Bridgeport Prospers: Driving Community Change Through Place-Based Partnerships

As a place-based partnership in StriveTogether’s Cradle to Career Network, Bridgeport Prospers is working to ensure that every child in our community has the support and opportunities they need to succeed. The 2024 StriveTogether Annual Report highlights the power of these partnerships and the incredible progress being made across the country—including right here in Bridgeport. 

Why Place-Based Partnerships Matter 

Place-based partnerships like Bridgeport Prospers bring together community organizations, schools, local leaders, and families to create aligned, data-driven solutions. This collaborative approach ensures that resources and initiatives truly meet the needs of Bridgeport’s children and families. 

Key Takeaways from StriveTogether’s 2024 Annual Report 

Tracking Progress Across the Network 
By 2030, StriveTogether aims for 70% of network communities to improve at least four key outcomes for youth. As of 2024, 35% of communities with sufficient data have reached this milestone, proving the effectiveness of collective action. 

Leveraging Public Funding for Systemic Change 
The Cradle to Career Network has successfully secured $4.1 billion in public funding for policies that enhance educational and economic mobility. Bridgeport Prospers continues to push for policies that drive local investment in our community’s future. 

Building Leadership Capacity 
In 2024, StriveTogether’s Training Hub provided nearly 5,000 hours of training to community leaders. Bridgeport Prospers is committed to using these insights to strengthen our local partnerships and expand our impact. 

Strengthening Civic Infrastructure 
StriveTogether is launching a study in 2025 to assess national awareness of its mission and strategies. Bridgeport Prospers remains dedicated to uplifting community voices and advocating for systemic change at the local and state levels. 

Our Impact in Bridgeport 

Bridgeport Prospers is focused on equity, access, and opportunity—ensuring that every child, from birth through career, has the tools to succeed. Whether through early childhood initiatives, education programs, or workforce development, we are working to create real, measurable change in our city. 

Be Part of the Change 

We invite educators, parents, businesses, and community partners to join us in this work. Together, we can create a brighter future for Bridgeport’s youth. 

Learn more about Bridgeport Prospers and how you can get involved! 

bridging gaps in maternal health

how bridgeport prospers is supporting a groundbreaking doula and community health worker program

Bridgeport Prospers is committed to transforming maternal and child health by addressing healthcare disparities in our community. Through a groundbreaking training program, developed in partnership with Doulas4CT and the Community Health Workers Association of Connecticut at Gateway Community College, doulas and community health workers will be equipped with the skills needed to provide critical support to birthing individuals and families. This effort builds on Connecticut’s progress in expanding Medicaid coverage for doula services, ensuring more families receive the care and advocacy they deserve.

Why This Matters

Doulas play a crucial role in improving birth outcomes by advocating for and supporting birthing individuals before, during, and after childbirth. Community health workers, on the other hand, serve as vital connectors between hospitals and the communities they serve, ensuring that families receive the care and resources they need. By combining these two roles, the Gateway program is creating a workforce that is not only highly skilled but also deeply connected to the communities they serve.

Research shows that Black and Hispanic patients often experience better health outcomes when treated by providers who share their backgrounds. Yet, these populations remain underrepresented in the healthcare workforce. By training more people from the communities they serve, this program ensures that more families of color have trusted advocates in the delivery room.

A Step Forward for Medicaid Coverage

Connecticut has recently taken a significant step forward by allowing Medicaid to cover doula services. Cynthia Hayes, known as the “Doula Godmother,” highlights the years of advocacy it took to achieve this, emphasizing the importance of not only expanding access to doulas but also ensuring they are fairly compensated and work in supportive environments. This program builds on that progress by providing a structured, professional pathway for those entering the field.

The Bridgeport Connection

Bridgeport Prospers played a key role in identifying the urgent need for stronger maternal health support in the community. Through landscape analyses and listening sessions, we found that many families—especially families of color—were lacking culturally competent maternal health care. As a result, we developed the Bridgeport Baby Bundle, a framework for comprehensive prenatal and postnatal services, including:

- Parent education

- Child development support

- Early language and literacy tools

- Social-emotional learning resources

Through our Bridgeport Baby Bundle initiative, we provide parent education, child development resources, and early literacy tools to strengthen family support. Success stories like Sereader Holly—now a dually trained community health worker/doula at Bridgeport Hospital's Family Bridge home visiting program—highlight the impact of this work.

Empowering the Next Generation of Maternal Health Advocates

Sereader Holly, after completing her training, secured a position at Bridgeport Hospital as a community health worker with Yale New Haven Health. Having worked in the hospital for 20 years, she now finally feels her voice is being heard—both as a patient advocate and as a staff member. Her personal experiences navigating the healthcare system give her unique insight into the challenges faced by the community, making her an invaluable resource for patients.

Changing Systems, Not Just Services

The impact of this program extends beyond training individuals—it is part of a larger effort to transform healthcare systems. As Hayes and program co-designer Milagrosa Seguinot emphasize, improving maternal health requires not only increasing the number of doulas but also creating culturally competent, inclusive environments where families feel heard and respected. This program is not just about training: it’s about transforming healthcare to be more inclusive and responsive.

At Bridgeport Prospers, we believe that systemic change starts with community-led solutions. By supporting initiatives like this, we are working to ensure that every birthing person in Bridgeport—and across Connecticut—has access to the care, support, and advocacy they need to thrive.

Join the Movement

Interested in learning more about Bridgeport Prospers' maternal health initiatives? Follow us on social media, sign up for our newsletter, and stay engaged as we continue working toward a healthier future for all families in our community.

The bridgeport care health leaders program: Driving change and promoting health equity

The Bridgeport Health Leaders program is in full swing! This nine-month initiative is dedicated to addressing health disparities and promoting health equity within our community. With a focus on empowering participants through education and collaboration, the program is making significant strides toward creating a healthier and more equitable Bridgeport.

Engaging Workshops and Leadership Development

Participants in the Bridgeport Health Leaders program are actively engaging in a series of workshops designed to enhance their skills in community engagement and leadership. These workshops provide valuable insights and practical tools that participants can use to drive positive change in their neighborhoods. By fostering a sense of empowerment and responsibility, the program is cultivating a new generation of health leaders who are committed to making a difference.

Collaborative Local Health Initiatives

One of the key components of the program is the collaboration on local health initiatives. Participants are working together to identify pressing health issues in the community and develop innovative solutions to address them. This hands-on approach not only allows participants to apply what they have learned but also ensures that the initiatives are tailored to the specific needs of Bridgeport residents. Through these collaborative efforts, the program is driving real change and improving health outcomes for all.

Exploring the Social Drivers of Health

In our most recent session, participants delved into the social drivers of health, sparking insightful discussions on how factors like housing, education, and economic stability impact well-being. These discussions highlighted the complex interplay between social determinants and health outcomes, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to health equity. By understanding and addressing these underlying factors, the Bridgeport Health Leaders program is working to create a more just and equitable health system.

Looking Ahead

As the Bridgeport Health Leaders program continues, we are excited to see the positive impact that our participants will have on the community. With their dedication, passion, and newly acquired skills, they are well-equipped to tackle the health disparities that exist in Bridgeport and beyond. We look forward to sharing more updates on their progress and celebrating their successes in the months to come.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Bridgeport Health Leaders program and join us in supporting these incredible individuals as they work to create a healthier, more equitable future for all.

2024 INITIATIVE MILESTONES

EARLY CHILDHOOD EFFORTS

Back in November, the Parent Ambassadors participated as a Community Outreach Partner with Filling in The Blanks Mobile Food Pantry at Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School in Bridgeport. We understand that food insecurity is a barrier for a lot of families, and each month this wonderful organization provides bags of food for any family in need. We were honored to be a part of this event to connect with families while they waited in line and build relationships to better understand their children’s educational needs. Families left with books, and bags full of goodies and resources to consider using with their kids at home.  

Back in June, the Parent Ambassadors hosted their first annual Early Childhood Fair in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubhouse on Madison Ave. This fun-filled event was geared towards families to connect them with local Bridgeport providers and agencies with useful resources such as WIC, Dental Services, Health Centers, high-quality early learning experiences, Bridgeport Public School support, and much more! This was the start of many collaborations, and we were grateful families left with some cool prizes and goodies. Stay tuned as we are gearing up to plan for this year's Early Childhood Fair coming this summer! 

YOUTH PROGRAMS

We were so excited to kick off the Youth Civic Data Program in Partnership with CT Data Collaborative this past July. This collaborative effort allowed for Youth Civic Leaders to immerse themselves in a 2 Day Program, that is designed to increase essential data literacy skills for students using data that they collected since 2023! The ability to read, work, analyze, and tell a story with data are necessary skills to be productive in the workforce and are also critical for building a strong democracy. Workforce and civic participation can contribute to a person’s sense of belonging and social connectedness to their community, and we work hard to foster these skills and learning opportunities with youth.

Additionally, the Youth Civic Influencers Session series kicked off in October starting with Civic Engagement Training led by Talyn Cook & Kathleen Callahan (Cradle to Career Coalition's, Policy Director). This series lasted 4 months with our training and mentorship, and students learned skills in leadership, how to identify healthy relationships, and most importantly they had opportunities to explore careers and advocacy (on the local and state level). Building collective organizing power is one of the best ways to move the needle with change. Youth civic engagement can create stronger and more vibrant communities. When young people get involved, they have a say in the decisions that impact their lives.   

Parent ambassadors & community messengers

This past summer, the dedicated Community Messengers and enthusiastic Parent Ambassadors came together for a delightful evening filled with laughter, fellowship, and an array of delicious food as a meaningful part of our ongoing Rest & Renewal efforts. We truly recognize all the hard work and commitment our Advocates put in day after day within the community and wanted to express our sincere appreciation over a wonderful dinner at the Boca Mediterranean Oyster Bar & Restaurant, which is a beloved go-to destination that offers stunning water views, all nestled in the vibrant heart of downtown Bridgeport. This memorable gathering and celebration of our Advocates was the perfect way to recognize their dedication to transforming systems and driving more equitable results for their Bridgeport neighbors.

Back in November, the Community Messengers came together to talk about our Impact. Since the middle of the pandemic back in 2021, the Community Messengers have been connecting with Bridgeport residents to listen to their needs and concerns around issues affecting them locally. This led to the creation of our Community Messenger field report survey. After a couple of years of documenting their encounters, we felt it was time to analyze our findings and find ways to make a greater impact in the Bridgeport community. We ended our session reflecting on what makes us thankful for the work we do in our community by writing on our gratitude cards. Stay tuned, as our Community Messengers continue to lead in our neighborhoods and connect community to resources in order to thrive!  

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

We are thrilled to share that, together, we worked to build the capacity of community members to provide peer-to-peer support in the City of Bridgeport. Through collective action, the new NAMI Greater Bridgeport CT affiliate has been established. This effort was comprised of multiple community representatives, health workers, nonprofits, civic leaders, and volunteers to address a serious need for mental health programs and supports in the city. This evidence-based solution will help to provide greater access to mental health resources and services that will lead to healthier neighborhoods, better educational outcomes and student well-being, and opportunities for workforce participation for families. These factors are crucial to creating conditions that boost upward mobility, and narrow racial, ethnic, and income inequities in the Bridgeport community.

In addition, we need a Board of Directors! Do you know anyone who would be a good fit to lead these efforts in Greater Bridgeport? Mental health advocates, experts, and neighbors with lived experience are encouraged to become a member of the board! View the roles and responsibilities outlined here, as well as the leadership training course description. Share your interest with us today!