Dear Partners and Friends,

My name is Andrea Giles, and I serve as both a member of the Bridging Board of Directors and a Ramsey County deputy, school resource officer, and drug and alcohol counselor. I am committed to Bridging’s vital work of furnishing homes with hope.

A furnished home through Bridging is essential for community members who are transitioning to housing stability. A furnished home provides the stability and comfort needed to focus on health, employment, and connections with family and friends.

Reflecting on my own journey as a single mother, I know Bridging would have been an incredibly helpful resource to me as I was establishing my household, working, and going to college, all while raising my family.

In part, that is why now, as a deputy and a Bridging board member, I strive to have a positive impact in the community and make a difference, one person at a time. This happens when a child will say to me, “You’re the only cop I trust,” or when I hear a recipient of Bridging’s services say, “A furnished home gave me the confidence to move forward.”

There is a need for big changes in community systems that continue to perpetuate inequities experienced by people who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC.)

As an organization, we are challenging ourselves at Bridging to put our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging statement into action through important and intentional conversations, trainings, recruitment efforts, and partnerships to ensure a welcoming and equitable Bridging experience for everyone.

I invite you to read Bridging’s Report to the Community. I hope you will consider new ways to engage in Bridging’s work and play an active role in advancing racial equity in our community.

Your participation is greatly valued as we work to end the inequities of housing instability and achieve Bridging’s vision that everyone lives in a furnished home.

Thank you for your partnership.

Sincerely,

Andrea Giles (she/her)

Bridging Board Member