Programs
The BRIDGE
Young Native Scholars / InterTribal Youth
exists to prepare Native American students for a brighter future through hands-on life experiences that combine academics, adventure travel, health and wellness, cultural exploration and economic opportunities.

Our Vision:
To develop mentoring, training, wellness, cultural and educational programs to foster self-reliance.

A Holistic, Indigenous Approach to Education
Shifting to a pragmatic approach, our goal is to “indigenize education.” Alignment with the environment, healthy bodies, and spirit is a natural trait of Native American ancestry. This must be the first recognition to refreshing our youth’s education.

Youth are given access to the nation’s best educators and mentors. We begin our foundation with culture and wellness and build upwards with classes and workshops that expose students to the biomedical, earth and environmental sciences, literacy, music, arts, critical thought, research techniques, and computer technologies.

Looking to the Future
We invite the nation, both tribal and non-tribal to assist in healing our youth and shareing our vision:
To develop mentoring, training, wellness, cultural and educational programs to foster self-reliance.








Its History

Since 2000, Young Native Scholars (YNS) has been developing and implementing academic, wellness, and cultural programs for Inter-Tribal Youth. We began as a “grassroots” program attracting "in-kind support" from various educational institutions and communities throughout California and quickly became a highly acclaimed program that is recognized state-wide.

In 2004, deep state budget cuts severed vital support systems to YNS forcing our transition to a non-profit 501c3 status under The BRIDGE Indian Training Trust Fund headquartered in Imperial Beach, California. YNS rallied support from the Greater Tribal Community of Southern California and various organizations to continue .

YNS has been extremely successful in creating peer advocacy and bridging the educational divide for Native youth. Through YNS, young Native scholars come to understand the community-university-school relationships in inspiring environments that address their identity and future as Native people.

With help of the nation’s best mentors and instructors, in 2006-2007, YNS provided four times the number of programs of previous years. Youth were provided the opportunity to think, perform and interact on local, national, and international grounds. Over the past few years, hundreds of Inter-Tribal Youth answered the YNS challenge, accepting the discipline and joining together to achieve a high level of “indigenous education.” As a result, families and youth of many communities have experienced life-changing benefits after participating in one or more of our programs.

YNS introduced Inter-Tribal Youth in 2008 to promote a greater movement of healing and change for our community. The YNS/InterTribal program continues to serve as a model for Native American youth and adult programs. There is no GPA requirement for participation.




Marc Chavez
InterTribal Youth,
Director and Founder

Marc Chavez, was born and raised in Los Angeles, California of Mexican-American Indian (Purapecha/Tarasco) descent. Chavez graduated from the University of California, San Diego with degrees in Communication, “Third World” Studies and Research in Community Educational Linkages. Chavez has 15 years experience in higher education, community linkages, and tourism. A spiritual calling and personal journey first carried him through Mexico and Central America.





Jeffrey Jackson,
BRIDGE Executive Director
See more on About us page
regarding "Jackson" as he
prefers to be called.
Joanie Hanson,
Cultural Exchange Coordinator

Joanie is a member of the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe and descendent of the Timbisha Shoshone. She is married with two sons and resides in Big Pine, a small community in California’s Owens Valley.

As a former Indian Education Center Director, Joanie considers herself a lifelong learner dedicated to Native culture, education and youth. She has worked with Native Youth programs for the last seven years and feels that the experience has truly enriched her life. Joanie strongly believes that the educating the youth of today is critical for the future survival of our tribes.

Ms. Hanson has worked with YNS for the past three years coordinating and promoting our San Diego, Mexico, and Humboldt Educational Tours. She is responsible for coordinating all of our program's travel arrangements and educational tours.
BRIDGE Kids - Bridges To Success

THE BRIDGE’s highly effective youth program model provides a “holistic” approach to  meeting their need to become self-sufficient through intensive and focused services and leveraged resources. We target youth between the ages of 16 to 21 years old who are offenders, under foster care, independent living and disenfranchised at-risk youth  transitioning into the workforce.
We offer structured programming including life skills, financial management planning, anger management, National Retail Federation Foundation Customer Service Certification training and job readiness courses along with the opportunity for occupational skills training within high growth industries, job placement assistance and access to other types of resources that will assist our youth population grow and plan for a better future by setting proper goals and becoming a successful, contributing member of society.
A 501-C3 non profit org.


Dear Friends:
"A generation that acquires knowledge without ever understanding how that knowledge can benefit the community is a generation that is not learning what it means to be citizens in a democracy.” Elizabeth Hollander, Author (1817-1885)

Greetings!  THE BRIDGE has had a tremendous year.  We have provided essential and intensive services including job preparation and life skills workshops, literacy training, career counseling, supportive services and job opportunities to more than 950 “BRIDGE Kids.”  All are at-risk, living in poverty and in areas dominated by gangs and everyday violence within six counties in Southern California.

The “BRIDGE Kids” are seeking your support. Our grants have come to a close due to funding cuts and much of the public funding has been dramatically reduced and therefore, has affected the vital services required for these youth to create a positive and fruitful future for themselves, their families and their communities.

BUT….

The good news is YOU CAN HELP!  By making a donation today – the “BRIDGE Kids” will be able to build a bridge for tomorrow.

Please help us reach our goal of $100,000 by giving today. Your special donation will provide critical services and additional assistance to our “Kids.”

THE BRIDGE thanks you for your support and help.  Your donations are tax deductible and we will keep you posted on our progress toward our goal of helping the “BRIDGE Kids” attain theirs!  You can make a difference!

Sincerely,

THE BRIDGE Kids and J. L. Jackson, Executive Director