Bridgewell is pleased to announce that our entire team is First Aid and CPR certified, thanks to Bridgewell’s Training Department! In the past, only staff in direct care roles were required to gain this certification. In 2024 and moving forward, Bridgewell has opted to make it mandatory for every employee who works for the organization. Bridgewell’s Training Department held 78...
A tremendous thank you to Roman Music Therapy for stopping by Bridgewell’s Employment Program and Bridgewell’s Roseway Day Program on their holiday caroling tour! ❄️⛄️ While Roman Music Therapy stopped by Bridgewell day programs on their holiday tour, throughout the year, they visit 16 residential programs offering music therapy twice a month for over 55 Bridgewell residents!
Bridgewell’s Community Based Day Supports program loves to venture out into the community and explore learning and volunteer opportunities! Recently, this lucky group went to Harbor Sweets in Salem to learn about how they make their delicious chocolates! Do you want to share your business with Bridgewell’s CBDS program? Contact Program Manager Eric Zagranis at (339) 883-1727 or ezagranis@bridgewell.org Learn...
For the past few years, Bridgewell has hosted a Breakfast with Santa for employees and their families! Do you recognize Santa? At this event, he’s the C-E-Ho, Ho, Ho! The celebration has grown so much since the first year and is definitely a family favorite! This year included face painting, balloon art, crafts and more! Over 130 people attended and...
Bridgewell’s Headquarters has been getting into the holiday spirit with celebrations throughout the month. From trimming the lobby Christmas tree, wearing “ugly” holiday sweaters to coffee and cookie decorating, Bridgewell employees are ready for the holiday season. These events are a nice way for all the departments at Bridgewell’s Headquarters to interact – from finance to marketing and development and...
Bridgewell’s Recreation Program is always planning fun events and activities like paint parties, crafts and sports like bowling and basketball. This month, there was a surprise special guest! Santa stopped by to say hello during a recent arts and craft night at Bridgewell’s Roseway Day Program in Danvers.
A huge thank you to Winning Moves Games USA, based in Danvers, for donating over 400 games to Bridgewell! These games will bring so much fun to our day programs, residences, clinics, and affordable housing programs. Game on!
Bridgewell’s Family Support Center hosted a Holiday Karaoke Night with DJ Bethany! Nothing gets you more in the holiday spirit than singing Christmas carols and holiday songs. From Celebration of Community events, Bridgewell’s first Formal and many other recreational events, DJ Bethany is a great source of fun and entertainment for the Bridgewell community! She knows how to get...
Getting into the festive spirit with a trip to the Zoo Lights at Stone Zoo!
Each year, Debbie and Donna’s class have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration before the official holiday! Looks delicious!
Roseway Day Program Pumpkins Bridgewell Johnson Street, Women’s Program Pumpkins with the Beast at Rosewood ...
Rosewood Day Program Service Manager Willie Barnes set up the “Numbers Game” recently for a classroom activity in the Onyx Room! David, Michael, Zachary and Kyle had so much fun playing. Thanks for sharing, Willie!
Bridgewell’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee members recently elected Brent Brown as the group’s chairperson. Brent has worked as Transportation Manager at Bridgewell for over 10 years. In addition to previous nonprofit and government roles, he has served as an educator for the Healing and Transcending Racial Trauma series, presented at national conferences, and served as a group...
Kinship Farm held its Harvest Banquet at Essex Technical High School earlier this fall. Bridgewell has been working with Kinship Farm to help our residents start home gardens, care for them and harvest the produce. Bridgewell residents Eric, Bill, Rob and Chad enjoyed a student-led tour of the greenhouses and horticulture program, the equine barn, and the sheep and goat...
Bridgewell’s Special Olympics Team celebrated a successful season recently at Prince Pizza! What a fun evening celebrating Bridgewell’s amazing athletes and coaches!
Last month, Bridgewell intern Naguy Priscille Nseka Nsingi attended an Urban Youth Collaborative event at the Massachusetts State House with Bridgewell’s Retention and Recruitment Manager Brad Bitler. The Urban Youth Collaborative Program (UYCP) places high school and college interns in provider agencies, such as Bridgewell, as well as state-operated programs, and developmental centers across the Commonwealth in jobs providing support...
There’s been a lot of growth this summer! These green thumb gardeners have been busy all summer tending to their gardens at several Bridgewell residences. Later in August, Eric, Bill and Chad went to Baltimore Street and showed Jaime, Jessica, Arianna and Lisa how to harvest the potatoes that they grew. They also picked tomatoes and peppers, and planted spinach...
Bridgewell Family Support Center worked with the Lynn Family Forward Resource Center and Centerboard to give away over 500 free backpacks with school supplies.
August 2024’s Featured Artist Artist: Chad Mitchell Piece: “Peter the Parrot” Agency: Bridgewell Chad Mitchell loves to color with markers and paint in his free time. He got into artwork more during the beginning of the pandemic and he has a large bulletin board in his apartment to display some of it! Chad also enjoys cooking and baking, and has...
Earlier this year at our Imagine the Possibilities Gala, members of the Bridgewell community raised their paddles in support of the Fund a Need auction. The auction was split into a several categories of need, from basic necessities for our affordable housing programs, to technology for our day and residential program participants, to enriching experiences to make dreams come true for people...
Earlier this summer, Bridgewell Employment Program at Dearborn celebrated their hard work with an afternoon BBQ! Delicious burgers and hot dogs with all the fixings were served and grilled by Darren Goad, Director of Employment and CBDS. Program participants planned and prepared throughout the week by prepping sides and purchasing groceries and supplies. Throughout the year, program participants work various...
Flags symbolize solidarity, pride, and acceptance. In 2019, writer Ann Magill, who has cerebral palsy, created the original Disability Pride flag. Magill was motivated to create the flag after a less than pride-filled experience at an ADA anniversary event. The original flag featured brightly colored zigzagging stripes over a black background. The zigzag symbolized the barriers people with disabilities face....
Congratulations to Geoffrey Aronian and Monique Gonyea for winning last month’s Red Sox Raffle! Lucky for us, Bridgewell received MORE Red Sox tickets to raffle off to staff! Thank you to Dave McGeney and UBEO for donating more tickets: Red Sox vs. White Sox Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 1:35 PM Fenway Park, Boston Each winner gets two tickets. Two...
Why do you like working at TJ Maxx? “Working at TJ Maxx is amazing. I like stacking boxes.” How is it working with your co-workers at TJ Maxx?” “They are amazing.” Do you have a favorite memory at TJ Maxx? “All ten years- 2014-2024” Will you continue in 2025 for 11 years?” “Yes! – 11 years!” Connor processes...
Bridgewell was selected as the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce’s INCredible Awards “Nonprofit of the Year,” sponsored by North Shore Bank. Congratulations to the team at Lifebridge for also being nominated – we are proud to be in such great company. Bridgewell’s Chief Development & Marketing Officer Erik Langhoff, Chief Operating Office Elaine White and Institutional Giving Manager Brad Gosselin...
Last month, Bridgewell held an Employee Appreciation Day to celebrate our employees and their families! Bridgewell’s Employee Appreciation Day celebration was held outside our Rosewood Day program in Danvers. Despite being a rainy day, everyone enjoyed food from Code 1 BBQ, Kowloon’s and Vibe Food Truck, plus an ice cream truck. “We are so proud of the difference our employees...
At both the regional meet in May and the state meet in June, the Bridgewell athletes did very well – their hard work, dedication, and perseverance have clearly paid off. Thank you to all the coaches who volunteer their time to work with our athletes. Congrats to all the athletes!
Bridgewell is going green! Wooden garden beds were built at three of our residential programs in Danvers, Lynn, and Beverly in partnership with Kinship Farm. Big thank you to Coast of Maine Organic Products, Inc. for donating soil as part of their Growing Good and Growing Goodwill programs and thank you to Mass Hydroponics and Essex County Co-Op for delivering...
Busy weekends! Bridgewell residents are always finding fun things to do on the weekends out and about in our community. Bill, Chad, Eric and Julie explored the New England Gem & Mineral Show at the Topsfield Fairgrounds earlier this month. They enjoyed seeing the exhibits, visiting a number of vendors, watching how geodes are cut, and spinning the wheel to...
Nurses at Bridgewell are dedicated to providing high-quality care to people in our services, focused on seamless coordination between multidisciplinary teams, including primary care providers and state agencies. With it being National Nurses Week, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our nursing team, for the excellent care they provide to the entire Bridgewell community! “Our goal at...
On Saturday, April 27, the Northeast Arc hosted a Spring Vendor Market at Liberty Tree Mall with many local artists including two of Bridgewell’s own artists, Jaime and Tom! The market featured artists and entrepreneurs with disabilities or autism selling their products and unique handcrafted items. When speaking about his art, Tom told us how he uses his passion for...
Earlier this month, Bridgewell’s Family Support Center hosted a Family Earth Day Event! Projects included painting pottery and planting a seed to take home! Plus planting flowers for a new flower bed at the Family Support Center. Click here to learn more about Bridgewell’s Family Support Center!
Volunteering is a wonderful way for our program participants to engage with our communities while also building important life skills. Over the past 3 months, participants from the Rosewood day programs in Danvers have been averaging over 80 volunteer hours each month. Recently, Rosewood recruited day program volunteers to cook lasagnas for Lasagna Love, a global non-profit that delivers home-cooked...
Bridgewell values the safety and wellness of people in our care. Thanks to Bridgewell’s Recreation Program, our staff have been able to incorporate those values into our community through fun and engaging events. Bridgewell’s recreation team plans and scheduled outings and fun events at a Bridgewell day program or out in the community on a weekly basis. Whether it’s a...
Our very first regional #CaringForceRally was a huge success! Over 200 people rallied to speak about the workforce crisis and low wages in the sector. Bridgewell, worked with other partners Centerboard, Incompass Human Services, Justice Resource Institute, The Key Program Inc., NFI Massachusetts, Inc., Northeast Arc, Plummer Youth Promise, Vinfen, and Wayside Youth & Family Support Network hosted the event!...
Off the heels of the Night to Shine Dance, North Shore Community Baptist Church hosted “Shine On” with Curious Creatures earlier this month. Shine On, a ministry of the Tim Tebow Foundation, equips the global Church and families living with disabilities with innovative resources, training, and program to eliminate barriers and cultivate life-giving community.
Bridgewell’s Polar Plunge Team is plunging and fundraising for the Special Olympics! The plunge takes place in March and it will be a fun way to make a difference for our Team Bridgewell athletes. Below is the link to register, or if you’re not into jumping into the cold ocean, please donate! THIS, Saturday, March 23rd Click here for more...
PEABODY, Mass. (March 11, 2024) – Bridgewell, a nonprofit social and human services organization serving northeastern Massachusetts, today announced that Kirsten O’Keefe of Lynn has been promoted to director of the Bridgewell Family Support Center in Lynn. “Kirsten brings valuable experience and enthusiasm to our strong team of Family Support Community Case Managers,” said Jessica Almeida, Vice President of Day...
Bridgewell will present Assistant Training Director Gary LaPierre with the Visionary Leadership Award for his contributions to the organization and its employees during his tenure. LaPierre has worked at Bridgewell, which recently celebrated its 65th anniversary, for 43 years and is retiring this spring. “The impact that Gary LaPierre has made on our employees and our organization is truly exceptional,”...
The Rubin family of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture will be the Excellence in Service honoree at the 2024 Imagine the Possibilities Gala, for their commitment to nonprofit organizations that support positive outcomes for children and families. The Excellence in Service Award recognizes an individual or organization for their outstanding support of Bridgewell, a community or a social cause. It is...
Bridgewell to Honor Difference Makers at Imagine the Possibilities Gala The Rubin family of Bernie & Phyl’s and long-time employee Gary LaPierre have made a lasting impact on the organization PEABODY, Mass. (February 21, 2024) – Bridgewell, a nonprofit social and human services organization serving northeastern Massachusetts, today announced that the Rubin family of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture will be...
Bridgewell residents, day program participants and staff attended this year’s Night to Shine at North Shore Community Baptist Church in Beverly earlier this month. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs, ages 14 and older. Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. “It was a Night to Shine in Beverly,”...
Action Alert: We Need Your Help Through the support of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Bridgewell needs your help! Advocates have been working hard to pass legislation in Massachusetts (S. 760/ H. 2006) to increase reimbursement rates to mental health clinics. These bills are before the legislature’s Health Care Finance Committee and its Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Committee....
Bridgewell is pleased to present the 2023 Champion Award to Matthew Rosa owner of Captain Pizza in Middleton. “People like Rosa and places like Captain Pizza are champions because they recognize the potential in individuals with disabilities and give them the chance to work,” said Bridgewell President and CEO Christopher Tuttle. “What they quickly find out is that they have...
Bridgewell’s Training Department has been offering a Leadership Skills Training to managers, supervisors, and directors for over 25 years. This fall, another group of managers completed the course. Known as “Sups Skills,” this course has been organized and facilitated by our Assistant Director of Training Gary LaPierre, Staff Developers and a panel of Senior Leaders. The participants attended informative, interactive,...
When you live in a Bridgewell residence, your housemates and the people who work in your home, become extended family. Chelmsford residents Casey, Melissa and Tarina worked on Thanksgiving crafts, decorated for Christmas and celebrated Melissa’s birthday in the past few weeks.
Bridgewell residents Bill, Chad, Eric, Ted and Todd went to Brooksby Farms in Peabody on Saturday and enjoyed feeding the farm animals, meeting Mrs. Claus, and shopping in the farm’s store before heading out for lunch at Friendly’s.
Join Bridgewell’s Family Engagement Group for a Meet and Greet! This evening is an opportunity to mingle with other families and Bridgewell staff from day and residential programs and members of Bridgewell’s administration. We will have several programs highlighting their outstanding work. Thursday, December 7, 2023 Bridgewell’s Rosewood Day Program 199 Rosewood Dr., Suite 110, Danvers MA 5:30 pm to...
Halloween is always a favorite at Bridgewell’s Day Programs. Each program had its own spin on celebrating: games, karaoke, dance parties and of course, special treats and cookies!
Watch out for zombies and ghouls at Bridgewell’s Roseway Day Habilitation Program! Once again, the day program has turned into the Spooky Way! Program participants and staff have transformed our peaceful day program into a spooky, haunted spot! Many members of the Bridgewell community have gone through, including Bridgewell’s leadership team – and they will never be the same. This...
This October, the families at Bridgewell’s Lotus House celebrated the season and harvest time together! Bridgewell’s Lotus House Family Supportive Housing Program supports women and their children who are transitioning out of substance use disorder treatment programs. The program supports them in building independent living skills, healthy relationships, and connections in the community, to reduce substance use relapse. The goal...
Halloween is merely a few days away! Residents at Bridgewell’s Johnson Street Women’s Program are getting into the spooky spirit!
Earlier this month, Bridgewell’s KJM Day Center hosted a Cultural Day, organized by Program Manager Nawfal Mabrouk. It was a great time celebrating diversity and culture while exploring food and music from around the world.
Peg Ricardo has been a case manager with Bridgewell’s Family Support Center in Lynn since 2021, after several years in a similar position with another provider. She had also previously worked in financial services, and is a mother of a child with disabilities. We asked Peg a few questions about her work. Who is served by Bridgewell’s Family Support Center?...
A new exhibit at Great Art Studio, “Shame Fear Love,” is tackling women’s experiences battling addiction. The exhibit is the work of 12 women from Bridgewell’s Johnson Street residential treatment program. “This was a chance for us to get out of the house and be in an intimate setting with women,” Melissa Hinckley, of Gloucester, who is in the Johnson...
The residents at Bridgewell’s Recovery Housing programs attended multiple fairs, celebrations, and events, from Boston to Stoneham, to celebrate Recovery Month. Why attend recovery-focused events? These events allow those in recovery to gather with a community of people who understand their personal experiences, they provide opportunities to build new friendships and help others, and they can also help to redefine...
Bridgewell’s Johnson Street, Women’s Program attended the 8th Annual “Kicking Addiction” Kickball Tournament Fundraiser at Tufts Park in South Medford organized by Medford Overcoming Addiction in memory of Michael Phillips. All funds collected through this tournament go to a scholarship fund for men and women in early recovery to gain access to support services and healthy living arrangements, such as...
During the 2023 Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week, Bridgewell’s Training Department hosted its annual Direct Support Professional Sensitivity Training. The training covers the history of the direct support professional from the times of institutionalization to now. Staff take a deep look at the job and different aspects of the work and community they serve, with the whole training being an...
Bridgewell residents Bill, Lynne, Eric and Rob enjoyed a 1.5 hour trip on the scenic Hobo Railroad earlier this month, departing from the Lincoln NH Depot. Conductor Mike was very welcoming and made the ride enjoyable for all onboard. Later in the month, a second group of residents boarded the Hobo Railroad. Arianna, Lisa, Robbie, Chad and Bill (again!) enjoyed the scenic...
Bridgewell has been selected by the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce as Nonprofit of the Month in September! As part of the month-long activities, PACC will send out emails, press releases and sponsor a digital billboard promoting the Bridgewell mission. Not Your Average Joe’s in Peabody is hosting a Dining Night for Bridgewell on Thursday, September 14! Not Your Average Joe’s...
Bridgewell residents participated in a Camp Day at Harold Parker State Forest in Andover organized by Bridgewell’s Supervisor of Clinical Support Services Laurel Ciavarri. This is an annual tradition since 2016 and keeps growing to more residential programs. This year, seven residential programs attended in the course of two days. Everyone enjoyed a picnic lunch and made s’mores over a...
Bridgewell and SharkNinja celebrated Disability Pride Month and National Ice Cream Month with an ice cream social for 100 participants and staff at the Kelly J. Martin Day Center in Lynn. Volunteers from Needham-based SharkNinja’s diversity, equity and inclusion group made and served homemade ice cream during the event, using several of their Ninja CREAMi™ ice cream makers. The celebration...
Bridgewell’s Training Department has been offering a Leadership Skills Training to managers, supervisors and directors for over 25 years. This summer, another group of managers completed the course. Known as “Sups Skills,” this course has been organized and facilitated by our Assistant Director of Training Gary LaPierre, Staff Developers and a panel of Senior Leaders. The participants attended six informative,...
Whale, whale, whale, what have we got here? Another fun excursion for Bridgewell residents! This experience was made possible thanks to the generosity of donors who contributed to Bridgewell’s Fund a Need appeal.
Earlier this month, participants from Bridgewell’s Johnson Street Women’s Program, including a recent graduate of the program, went on a lunch cruise around Boston Harbor aboard the Hornblower Sensation. This was made possible due to the generosity of those who contributed to Bridgewell’s Fund-a-Need appeal. Why a harbor cruise? Experiences like this lunch cruise give the women opportunities to learn...
Bridgewell residents took a trip to Legoland Discovery Center Boston earlier this summer and had a wonderful time. This trip was funded by the Fund a Need Auction Donations. It was everyone’s first time!
Each year, Bridgewell’s Training Department undergoes an organization-wide wheelchair securement training! Over 875 people have been trained this year, with new employees completing the training during orientation. The safety of the people we serve is paramount in our work and Bridgewell formalized and standardized this training. The training includes a video and both online and in-person lessons to provide a...
Rosewood Drive held a cookout last Thursday to celebrate Independence Day. Huge thank you to the Rosewood staff who made this an amazing turnout. After the cookout, everyone ended the day with making ice-cream sundaes. What better way to kick off summer than BBQ and ice cream!
Bridgewell resident Zach Z attended his first Boston Red Sox game earlier this week at Fenway! Tickets were purchased through Bridgewell’s Fund a Need Appeal. Do you think he had fun? His smile says absolutely. Thank you to our generous donors for their support in making these dreams come true! ⚾❤️💙ðŸ¤
Team Bridgewell shined in the Track and Field events at the Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games earlier this month at Harvard University. Congrats, Team Bridgewell and thank you to all our coaches and athletes! Medal Count: 11 – Gold 8 – Silver 4 – Bronze 5 – 4th 2 – 5th 2 – 6th Enjoy these photos below from the...
