Mission: USA Celebrates 20 years of Impact in Chicago

Over the past 1,000-plus weeks, The Bridge has helped over 5,000 men and women coming out of tough circumstances gain new hope

Chicago — The Bridge, a weekly meeting for men and woman coming out of jail, addiction and gangs, is celebrating its 20th anniversary from 5 to 7 p.m. this coming Saturday, August 17 at its meeting location, 1443 W. Roosevelt Road.

By providing a weekly meeting (every Tuesday) that connects attenders with churches, jobs and housing, as well as a new community of encouragement and growth, the program is the only one of its kind in the country. Designed to be a central, immediate support for men and women who are at risk or in crisis, the Bridge addresses racial reconciliation, prison recidivism, and addiction recovery with a “boots on the ground” approach.

On a typical night, 45 to 65 people gather for an informal chapel service. There’s original music and four 10-minute messages from church pastors and Bridge staff on a topic requested by an attender. After the service, there’s a meal provided by volunteers and opportunity for individuals to receive resources on job, housing and other social service needs. The majority of attenders receive transportation in one of Mission: USA’s 15-passenger vans.

A team of staff, volunteers, and community partners focus on building a diverse and accepting community that addresses the needs that can hold back people trying to embark on a new life.

It’s fitting that the Bridge’s 20th anniversary comes on the eve of the Democratic National Convention, being held less than two miles away at the United Center. From homelessness and drug and alcohol addiction to criminal justice reform and creating second-chance opportunities for the formerly incarcerated, Mission: USA is achieving success in addressing issues that are important to both major U.S. political parties. They attribute much of that success to their strong partnership culture. One organization cannot solve all the problems facing these men and women. But by working with dozens of programs across Chicago, the team is able to connect attenders to the help they need.

The Bridge was developed by Mission: USA President and Founder Glen Fitzjerrell after 15 yeas of prison and gang outreach.

“I saw that men and women who are transforming their lives were struggling to connect to all the help they needed,” he says. “They can come to the Bridge meeting and be spiritually fed, while also getting connected to churches, social services agencies, and job and housing agencies. It’s `one-stop shopping’ where they can come and connect with all the resources they need to thrive.”

For Jarren Baker, attending the Bridge has given him a new sense of belonging.

“Whenever people who come from our way of living– from the street life, from prison, from addiction — go somewhere and they feel they belong, then that’s success,” Baker says. “Most of them have never had that sense of community.”

An active member of the Bridge, Baker is involved in the recovery community, attending school for addiction counseling and starting a full-time job. His is one of countless stories that have flowed out of the Bridge’s consistent efforts over the past 20 years.

The anniversary celebration will premiere a 20-minute film featuring 15 interviews of lives impacted by the Bridge over its 20-year history. Founder Glen Fitzjerrell will share the challenges and learnings of launching the Bridge and speak on what lies ahead in the next decade.  The event will celebrate everyone involved with a light dinner and cake reception.

For more information, visit www.missionusa.com

For all video and b-roll, go to  https://missionusa.com/press-kit

www.facebook.com/thebridgechicago

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Press contact:

Jane Fitzjerrell
773-398-0402
jf@missionusa.com