Q & A with Ana Lopez, Executive Director, Community Bridges

Second in a series on the 2009 Exponent Award recipients

What does Community Bridges do?

Our award-winning programs are designed to help low-income diverse girls become exceptional students, positive leaders, and healthy young women. We accomplish this by helping girls build their academic skills, and develop their voice and self-esteem while they get involved in their local and global communities.

Today our dedicated staff and volunteers work with more than 300 girls in 10 elementary and middle schools and four high schools.

Our girls raised $600 to support other programs working with women and girls on issues of human trafficking. In addition:

• 63% of girls demonstrated increased motivation and confidence to succeed in school. 
• 70% of girls positively resolved problems and work as a team.
• 66% of girls improved their ability to foster and maintain healthy relationships.
• 60% of girls improved their ability to positively cope with stress and emotions.

What are the unique challenges facing young girls of color in Montgomery County?

It boils down to two words: finding hope. The girls we are working with have aspirations and dreams to succeed in school and pursue a great quality of life. Yet many of the girls do not like school. Only 35 percent of girls in one of our programs reported they get along with teachers, and 50 percent said that never or only sometimes care about their school. Most girls do not have the grade point averages or course history needed to be competitive in the college application process. 

In addition, staff has seen a rise in teen sexual harassment and dating violence amongst girls involved in our program and teen pregnancy statistics amongst Latinas is the highest locally (three times that of African-American, Caucasian, and Asian girls) and nationally (53 percent will be pregnant before they reach 20).

These statistics begin to paint a picture of what is happening in the lives of the girls involved in our programs. And as if that is enough, local statistics on gangs continue to threaten the safety of girls in their communities (Montgomery County Police have identified 1,207 gang members in Montgomery and 33 active gangs) . 

What are you doing to evaluate your work and document impact?

Community Bridges measures program outcomes with pre- and post- self-assessments, grades, attendance records, teacher and family surveys, and end-of-year satisfaction surveys. All data is tracked, and evaluation results are used to adjust and expanding program activities and services according to the needs of participants We then communicate our impact to all stakeholders, including parents, schools, and funders through our newsletters, annual report, and presentations.

As a young executive director, do you have any advice to others your age who are aspiring to leadership roles in nonprofits?

David Bornstein, who wrote How to Change the World, says, "It takes creative individuals with fixed determination and indomitable will to propel the innovation that society needs to tackle its toughest problems." That's what it takes not only to  become an executive director, but also to keep at it when it gets tough. I was 27 years old when I became an executive director, but I wasn't naive about it. My prior work experience as executive director for a group home for runaway and homeless Latino boys gave me perspective and balance.  The young men in my program were faced with difficult realities and were often outwitting death on a daily basis. So when I started working as an executive director and a crisis would emerge at Community Bridges, it helped to know that no one's life was at risk.

 What are you reading these days?

Wedding magazines...I just got engaged! I also enjoy cookbooks and am currently in love with Food and Wine's Best of the Best Cookbook. For the more serious stuff, in addition to David Bornstein's book which has had significant impact on my life, I'm now moving on to Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. I enjoy a variety of leadership books and am currently tackling Jesus, CEO.

Do you have a peer group of nonprofit leaders that you meet with to collaborate and connect on issues, best practices, and to help support each other?

There have been a number of leaders who have come alongside me to support my work. From peers in my Leadership Montgomery Class of 2007 to my colleagues from my Start Smart class through the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. I have been very fortunate to have supportive executive directors who have cared about my long-term sustainability. I would not be here today if it were not for the executive coaches who helped me during many of the difficult moments of our growing pains. 

Do you have any observations on how the downturn has been impacting your students?

Working with a lively group of third and fourth graders last year, our program leader sparked a discussion of careers they can pursue when they grow up.  The girls in the classroom responded: "There are lots of things women can't do.  Like be an architect!"

Other girls in the group chimed in: "I can't be a coach, basketball, football or soccer player! I can't be an engineer! I can't be a plumber, cable "guy," or construction worker! I can't be the President!"

It's hard to believe that children in Montgomery County are growing up believing they are unable to aim high and enter careers open to all. In my four years at Community Bridges, I have never witnessed such low expectations from our girls. I believe this is surfacing in part because of  economic challenges and their impact on our girls' families, many of whom are working several jobs to make ends meet, are losing their homes, and are facing greater challenges than ever before.

What are three of Community Bridges' greatest successes?

We are the little engine that could! While we have received recognition for our work, the true successes lie in the changed lives of our girls, the shifts in perspective with the schools and community members we working with, and the increased aspirations and accomplishments by the girls themselves. 

This year we are building off of that success to help shift the perspective of youth and adults regarding what it means for youth to be both cool and smart. 

Learn more about Ana Lopez and Community Bridges.

Learning Opportunities

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Webinar: How Nonprofit Organizations Can Successfully Utilize Blogging, e-Newsletters and Donate Now Buttons

DIOSA Communications

The Webinar will cover how to launch and maintain a Blog on WordPress, as well as how to utilize bulk e-mail newsletter services such as Constant Contact and MailChimp. Numerous "Donate Now" vendors are also discussed as well as the differences between them. Learn more.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Improving Your Active Listening Skills with Donors, Board, and Staff

Center for Nonprofit Advancement

This session features crucial active listening insights and will provide participants with the opportunity to put what they learn into practice immediately. Learn more.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Fundraising in a Challenging Economy

Foundation Center

This free class will give fundraising professionals the tools to make sure that their nonprofits are positioned to weather the economic downturn, explore the impact of the downturn on philanthropic giving, and explain how to adapt fundraising methods and strategies in the current economy. Learn more.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Federal Grants Compliance for Nonprofits

Center for Nonprofit Advancement

This workshop will identify specific legislative, regulatory, and compliance areas impacting federal grants. Participants will learn how to structure a nonprofit financial management system to comply with OMB Circulars A-110 and A-122. Learn more.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Revisiting Your Mission Statement

Center for Nonprofit Advancement

This interactive session will discuss the importance of mission statements as the cornerstone of strategic planning, fundraising and organizational decision-making. Participants will learn the characteristics of a “great” mission statement and how to stay focused on making the mission a reality. Learn more.

Monday, February 1, 2010

2010 White House Fellows Program Applications

White House Fellows Program

The application for the 2010 White House Fellows program opens January 1, 2010, and closes February 1, 2010. White House Fellowships offer exceptional young men and women first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government. Learn more.

See more learning opportunities.

Links for Nonprofits

Economic Crisis Links

Meyer's website has resources to help nonprofits weather the economic crisis. Select a topic to learn more:

• Background on the Downturn
• Fundraising
• Board Involvement
• Communications and Marketing
• Health and Well-being
• Opinion Pieces and Editorials
• Links to Other Survival Guides
• Other Links of Interest

 Continue to the website>>