BRIDGE (Building Responsive Infrastructure to Develop Global Equity) is currently the capacity building program being developed and refined through the NGEC. The long-term vision is to create a road-tested capacity building organization which will become a credible and permanent resource for the AAPI community and beyond.
In order to get there, the work of BRIDGE centers around creating culturally competent learning opportunities for community leaders to think, strategize, and foster alliances in order to address the underlying causes of inequity. In addition, BRIDGE will develop and deliver tools and resources focused in the four areas of grassroots community organizing, media/communications, policy/advocacy and leadership development—all within a gender and equity framework.
In efforts to be grounded in community and to tap into existing assets of practitioners, advocates, and thought leaders, NGEC has also partnered with six leading AAPI organizations with a demonstrated commitment to social change.
These six organizations—whose partnership with the NGEC varies in their form, competencies, capacities and issue areas—were specifically selected for their deep roots in local communities, their representation of diverse constituencies, and for their commitment to develop the capacity of local AAPI communities to achieve social justice.
In the near future, AAPIP plans to launch BRIDGE as a national capacity building organization dedicated to building the social justice movement. BRIDGE will be informed by the best practices and lessons learned from the NGEC’s work in the two pilot areas: Minnesota and California.