Who We Are: The Bridge creates safe environment for kids

Growing up in Chicago's foster homes broke me. The after-school beatings left bruises that I wore like Purple Hearts. I stopped going straight home.

Instead, I did homework on city buses and played in museum lobbies until dark.

I thought of this time as I walked into The Bridge Youth Center in downtown Fort Myers recently. A place I wish I had found when I needed it most.

Hidden in the CityGate Ministries church on Jackson Street, The Bridge's aim is to help kids ages 11 to 18, nurture their faith, learn and provide a safe place to have fun.

During my visit, fun was on hiatus. Homework was giving fits to four teens.

"I'll help you figure them out," said Matt Richard to Noah Jeffries, 14. Noah was drowning in a sea of math equations. "Stay focused," urged The Bridge's executive director, who explained the equations again. Noah erased, wrote, erased, thought for a few moments then wrote. "Good job," exclaimed Richard when he saw Noah's answers. "Thanks," said Noah, glad he reached dry land.

As Noah raced to play foosball, Nijaee Battle, 15, studied on. Nijaee started coming to The Bridge after her mother began working there in October. "She would come home and tell me about it," said Nijaee. "I wasn't doing anything but sitting on the couch after school, so I started going." The Bridge needed Nijaee too. She became a confidant to teens hesitant to confide in adults.

"Depression is a big thing we talk about. There was a boy who was down because he was being bullied at school. I listened and told him to tell an adult," said Najiaee. They also talk about drug use. "That's the wrong path I tell them. The Bridge has a lot of strong-minded people that can help them get off the drug road," said Nijaee.

Katrina Shanks, The Bridge's assistant director, is one of the strong-minded. "We're trying to make sure this place matters," said Shanks. An arts program called The 5 Talents is the latest attempt to matter. The six-month program begins in April and will offer training in culinary arts, finance, video production, play writing and painting.

As I packed up my camera gear I ran my hand over a large knot on the back of my head. I got it when my foster father slammed me against a cast-iron floor radiator. I was 13.

But, before the memory fully returned, an outburst of laughter brought me back to the present. Noah, having conquered math and foosball, was now rapping about The Bridge. He needed help.

Who We Are is a bi-weekly column about the people who call Southwest Florida home by The News-Press visual journalist Kinfay Moroti. Look for it every other Tuesday. Follow him on Twitter @Kinfay.

More information

To learn more about The Bridge contact Katrina Shanks at 239-878-1279.