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Meet Saida!
"Throughout my life, friendships, graduations, and classes have come and gone, but Bridges has been a constant. From activities such as 5K runs and the Lemonade Stand program, I have had the opportunity to create long-standing relationships and form memories that I truly cherish. As I take on college at Howard University, I am so excited to be in a position where I can give back to my community. Bridges taught me about volunteering, working hard, and life skills that would have taken me years to learn. I am so grateful for the experiences that I have gained from Bridges."
A youth involved in Bridges programming who immigrated to the U.S. with her family at just seven years old. Her family arrived in the U.S. with no resources, family connections, and no means to earn money. Left with no options, they entered Bridges’ shelter. While at Bridges, Saidia immersed herself in Bridges’ youth programming, to include the Lemonade Stand, tutoring, and mentoring. When in high school, she participated in Bridges’ internship program, working at local companies such as Enterprise Knowledge, Little Architecture, and Bean Kinney & Korman. She continued to work with Bridges’ volunteers in the tutoring and mentoring programs, took multiple AP courses, maintained a position on the honor roll every quarter, graduated with a 3.3 GPA, and is attending Howard University this fall! Saidia is well on the path to living a stable life and thriving, thanks to people like you!
