Bridge Kids International Breaks Ground on New Development
After 8 years of planning and hard work, Bridge Kids International recently broke ground on its new global headquarters and community gathering place at Ben Washer Park in Louisville. A member of the Community Foundation of Louisville’s Racial Justice Cohort, Bridge Kids International uses the power of African heritage culture to promote the well being of youth ages 13-25, and their communities. The unique space will align with Bridge Kids’ mission to cultivate youth social entrepreneurship, cultural exploration, sustainable living, and intergenerational relationships.
Youth led social enterprises will be developed during the first phase of the project including Our Place Café. The café will provide healthy food made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients and will also be the home of Nice Cream, a liquid nitrogen ice cream business. Our Place Discovery Shop, will also be a part of initial phase, featuring jewelry, fabrics and handmade crafts from countries where Bridge Kids operates as well as local Kentucky artisans of the African Diaspora. In addition, the shop will feature books by and about people of African and the African Diaspora with a special focus on materials for children and youth.
“We are so excited to have reached this milestone in the long journey to make this project a reality. Our Place at Ben Washer Park will bring new life to the park and the Limerick neighborhood and provide Bridge Kids International a home for all of our community-building programs promoting African heritage culture and the well-being of young people. As a small, Black-led nonprofit organization, it’s powerful to participate in economic development and build sustainability in this way. We can hardly wait to open our doors next year!”, says Stacy Bailey-Ndiaye, Executive Director, Bridge Kids International.
