Bridges Out of Poverty – Suzie Johnson-Smith

Workshops

There’s an old saying: “We don’t know what we don’t know.” That’s where Bridges Out of Poverty sessions come in, helping you see things differently.

Bridges explores economic environments and social cognitive learning theories to analyze how we all think, behave, prioritize, and make decisions. Once you have your own internal ‘aha’ moments, there’s no turning back. The possibilities for your organization and your community become endless.

Bridges Out of Poverty guides communities and professionals who work with people experiencing poverty by offering innovative yet practical, human and community-centered solutions.

I became a certified Bridges out of Poverty community trainer in 2015. Then in 2018, I became an international consultant with aha! Process. To date, aha! Process has helped create more than 220 Bridges communities across the USA, Canada, Australia and Slovakia and the interest worldwide continues to grow. In my role as an international consultant, I offer the following Bridges out of Poverty workshops to organizations and communities:

Individual Lens to improve relationships
Institutional Lens to improve outcomes
Community/Policy Lens to improve collaboration and systems
Bridges to Health and Health Care

If you are interested in arranging a workshop for your team, organization, or community, please reach out to chat!

The Bridges Model is a movement of action toward community well-being and quality of life for all. How can you go wrong with exploring that?

For more information, check out this Bridges Out of Poverty Coaching Opportunities video on YouTube.

Interested in attending a public online workshop?

I also facilitate public online workshops for aha! Process. The link below will take you to the aha! Process event page to find the next available online option.

Bridges Out of Poverty: Individual Lens

This workshop offers a thorough understanding of poverty through the lens of economic class. Bridges Out of Poverty uses practical tools and strategies to comprehend, address, and reduce poverty.

Participants will:

Explore essential resources for stability
Identify the complexity and causes of poverty
Develop and analyze a mental model for economic environments
Learn the unspoken rules of different economic classes
Evaluate how language and narratives negotiate our environments
Discuss family stability and the importance of building Social Capital
Gain new tools and strategies for improving relationships and outcomes

This training is beneficial for community organizations, social services, employers, and individuals looking for insights and strategies to build greater rapport and create stability for everyone.

If you’d like to find out how Bridges can support your organization in improving relationships, outcomes, and systems, please reach out! I’d love to chat.

If you’ve already hosted a Bridges workshop, you might be interested in strategic planning where I can support you and your team in building a Bridges implementation work plan!

For more info about aha! Process please visit www.ahaprocess.com.

I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Ruby Payne, CEO of aha! Process, Phil Devol and Terri Dreussi-Smith, the co-authors of Bridges out of Poverty and my mentors in many ways throughout my 12-year Bridges journey. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation of Lynn Jackson, our Bridges engagement manager at aha! Process.

Without their belief in me, I would not be living out my career dreams of sharing such a powerful framework at an international level. Their work, which continues to impact hundreds of communities, is a testament to their dedication, and I feel blessed to be a part of the aha! Process team and this powerful movement.

– Suzie

Rave reviews from clients

“Suzie provided an intro to Bridges Out of Poverty for our staff and Board online during COVID. This Spring, we were fortunate to participate in Suzie’s Coaching workshop and a full day of “Bridges Out of Poverty.” The content of Suzie’s training is inspiring, and her depth of knowledge and understanding is remarkable. Suzie is a skilled and engaging facilitator who keeps delivery on track and follows the pace desired by the group. Her background in social services provides a wealth of experience, and she can identify with the challenges faced by working with people from diverse backgrounds.

Suzie’s training has impacted how our staff interact with clients. The Bridges philosophy is now considered and reflected in our program design. We have implemented coach-like interactions in our centres and find them beneficial for our staff and clients.

I highly recommend training with Suzie for any social services program or agency. Her delivery, personality, and knowledge are exemplary. I will send staff to her new training sessions whenever they are available.”

Shannon Lee

Executive Director

Community Learning Alternatives

“Suzie was nothing short of incredible! She tailored the information and stories to who was in the audience and really explained the content in a way that everyone could understand. I continually hear from others about how they are implementing the training and get a lot of interest in future training. Suzie was so patient, understanding, and kind; it was wonderful to have her! I really can’t say enough about the differences Suzie’s Bridges out of Poverty presentations have made for our team and community!

Kaylee N. Diefenderfer

Community Health Planner

Human Services of Faribault & Martin Counties

“Suzie is a leader well known for her commitment to helping those facing barriers to education, work, and personal independence. Therefore, it was an easy choice when our Literacy and Basic Skills practitioners were looking for training in coaching. Suzie provided two days of training, separated by several weeks, which gave us the chance to put our new coaching skills into practice. During the sessions, we learned about ourselves and our values. We learned about AND practiced coaching.

Suzie also supported us in applying the Bridges out of Poverty philosophy to our work. It was the first workshop where we had 100% attendance; no one wanted to miss the opportunity to spend two days learning from Suzie. Suzie continues to lead our community of practice, where she checks in, guides discussions, and provides scenarios we can work through. She ensures people have the support and resources they need to continue integrating coaching into their work. This has been a significant step in building our skills and an overall coaching culture. We highly recommend Suzie for her knowledge, facilitation style and commitment to coaching.”

Literacy Ontario Central South

Haliburton, City of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, Northumberland and Hastings

“I have worked with Suzie for almost 6 years utilizing her training and coaching. Suzie is an amazing coach and facilitator! Suzie takes the framework of Bridges and applies it to her everyday interactions with all people meeting them where they are at, showing she is a true champion of Bridges out of Poverty and people and their successes. Suzie meets all clients with kindness, respect, and compassion. I strongly recommend Suzie and her services!”

Jason Gilbert

Peterborough Native Learning Program

“I attended my first Bridges Out of Poverty training with Suzie over 10 years ago, and that session changed the trajectory of my working and academic life. Her coaching and steadfast approach to leadership allowed our team to weather major changes in our sector because we could rely on Suzie to provide us with the guidance and support we needed to make it through to the other side.

Suzie understands the importance of a multifaceted circle of support and how this leads people to be the best they can be. She supports these resources for those surviving in poverty, but she also coaches in such a way that builds these resources in her team, community partners, and the city as a whole. I could go on forever about what an amazing coach and mentor Suzie is, but her legacy speaks for itself. Suzie is a trailblazer capable of not only inspiring change but also incredibly skilled at coaching people through the associated growing pains.”

Cayley Rice

Manager, Employment Services

YMCA of Central East Ontario