About Bridges Inc.

 Our Mission, Our Principles, Our Team

Our Mission

 

Our vision is to transform vulnerable communities into empowered, self-sufficient communities where each resident has an opportunity to thrive and succeed.

Our primary objective is to assist vulnerable communities in navigate complex systems that are often bureaucratic, unsupportive, or unresponsive to their needs. We view ourselves as catalyst to change, seeking to transform and improve these very systems that serve our most vulnerable residents through a capacity building lens.

We work to equip individuals with the skills, knowledge, training, and access to information and resources that enables them to perform effectively while partnering with organizations and institutions to enhance and improve management structures, processes, and procedures that help to cultivate better relationships with the communities which they serve. This includes advocating for legal and regulatory changes that enable organizations and institutions to enhance their capacities.

Our Team

Latisha Atkins, J.D.

President & Founder

Latisha Atkins, J.D. is the president and founder. For over 15 years, she has worked as a senior level advisor within nonprofit organizations and government agencies. From 2006 until currently, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Ward 7 community conducting outreach and engagement activities with key stakeholders in an effort to strengthen families and children living in the Ward and to identify solutions to challenges that exist Ward wide.

From 2009-2014, she served two Mayors of the District of Columbia in various capacities and most recently worked as the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office on Women’s Policy and Initiatives and the D.C. Commission for Women. Here, she served as an advocate to over 300,000 women and girls in the District and focused on enhancing the quality of life for all women and their families through the review and research of existing laws/policies, public hearings, listening sessions, and community town halls.

Latisha is committed to the growth and development of others and is the proud resident of Ward 7. She holds a BA in Political Science from Hampton University in Hampton, VA and a Juris Doctorate degree from the George Washington University Law School, Washington, DC.

Susie Cambria, M.S.W.

Policy Consultant

Susie Cambria, MSW is a public policy, budget, and social media consultant working with nonprofits in DC.

Susie has worked in DC-based nonprofits and the DC government in her more than 20 years working in the city. She is recognized as a budget and policy wonk who has created processes and practices related to budget advocacy which are still used today. While in DC government, Susie wrote the annual children’s budget, helped create the Cold Emergency plan and protocols, tried to rejuvenate 211/Answers, Please!, managed social media for the mayor’s summer initiative, and several other collaborative projects.

Susie received her Master’s of Social Work from the Howard University School of Social Work, Washington, DC in May 1997. Her studies focused on the macro level in the area of children and families. She did her undergraduate work at Hollins University, majoring in political science.

Akiima Price, B.A.

Environmental, Education & Programming Consultant

Akiima Price is a creative thinker and doer who links people, places, and programs to heal and inspire through nature. Her innovative programs build bridges with low-income communities and the natural world. Akiima’s leadership in the environmental field has emerged through her development of environmental education programming and curriculum that are relevant to stressed or traditionally underserved communities.

Through her early career experiences as a National Park Service Interpretation Ranger at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Boulder City, Nevada in 1994, Akiima discovered her passion for engaging nature as a powerful medium to connect youth and families in meaningful, positive experiences that in turn affect the way they feel about themselves, their communities, and their place on earth. This passion has led Akiima on an amazing career journey. As one of the leading environmental educators in the country, she helps to bring more capacity and inclusion into the field. Akiima’s passion for developing thoughtful curricula and educational materials and activities that consider community wellness and family connections are on the forefront of the environmental education field, and her work is greatly sought by those who are ready to face the challenges of working in an inclusive society

Juan C. Barragan, B.A.

Marketing Director

Juan C. Barragan is responsible for our digital marketing strategy.

He maintains and curates our online community by managing our website, email marketing as well as our social media and SEO strategy.

Juan has over 10 years of experience in public relations and marketing. His experience includes working for four years as a Public Information Officer and Community Relations Specialist at the Executive Office of the Mayor of Washington, DC.

He served elected terms as Communications Director for the DC Latino Caucus and the DC Young Democrats.

At the heart of what we do is the community. Our business philosophy is based on four principles.

Residents

Residents are critical and necessary participants in the process of community development and growth

Community

Community anchors must be supported and strengthen and in turn must support the community growth and development

Partnerships

Government and corporations are strategic partners in the development process

Engagement

Effective community engagement ensures success

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