Despite Budget Cuts, IB Nonprofit Still Building ‘Bridges’

The Bridge is looking for those in need—and those who can help.

The nonprofit, headquartered in Imperial Beach, connects job seekers with employment, but it’s “hanging on by a thread,” according to Fiscal Coordinator Barbara McCoy. “We rely on a lot of volunteers and donations.”

Established in 1999, The Bridge was originally an Indian Training Trust Fund intended to build a “bridge” between organized labor, employers and Native American communities.

In 2005, The Bridge applied for a grant with the Labor Department and expanded its services to include all ethnicities, and people in search of employment and self-sufficiency, according to McCoy.

The Bridge has six Southern California locations. The Imperial Beach headquarters features a career center that provides free Internet access and the First Nations’ Café, serving ice cream and coffee, among other things.

 “We allow one free hour of Internet use per day for job seekers and people wishing to work on their resumes,” McCoy said. “After that it’s $3 per hour. As a nonprofit, we need funds, but also try to make it as affordable as possible. We also have printers, a full color copier, and can fax for only $1 a page locally or $1.50 for long distance.”

Currently, the job board features approximately 30 jobs, and McCoy explained they also keep two resource books on hands for people to explore different career opportunities.

“I cannot measure our impact on the unemployment rate in Imperial Beach, but a lot of people use our services, so I know we are providing something valuable to the community,” McCoy said.

At one point, The Bridge received more than $3.5 million in public funding from various agencies, including the Department of Labor.

In addition to providing job placement services, The Bridge also had a youth program that provided life skills workshops, literacy training, counseling and job preparation to at-risk youth, many of whom lived in poverty and in areas dominated by gangs.

But due to severe budget cuts, those services are no longer available.

McCoy said the organization does whatever it can to keep going. “We just recently got a new convection oven, and our café will also be selling warm cookies and cinnamon rolls—anything extra we can do to raise funds.”

Zoe Mynard has been serving the café’s ice cream for the past three months. “We’re so close to the beach, I really want to see this become a safe ice cream parlor for kids. Our scoops are only 75 cents each ($1 in the summer), and we feature 13 different flavors. I have really enjoyed making the kids smile.”

With the help of the Department of Labor, The Bridge is also in the process of providing customer service certification for teenagers. “Our first kid is about to take her test,” McCoy said. “When she is done, she’ll receive a certificate from the Labor Department that will help her apply for jobs in the customer service sector.”

In her five years at the Bridge, McCoy said she has enjoyed being able to help others. “I work with a small group of dedicated people, and we’re always inspired when we see at-risk kids get a job or accepted into a college. Most recently, I had a family who was living out of their car because of the economy come back and thank us for helping them get a job.”

Another source of funds for The Bridge is the Powwow by the Sea, presented in conjunction with the city of Imperial Beach. The eighth annual Powwow is scheduled for June 17-18 on Pier Plaza’s grassy knoll. “This is a really fun, family event,” McCoy said. “We feature authentic Native American crafts, jewelry, tasty treats, dancers, and, of course, a drum circle. Come out and support us.”