Yasemin K., featured at the 2025 Bridges National Gala

Yasemin K. moved to the United States from Turkey two years ago, knowing no one. She has spina bifida and has been a wheelchair user her entire life. With the help of friends she made through volunteering, she taught herself English.

Yasemin found Bridges through her mentor at Achilles International, where she has volunteered for over a year as a coach for wheelchair users who want to participate in races. She trains other wheelchair athletes weekly at Central Park.

In July 2024, Yasemin met her Youth Employment Specialist at the Bridges New York office. They prepped interview clothes, updated her resume together, and reviewed jobs. She also took the Borough of Manhattan Community College tour with the Bridges pre-ETS team.

On the morning of her Barclays Center interview, the elevator in her shelter went down for three hours. She stayed positive and still attended the interview that day, and was offered the job the following week. In mid-August 2024, Yasemin secured the role of Guest Associate at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. She helps scan tickets, show guests where their seats are, and operates the elevators for VIP and Box Seat access. She works everything from Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty basketball games to concerts.

In November 2024, for the first year ever, Yasemin completed the New York City Marathon.

Yasemin currently works part-time at Barclays Center while completing a Cyber Security certificate program at Ace Technology Institute, ending June or July 2025.