On February 20th, the Bridge class visited the California African American Museum, where students viewed art exhibits that focused on personal narratives, the realities of bondage in history, the complexity of family lineage, varieties in cultures, and a special exhibit exploring the history of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, celebrating the past 40 years of dance and theater work by African American artists in New York. “Visiting this museum changed my perspective entirely,” one Bridge student commented. “It changed my life, really.”

Tags: student experience

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Bridge’s third annual Texas Hold ‘Em style fundraiser happens on Sunday, April 25th, and you won’t want you to miss it. We’ll enjoy an afternoon of Texas hold ‘em style poker, prizes, and suspense. There are lots of ways to be part of the event:

Register to Play in the Game: The poker tournament works kind of like a walk-a-thon, bike-a-thon, or bowl-a-thon. It’s a poker-a-thon. People who’d like to play donate $25 – then raise at least $175 more for Bridge by getting sponsors from friends and family.  If you’re new to poker but would like to join us, don’t hesitate to register. You can come to one of our Texas hold ‘em teach-ins held in March and April (details are coming soon). Register to play at our event site.

Recruit New Players: If you’d like to play with a few friends, you can register everyone at once, and we’ll waive your registration fees. Interested? Email Kathryn to get the waiver:  kpope[at]antioch.edu

Sponsor a Player: If poker isn’t your thing, you can sponsor a player. To see who’s playing, take a look at our list of registered poker players here. Then, visit our event site and click the “Sponsor Player” link. When game day comes, you can come to the tournament to watch your player in action.

Spread the Word: Help us get news of the tournament to others by sharing our event link – http://tinyurl.com/all-in10. You can also spread the word about the tournament on Facebook, through Twitter, at work, among friends, and on campus at AULA.

More: The tournament is possible each year because of generous sponsors who donate prizes. If you can help us connect with potential sponsors, send a quick note to Kathryn:  kpope[at]antioch.edu

Tags: fundraiser

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Since 1999, the Bridge Program at Antioch University Los Angeles (AULA) has been doing something simply revolutionary: providing college classes to low-income adults in Los Angeles, at no cost to students. The Bridge Program was founded by AULA alumna Shari Foos with the assistance of B.A. Program faculty member David Tripp, who served as the founding director of the program. Bridge is funded by the generous support of individuals, foundations, and volunteers, as well as Antioch University Los Angeles.

Download an application here.

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After completing The Bridge Program, Bridge alumni begin a new year of classes at adult day schools, community colleges, and universities. Here’s a poem written by one of our alumni about The Bridge Program as, well, a bridge:

Crossing the Bridge

I began crossing the bridge with pilosophy, sharing

questions and answers.

Literature, how can I forget this class, if now when I read a poem

it’s like walking among the words.

Art History, Interesting class, I learned that anything can be art.

And how could I forget about shitty drafts in the writing class.

The time was short, but, it helped me cross the bridge.

Now it was time to celebrate!

Wow! Culmination Day!

It was at UCLA

I couldn’t believe how far I had come.

I was ready to receive my award.

I had great companions, my three lovely children and a special friend.

I was in line with my classmates, ready to walk to the stage.

When music starts to play, we start walking

While we walk, people stand up to clap and cheer,

bravo! yeah!

They are so happy, so am I.

I can barely walk. I feel nervous.

We take our seats in the front.

The program was stupendous!

People gave speeches, one of them was heartbreaking, it made me cry.

After that, my classmates stood up and started to walk to the stage.

Ready to receive in this glamorous day an award for all their efforts.

It is my turn to receive my award.

My classmates are Cheering, clapping and shouting, “Yes!’ “Bravo!”

The program is over, I will never forget this day!

My two dear teachers, Rosalie and Elaine couldn’t miss this day.

They came to celebrate our accomplishments.

I received a beautiful bouquet from them.

I did it!

I crossed the bridge.

SI SE PUEDE!

-Estela Hernandez

Tags: bridge experience, student posts, student stories

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Former Bridge student Aura Bogado (who completed Bridge during the second year of the program) has been accepted into Yale with a full scholarship.  After Bridge, Aura went to Pomona before landing a job at Pacifica Radio.  She has been producing a show there for years and has become an accomplished journalist (she even interviewed Subcommondante Marcos).  In her interview with Yale, Aura described how The Bridge Program was what turned her academic life around. 

Congratulations, Aura!

Tags: alumni, student news

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This week, one Bridge student asked his classmates to use one word to describe the Bridge Program. Here are the words students chose:

• dynamic
• unsurpassable!
• determined
• inspirational
• amazing
• charming
• growth
• wonderful experience
• sweet
• intense
• motivational
• super
• fantasmagnifico
• groovy

Tags: student posts

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All-In ‘09 was a good time, with an exciting poker tournament, lots of laughs, and both funds and awareness raised for The Bridge Program. Special congratulations to Melanie McNair, this year’s Bridge All-In champion. Also, thank you to this year’s players, donors, and those who sponsored the tournament by donating prizes. Together, we raised $10,000 for The Bridge Program. If you’d like to view photos of the event, please visit our Flickr All-In’09 page.

Thank you again, to all who participated. Bridge exists because of you.

Tags: event, fundraiser

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Thank you to Cindy Short of Laughing Dog Art Studio, who’s donating a hand-painted portrait of one winner’s furry, feathered, or reptilian friend.

Cindy does something pretty unique, when it comes to animal art. This isn’t just a picture. Cindy visits your pet and takes photos of him/her in action. She chooses one of the most inspiring photos and creates a painting that captures the personality she sees in your pet. Very cool stuff!

View Cindy’s artwork at her website – http://www.laughingdogart.com/

Tags: prizes

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“Enrolling in the BRIDGE PROGRAM was the best decision that I have made. Over the past several weeks, I have had the pleasure of meeting and socializing with an academic society — an exceptional one in a class all its own.”

 -Theresa, current Bridge student

Tags: bridge experience, student post

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Thank you to Currie Technologies, which generously donated one of our most coveted prizes for the poker tournament: an electric bike.

As a car-free commuter, I especially appreciate the work Currie Technologies does. In manufacturing hybrid and electric bicycles and scooters, people at Currie Technologies are making it easier for folks to travel without cars, without Co2 emissions, and without the high cost of owning a car.

For more details on the great work of people at Currie Technologies, please visit their website -  http://www.currietech.com/

-Kathryn Pope

Tags: thank you

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