paying it forward in the East Bay

Bridges placed Nick at a neighborhood Kids' Club in 2018. Six years later, he's the one doing the hiring.

Oakland, CANovember 1, 2024
Jordan in a professional office setting
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Participant StoryProfessional services firm

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City placeholderOctober 4, 2024
Atlanta Accenture summer interns with mentor Tasha Lewis
Employer FeatureAccenture

Why Accenture keeps hiring through Bridges

A CEO on the board. 12 hires across multiple offices. Three paid summer interns who are now college freshmen. Accenture's partnership with Bridges is a model of what's possible when employers lean in.

NationalOctober 1, 2024
Jakobe at his hotel job
Participant StoryAtlanta Airport Marriott Hotel

Twins making their way in Atlanta

After losing their mother before graduation, Jakobe and his twin sister built a new chapter — and Jakobe built a hospitality career at Atlanta Airport Marriott.

Atlanta, GAOctober 1, 2024
Cameron with his co-workers at the Aramark-managed Capital One cafeteria
Participant StoryAramark (Capital One cafeteria)

A champion in and out of the pool

Cameron works full-time feeding hungry lunch crowds — and competes as a Special Olympics swimmer. His co-workers cheer him on at both.

Plano, TXAugust 1, 2024
Pedro prepping food in the Dallas Renaissance Hotel kitchen
Participant StoryDallas Renaissance Hotel

A culinary career, one year in

Pedro, 20, is already past his one-year anniversary as a prep cook at the Dallas Renaissance — and referring friends to apply.

Dallas, TXAugust 1, 2024
Paul with Bridges employment specialist Erica Jones and Michaels HR manager Lauren Tarpley
Participant StoryArtistree (Michaels)

Every day is a miracle

Paul's mom feared her son, who has an intellectual disability, would never find work. Three years later, he's full-time with benefits.

Grapevine, TXFebruary 1, 2024

Have a Bridges story to share?

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