Bridges to Tomorrow

Bridges to Tomorrow is an empowering and innovative initiative focusing on helping ensure early childhood success for children and support for their families' stability and pursuit of individual goals.

We believe that families are creative and resourceful, so Bridges to Tomorrow offers families the freedom to dream bigger - to identify long-term goals and aspirations.

Bridges to Tomorrow aims for children to start kindergarten prepared to succeed and excited to learn on the very first day. That's the Bridges to Tomorrow vision. That's the Bridges to Tomorrow goal.

To support this aim, Bridges to Tomorrow has strengthened and empowered local families, childcare and community centers, and the community at large, so each supports and nurtures each child's love of learning. It has also measurably worked to improve their families'; stability and access to health information and other community resources that further their progress towards achieving personal goals.

What's Different about Bridges to Tomorrow?

Empowering
Bridges to Tomorrow empowers families to define their own dreams and take positive action. It's not about "fix what's broken," it's about "dare to dream bigger."

Innovative
Bridges to Tomorrow began as an experiment- a "learning lab." It has grown and changed as successful ways to enhance the core strengths of family and child care centers have been identified.

How Will Bridges to Tomorrow Accomplish These Goals?

The Bridges to Tomorrow approach to success is designed to impact five key areas, each supporting and sustaining the others:

1. The child is the heart and soul of Bridges to Tomorrow. The overall vision is for children to be excited about school and ready to learn.
2. The family is equally supported. Families are creative and resourceful, so Bridges to Tomorrow offers families the freedom to dream big - to identify long-term goals and aspirations. It empowers families who are helping prepare children for school and supports families in becoming more stable by connecting them to the resources and support they need to achieve their individual goals.
3. The childcare centers are a critical part. Bridges to Tomorrow strives to make each childcare center of high-quality and unique, so these Centers evolve into places of wonder and learning.
4. The community centers are the front line supporters of families and Bridges to Tomorrow. Bridges to Tomorrow efforts will support the centers in improving the quality of their services and becoming centers of choice - the place families come to change their lives. Metro United Way has partnered with Americana Community Center, Neighborhood House, Presbyterian Community Center and Community Coordinated Child Care as part of this initiative.
5. Ultimately, Bridges to Tomorrow will impact the broader community. Local neighborhoods will be strengthened, service providers will receive valuable learning, and communities will be mobilized to join forces and create positive change. This "ripple effect" will send the success of Bridges to Tomorrow out further and further, touching lives and changing the community for families everywhere.