Our mission is to foster relationships with individuals desiring to move out of poverty by providing tools, support, education, and connections to community resources.

Getting Ahead

Getting Ahead is a 10-module workshop using “Getting Ahead in a Just Getting’-By World” by Philip DeVol. The workshop helps individuals in poverty build their own path to a good-paying job, stable housing, and the ability to save for a rainy day. Participants are treated as the experts on their own lives, rather than expected to passively soak up information professionals deems as necessary for improvement.

A $10 stipend is paid to participants at each session and an additional $10 per session attended is awarded after completion of the program. A simple meal is provided at each session, as well as transportation and childcare as needed. To fill out an Interest Application or download a PDF version of the form, click here.

R Rules

R Rules is an 11-module workshop, using “The R Rules: A guide for teens to identify and build resources” by Elizabeth Souther, designed specifically for middle and high school aged students. The workshop, like Getting Ahead, helps individuals in poverty build their resources and a future plan. Participants are treated as the experts on their own lives, rather than expected to passively soak up information professionals deems as necessary for improvement.

A stipend is paid to participants at each session and a lump sum based on attendance is awarded after completion of the program.

Staying Ahead

Staying Ahead is a support program for Getting Ahead and R Rules graduates interested in going further. Encouragers circle around each individual in order to strengthen their skills as they connect them with people and resources so they can become self-sufficient and walk out of poverty. A meal, transportation, and childcare are typically offered for these meetings.

Bridges out of Poverty

Bridges out of Poverty is a workshop offered to community leaders and professionals. Utilizing Ruby Payne’s book, “Bridges out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities,” attendees learn how to build accurate mental models of poverty, discover and understand the “hidden rules” among economic classes, and improve agency policies and internal procedures to break down barriers that make it difficult for individuals to improve their lives. To fill out an Interest Application or download a PDF version of the form, click here.

Summer Enrichment Program

Our Summer Enrichment Program offers youths in a low-income neighborhood in Plainwell the opportunity to receive free lunch and participate in enjoyable activities and field trips several days per week in July and August. The program aims to provide healthy food during the summer for children that typically receive free or discounted lunch at school and to prevent summer learning loss by engaging them in educational and enriching activities.

Affect Governmental Policies

Bridges of Hope, Allegan County seeks to affect governmental policies to encourage individuals to overcome poverty. We work to accomplish this through communication with local government officials.

Thank you for visiting. Please explore our website to learn more about Bridges of Hope, Allegan County.