Bridges Community of Practice
The Community of Practice brings people from all sectors and economic classes together to improve job retention rates, build resources, improve outcomes, and support those who are moving out of poverty.
The goals of creating a Community of Practice are to:
- move individuals from poverty to self-sufficiency
- reduce social costs to crime, poor health and welfare
- strengthen educational attainment and job skills
- improve on-the-job productivity
- revitalize neighborhoods and build sustainable communities where everyone can live well
The Community of Practice will host quarterly meetings and will include professionals of all levels (Executive Directors, Management and Case Managers) in each of the Bridges Community Sectors, which include:
Community Based Organizations
Getting Ahead Graduates
Faith Leaders
Housing
Government
Courts
Law Enforcement
K-12 Education
Post-Secondary Education
Business/Workforce
Behavioral Healthcare
Healthcare Organizations
We anticipate more than 50 area agencies and churches participating in the quarterly meetings. The first Community of Practice meeting will be held on Friday, November 20, 2020.
The Bridges Out of Poverty model is currently used in 35 states and 7 countries; there are currently 33 communities across the world that have established Communities of Practice.
Communities of Practice are currently being developed in additional communities across the State of Illinois. These include Gurnee, Joliet and McHenry. We will have the opportunity to meet with these communities to discuss policies that we could influence together for statewide change.