We help young adults navigate what comes next.
— WHO WE ARE
Bridge Over Troubled Water (BOTW) was created to help young adults navigate the space between where they are and where they want to go. We strive to make the next step clearer, connect the pieces along the way, and help young adults keep moving toward family-sustaining careers, greater independence, and a future they can build on.
— MISSION AND VISION
Mission:
Bridge Over Troubled Water is a workforce intermediary that helps Richmond-area young adults ages 18 to 24 build the foundation for economic mobility by connecting career preparation, real-world experience, meaningful relationships, and practical resources that help them navigate education, workforce, and employment systems.
Vision:
A Richmond region where every young adult has the opportunity to reach a stable and prosperous future, supported by connected systems, meaningful opportunities, and strong relationships. We envision a community where education, workforce, employers, and partners work together to help young adults turn their strengths and potential into lasting economic mobility.
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— HOW BOTW WORKS
Six functions. One connected experience.
Recruit and assess
Start with the person: BOTW begins by understanding each Career Builder’s strengths, interests, goals, experiences, and readiness. This creates a clearer picture of where they are, where they want to go, and what resources may help them move forward.
Build the foundation
Career Builders develop the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to make informed decisions about their future, including career awareness, durable skills, workplace readiness, wellness practices, and financial capability.
Connect
BOTW links Career Builders with education, training, employer, apprenticeship, and workforce opportunities that align with their goals, interests, and readiness.
Coordinate
BOTW works alongside partners to clarify roles, align resources, support referrals, and maintain communication so each organization’s contribution strengthens the overall experience.
Launch
BOTW supports Career Builders through applications, onboarding, and the early stages of their next opportunity while staying connected with partners throughout the transition.
Support continued progress
BOTW remains connected through continued coaching, check-ins, and support at 30, 60, and 90 days to help Career Builders navigate challenges, sustain momentum, and continue progressing toward their goals.
Our guiding values.
Respect.
We recognize each person’s value, voice, and potential.
Partnership.
We believe meaningful progress happens when we work together toward our shared goals.
Accountability.
We do what we say, and we own the results.
Openness.
We value honesty, transparency, and the willingness to learn, adapt, and improve.
Transformation.
We focus on creating meaningful changes that strengthen individuals, relationships, and systems.
Perseverance.
We keep going when the work is hard, and we ask the same of each other.
Resilience.
We recognize that growth is not always linear, and we build the capacity to navigate challenges and continue moving forward.
WHO WE SUPPORT
We meet young adults where they are and build from there.
There is no single BOTW participant profile. We serve Richmond-area young adults ages 18 to 24 with a range of experiences, including those who are working but underemployed, looking for work, out of school, or preparing to enter an apprenticeship or other career-focused program.
Including those who may be:
Exploring career options, training, or alternatives to a traditional four-year college route
Building skills, experience, confidence, and professional connections
Navigating barriers related to employment, education, transportation, housing, or finances
Reconnecting with school, training, or the workforce
Interested in apprenticeships, credentials, skilled trades, or other career-focused routes
Ready to build: Skills. Experience. Confidence. Relationships. And a stronger foundation for what comes next.
CALLED TO SERVE
MEET OUR FOUNDER
READY TO BUILD?
Hey Friends - it’s Erika!
I was born and raised in Richmond, and at 15, I got my first job through the Mayor’s Youth Academy, a youth workforce development program that connected young people to paid work experience and career exposure. At the time, I was excited to have a job and make my own money. I did not realize how much that experience would shape the direction of my life.
It exposed me to new people, workplaces, and possibilities. More importantly, it showed me what can happen when a young person is given a chance, some guidance, and room to grow.
Years later, I found myself doing the same kind of work that had made such an impact on me.
For more than eight years, I’ve worked in youth workforce development, creating programs, building partnerships, connecting young people to paid work experiences, and helping them navigate career decisions and what comes after high school. I’ve worked alongside young people, employers, community organizations, and workforce partners, and that experience has taught me a lot about both what works and where young adults can still get lost along the way.
There are so many great programs and resources in our community. Sometimes the challenge is simply knowing what exists, where to start, who to talk to, and how to get from one step to the next.
That is where the idea for Bridge Over Troubled Water came from.
I created BOTW because I wanted young adults to have a place that could help connect those pieces. A place where they can gain real experience, build relationships, develop skills, explore what fits them, and have someone alongside them as they navigate the process.
This work has also pushed me to continue learning and growing. I earned my Master of Public Administration with a focus on public and nonprofit management, became a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP), and am a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Each of those experiences has strengthened how I think about young people, workforce systems, and the importance of looking at the whole person, not just whether they are ready for a job.
BOTW is really the combination of my own experience, the work I’ve spent years doing, and what I believe young adults deserve: a fair chance to explore what is possible, build something meaningful for themselves, and have people in their corner along the way.