Annual

report

2025

Mission

To spark creativity and innovation beyond traditional education by providing online programs with hands-on activities that enhance engineering and scientific skills for adults (18-50) in underserved areas, particularly rural USA and Latin America. All educational materials and programs are accessible online, in English and Spanish, integrating local challenges to foster employability, community ownership, and practical solutions. 

Vision

A world where individuals from all backgrounds can access and utilize science and engineering to improve their lives and communities, making STEM a tool for empowerment and growth, not just the elite. 

Core
Values

  •  Dependability: Aligning progress with respect and meeting commitments. 

  • Partnership: Building respectful, enduring collaborations for mutual benefit. 

  • Teamwork: Recognizing contributions, valuing abilities, and performing to the best of our capability 

Executive Summary

Bridges Strong, founded in 2024, is dedicated to bridging STEM education gaps by delivering free, bilingual (English/Spanish), online programs with hands-on engineering activities for adults (18-50) in underserved rural USA and Latin America. In our inaugural year, we laid a strong foundation for impactful, community-led innovation amid exciting challenges. 

Key 2025 Achievements

Launched four bilingual pilot videos (1 foundational engineering concepts + 3 interviews with Dr. Otto Wilson on biomedical origami) to inspire creativity and showcase real-world applications. 

Identified and advanced pilot programs in Los Cantaros, Tlajomulco, Jalisco, Mexico (focusing on compact water purification and rooftop rainwater capture to address local shortages) and Farmville, VA (collaborating with the Chamber of Commerce and local leaders to identify needs). 

Built team capacity with 2 high-school interns (Angela Wang and José Ortiz-Fuentes) supporting program design, plus growing volunteer/donor networks including partnerships with Catholic University of America. 

Achieved early outreach reach: 963 website visits (670 unique), +3,115 Instagram views, +3,000 X impressions, plus inspirational social media stories on everyday innovators like Joe Barnard. 

Exceeded fundraising goal: Raised $8,640.76 (including founder support), with efficient allocation (83% to operations, 14% remaining capital after key legal and setup costs). 

These steps advance our mission to make STEM a tool for empowerment, employability, and local problem-solving—not just for the elite. As we transition from foundation-building to growth in 2026 (developing full programs, recruiting staff, targeting 200 subscribers and $300,000 raised), we invite supporters to join us in sparking innovation across communities. Your involvement via donations, volunteering, or following @bridges_strong on X and Instagram will help build brighter futures. 

Year in Review: Programs and Achievements

Pilot Educational Videos: 

  • To inspire future innovators, we launched 3 interview videos (bilingual)  with Dr. Otto Wilson (Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering), on origami applications in biomedical engineering. Additionally, we released 1 foundational pilot video (bilingual) on engineering concepts to showcase the types of engineering. 

 

  • Pilot Communities: 

Identified our pilot communities where to launch our pilot programs: 

  • Los Cantaros, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco, Mexico:  Identified two critical problems in the community that would benefit from our programs: 

  • build compact water purification systems (using principles like fluid dynamics and material science)  

  • rooftop rainwater capture setups.  

Content development underway for commercial water filters as Phase 1. 

  • Farmville, VA – USA: Working with local government to identify critical problems in the community that will benefit from our programs. 

 

  • Current work: 

Developing videos for the first stage of the program on water purification. 

 

Objective: Built confidence in engineering, promoted self-sufficiency, and fostered community unity amid water shortages. Potential impacts include reduced reliance on costly water sources and entrepreneurial opportunities in maintenance services. Program in development; track participant numbers and satisfaction surveys for future reports. 

 

Identified release plan for the program: 

  • Online short videos  

  • Group workshops for prototyping  

  • Feedback sessions 

  • Support innovation via project development 

  • training on project management 

  • provide financial connections 

 

  • Outreach:  

 Promoting the work the organization is doing with leaders and inspirational stories about everyday innovators like hobbyist Joe Barnard, who coded backyard rockets to land like SpaceX vehicles, to demonstrate persistence in democratizing tech. Shared via social media to encourage problem-solving and collaboration. 

 

  • Collaborations:  

  • Interviewed Dr. Otto Wilson, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering.  Released 3 videos from the interview. 

  • Met with Dr. Aaron Dominguez, Provost of the Catholic University of America, to explore partnerships for expanding educational programs to rural America and Latin America. 

 

  • Internships and Team Building:  

  • Recruited interns: Angela Wang (high school student passionate about neuroscience and education) and José Ortiz-Fuentes (interested in mechanical engineering and sustainable tech). They supported the “Los Cantaros” pilot program design. 

  • Collaborated with Dr. Otto Wilson to produce educational material for the website. 

  • Sought volunteers, including engineering students and professors. 

 

Overall Metrics:  

  • 1 pilot video + 3 interview videos

    Impact Example: Highlight biomedical origami solutions; inspire adults in underserved areas

  • Los Cantaros, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga (Mexico) & Farmville (VA) identified & in planning

    Impact Example: Address local water/security challenges via hands-on engineering 

  • 2 interns + volunteer/donor network

    Impact Example: Enhanced program design and outreach 

    • Social media stories, university/community meetings

    • Website

    • Instagram (English + Spanish) 

    • X (English + Spanish)

    Impact Example:

    • Enhanced program design and outreach 

    • Democratize innovation; build partnerships for rural expansion 

    • 963 visit, 670 unique visitors 

    • +3115 views 

    • +3000 impressions 

Financial Summary

Revenue Sources:  

  • Donations. 2025 Goal: $5,000 raised $8640.76 [1]  

Expenses [2]:   

  • Outreach : $479.24 

  • Legal (establishing organization): $ 6,000 

  • Fundraiser expenses: $381.39 

  • Memberships: $300 

  • Marketing: $166.43 

  • Admin Expenses: $129 

 

Financial Health:

Board, Leadership, and Team

Board Members: 

Dr. Rosa Diaz: Founder.
Dr. Duilia Fernandes de Mello: Board Member.
Francesca Franchi: Board Member. 

Interns:

Angela Wang
José Ortiz-Fuentes

Volunteers/Sponsors:

Catholic University of America, Gauthier Vineyard, Susan and Chris North, Jeanine Baggett, William Eastburn, Brandon Sholar, Janet Moore, Cathleen Dillon, Elena Barber, Duilia De Mello, Francesca Franchi 

Looking Ahead: 2026 and beyond

Short-Term Goals (2026):

Develop two community programs, achieve 200 subscribers, 1,000 social media followers, and raise $300,000. Recruit full-time staff and create 1 workshop templates (e.g., rainwater systems).

Long-Term Vision (By 2030):

Reach 5,000 learners, support 100+ enterprises, and contribute $500,000 to local economies through 50+ projects. Expand to Brazil, Peru, and beyond Africa with certifications and international partnerships.

Phases:

Continue Foundation phase (fundraising, implementing coordination and collaboration tools), transition to Growth (workshops and curricula).

Call For Action

We thank our volunteers and donors for their contribution and support for the organization. We also thank the Farmville Chamber of Commerce and partners. 

How to get involved:

Donate via bridges-strong.org/en/donate, volunteer, apply for internships or follow @bridges_strong on X and Instagram for updates.
Visit bridges-strong.org/en/contact

Notes

[1] The organization received $7,043.69 in personal contributions from the founder/CEO deposited directly to support operations during a period of limited external funding. We will diversify our funding sources in 2025. 

[2] Volunteers, including the CEO, contributed approximately 2324 miles valued at $325.36 using the IRS charitable mileage rate of 14 cents per mile, representing in-kind support for program delivery.