Press Release: BRIDGE Announces Spark Accelerator Cohort 2
Three Texas Democracy & Justice Nonprofits Will Begin Innovative Six Month Program
San Antonio, TX - Today, Building Resourced Infrastructure for Diverse Grassroots Engagement (BRIDGE) announced their second Spark Startup Accelerator class, Cohort 2. After receiving dozens of applications from across the state, three organizations were selected to participate in the six month program beginning later this spring:
Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute based in Dallas & East Texas;
Trucha based in the Rio Grande Valley; and
Finish Recidivism through Education, Employment, and Divinity (FREED) Texas based in San Antonio.
BRIDGE’s Spark is one of the nation’s first accelerator programs designed specifically to support grassroots startup democracy and justice nonprofit organizations. Last month, BRIDGE successfully graduated their first three organizations from Spark Accelerator Cohort 1.
“From registering new voters to educating leaders to winning progressive policies, BRIDGE is here to support the next generation of community organizations and their vision for a better Texas,” BRIDGE Founder and Executive Director H. Drew Galloway stated. “I am very excited to work beside these incredibly talented leaders and their innovative organizations to continue growing grassroots organizing from the ground up.”
“As an organization founded and led by black women driven by our lived experience, we are excited to amplify our work to produce tangible results for marginalized communities,” said Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute Executive Director Lorraine Birabil. “We look forward to working with BRIDGE to help make our state as good as its promise.”
“Education is freedom that brings choices, exposure, and knowledge that no one can take away,” said FREED Texas Executive Director Leonora Walker. “We are so blessed to have this great opportunity to learn beside BRIDGE.”
“Trucha is thrilled to be a part of the second Spark Accelerator cohort and to work with BRIDGE to establish a strong foundation for our organization's future growth and development,” said Trucha Co-Founder and Executive Director Josue Ramirez. “What we learn here will allow Trucha to continue to expand our mission of centering the experiences of queer immigrants and create a more holistic narrative of the frontera.”
About BRIDGE
An acronym for Building Resourced Infrastructure for Diverse Grassroots Engagement, BRIDGE is a democracy and justice accelerator, incubator, and leadership lab building progressive power across Texas. BRIDGE supports emerging nonprofit organizations engaged in cutting-edge civic engagement work in Texas through our three innovative programs: Spark Startup Accelerator, Scale Growth Incubator, and Shine Movement Leaders Lab. For more information, visit bridgemovements.org.
About the Spark Startup Accelerator Program
BRIDGE Spark Startup Accelerator is a six-month grassroots democracy and justice accelerator program supporting startup, early-stage, and concept-level progressive projects in Texas. Spark Accelerator participants receive financial support, back-office capacity and systems, leadership coaching and programs mentoring, and a specialized curriculum designed to both build their skills and relationships in the movement. Learn more about Spark at bridgemovements.org/spark.
Spark Cohort 1 Alumni include Accountability, Compassion, and Transparency for San Antonio (ACT4SA), Radical Registrars, and Somos Tejas.
About The Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute
Founded in late 2018, Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute believes that Black women can speak, act, organize and lead for themselves. As a nonpartisan organization led by Black women, BJLI provides a comprehensive approach to community based leadership in action through leadership development, grassroots organizing, and community education. Based in Dallas, Texas, Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute registers Black voters, educates them on the voting process, and mobilizes them to the polls across North and East Texas. Learn more at bjli.org.
About FREED Texas
Founded in 2019, Finish Recidivism through Education, Employment and Divinity (FREED) Texas serves formerly incarcerated men and women – called Scholars – in Bexar County through a unique action civics program. Through classroom instruction, coaching, and immersive experiences, FREED Texas reduces recidivism in San Antonio by setting customized goals that are attainable based upon each individual's desires, needs and strengths. For more information, visit freedtexas.org.
About Trucha
Founded in 2021, Trucha is an independent multimedia platform dedicated to the people, the culture and social movements of the Rio Grande Valley, centering queer and migrant communities of color. By creating and curating audio, video, writing, multimedia projects and community events, Trucha crafts a more nuanced and holistic narrative about the Rio Grande Valley. Learn more at truchargv.com.
