| Purpose: |
NEWPORT BRIDGE “BRIDGING THE GAPS” BRIDGING RESOURCEFUL INITIATIVES & DISMANTLING GAPS IN EQUITY NARRATIVE: NEWPORT BRIDGE IS AN INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE NEWPORT COMMUNITY FACING HOUSING FINANCIAL INSTABILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH MAINTENACE. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HARDSHIP. OUR INITIATIVE OFFERS BREAKFAST MEALS TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PREPARE THEIR FOOD, AS WELL AS ASSISTANCE WITH BASIC NEEDS. ADDITIONALLY, WE ORGANIZE A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND PEER SUPPORT MEETINGS AIMED AT ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION OFTEN INCLUDE ADDICTION HOUSING INSTABILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH, PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND SEEK GUIDANCE. FURTHERMORE, NEWPORT BRIDGE OFFERS LIFE COACHING AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO ITS MEMBERS. OUR MENTORS POSSESS FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, PROVIDING VALUABLE SUPPORT DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PROCESS. THROUGH NEWPORT BRIDGE, WE STRIVE TO BRIDGE THE GAPS OF INEQUALITY AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO THRIVE DESPITE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. MISSION STATEMENT: NEWPORT BRIDGE IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND A SUPPORTIVE PLATFORM FOR BOTH THE UNHOUSED AND HOUSED COMMUNITIES OF NEWPORT. WE OFFER EMERGENCY SHELTER, FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF ALL INDIVIDUALS. OUR GOAL IS TO CULTIVATE A COMPASSIONATE ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SAFE, VALUED, AND SUPPORTED. THROUGH OUR EFFORTS, WE AIM TO CREATE A WELCOMING SPACE THAT PROMOTES WARMTH, NOURISHMENT, AND ENGAGEMENT IN MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES, FOSTERING PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. NEWPORT BRIDGE WAS CONCEPTUALIZED TO ADDRESS THE GAPS IN RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON SPECIFIC DAYS, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OUR SCHEDULE ALIGNS WITH COMMUNITY MEALS AND WARMING CENTER OPERATIONS, ACCOMMODATING THOSE WHO MAY ONLY BE FREE ON WEEKENDS TO ATTEND PEER SUPPORT GROUPS. ADDITIONALLY, NEWPORT BRIDGE SERVES AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE HUB, PROVIDING INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE RESOURCES THROUGHOUT NEWPORT. BACKSTORY - WARMING CENTER COMMITTEE: FOR OVER A YEAR, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE NEWPORT WARMING CENTER COMMITTEE, DRIVEN BY A DESIRE TO ADDRESS GAPS IN SERVICES WITHIN NEWPORT. IT ALL STARTED WHEN I NOTICED A LACK OF MEAL SERVICES AVAILABLE ON SATURDAYS IN THE AREA. ALTHOUGH LATER I DISCOVERED DINNERS WERE SERVED AT CBC ON THAT DAY, IT PROMPTED ME TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THE SCHEDULING OF WARMING CENTERS AND MEALS ON SUNDAYS. DESPITE CHALLENGES IN SECURING ACCESS TO A BUILDING ON SUNDAYS, I WAS GRANTED PERMISSION TO UTILIZE THE CBC ANNEX BUILDING ON SATURDAY MORNINGS. INITIALLY, MY AIM WAS SIMPLE: TO PROVIDE A HOT, NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST TO THOSE IN NEED. HOWEVER, I QUICKLY REALIZED THE POTENTIAL TO OFFER MORE THAN JUST A MEAL. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, I INTRODUCED ACTIVITIES AIMED AT PROVIDING TEMPORARY RESPITE FROM THE STRUGGLES INDIVIDUALS FACED. THIS LED ME TO ESTABLISH SUPPORT GROUPS AS PART OF THE PROGRAM, AIMING TO OFFER LASTING BENEFITS BEYOND A SINGLE MEAL. MY OWN EXPERIENCES HAVE TAUGHT ME THE VALUE OF HOLISTIC SUPPORT IN TRANSITIONING OUT OF DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. DRAWING FROM THIS, I DEVELOPED A STRUCTURE ENCOMPASSING CASE MANAGEMENT AND LIFE COACHING RESOURCES, AIMING TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TOWARD POSITIVE CHANGE. WHILE I DON'T CLAIM TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, I BELIEVE IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS APPROACH. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FUNDING, I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE FACING HOUSING, FINANCIAL, EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH INSTABILITY LONG TERM GOALS: OUR OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO FOSTER HAPPINESS, SELF-WORTH, CONFIDENCE, AND EMPOWERMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, SERVING AS A CATALYST FOR MOTIVATION AND FACILITATING THE JOURNEY TOWARDS RECOVERY. WHILE OUR INITIATIVES AIM TO PROVIDE MOMENTS OF ENJOYMENT AND RESPITE FROM LIFE'S CHALLENGES THROUGH HOT MEALS AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES, OUR ULTIMATE AIM IS TO INSTILL A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS PRESSING ISSUES. CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION IS THE WELL-BEING OF THOSE GRAPPLING WITH ADDICTION AND HOUSING INSTABILITY, WITH RECOVERY AND MAINTENANCE FORMING THE CRUX OF OUR DISCUSSIONS. LOOKING AHEAD, OUR LONG-TERM VISION INCLUDES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MENTORSHIP RESOURCE. THESE MENTORS, EQUIPPED WITH PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND KNOWLEDGE, WILL PROVIDE INVALUABLE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATING THE TRANSITIONAL PROCESS. FURTHERMORE, WE ASPIRE TO EXPAND OUR RESOURCE OFFERINGS, PROVIDING ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS EDUCATION, HOUSING, REHABILITATION, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND NECESSITIES. THESE RESOURCES INCLUDE FREE LAUNDRY FACILITIES, SHOWERS/GYM MEMB |
