Our Mission

The B.R.I.D.G.E acronym stands for “Building Responsible Individuals through Discipline, Guidance and Education”, and since 1993, the organization has enabled hundreds of young adults to earn their GED.

B.R.I.D.G.E is a Columbus, Georgia-based non-profit whose success is due to the efforts of its dedicated board, volunteers, instructors, and staff. B.R.I.D.G.E effectively joins resources with spiritual, educational, business, and military backgrounds to deliver supportive services to young adults who need and deserve an opportunity to earn their GED

History

BRIDGE of Columbus, Inc., formally Columbus Job Counsel, began in 1987 by a group of citizens, concerned about the number of high school dropouts in the community and their limited job prospects. In 1993, board members realized the greater need for specialized GED services. At that time the name was changed to BRIDGE and a new GED program framework was created.   

Over the past 29 years BRIDGE provides intensive, fast-track instruction and educational support for young adults to build literacy skills and have each student attain their GED. GED classes were offered at the St. Luke United Methodist Church campus in Midtown, Columbus, GA where it remained until 2019. In August 2019, BRIDGE entered into a partnership with Goodwill of Southern Rivers and the purpose remains to the purpose of providing intervention methods to offer youth and young adults a second chance at economic growth, which in turn would benefit the community at large.  

Meet the Team

  • Wilena McClain

    BRIDGE Program Manager

  • Ann Ferguson

    GED Instructor

  • Susan Hollingsworth

    Math Tutor

Board of Directors

  • Vicky Partin

  • Jack Warden

  • Terry L. Reis

  • Tricia L. Konan

  • Bo Bickerstaff

  • Shayonne Peterson

  • Ryland Harrelson

  • Victor Joseph

  • Andrew Cox

  • Judy Porter

  • Jim Tjoflat