Bridges Out of Poverty Expands Programs Across theMetro

Greg Smith, director of community partnerships for Omaha Bridges Out of Poverty, said the

organization continues to grow its reach with more classes and simulations across the metro

area. The group now coordinates between eight and ten class locations each quarter, with

Council Bluffs hosting both English and Spanish classes beginning in October.

“I just go out in the community and network and promote our upcoming bridges locations and

our bridges classes,” Smith said. “A lot of agencies will host our class. And then I also

coordinate and facilitate workshops across the metro area. And we also do poverty

simulations.”

The classes cover a wide range of life skills, including financial management, social

interaction, and problem-solving. Smith explained that participants spend up to a third of the

time on financial lessons such as debt-to-income ratios and understanding predatory lending.

The remaining time focuses on the hidden rules of middle-class, poverty, and wealth

mindsets, along with strategies to overcome barriers.

“Our goal is to help every single person take our class to be as successful as possible,” Smith

said. “We offer everyone a $300 Visa gift card for completing our class. The class is 32 hours

long. It is non-credited. But we also offer free life coaching forever.”

Graduates of the program can access bilingual and English-speaking life coaches who assist

with issues ranging from housing to resume updates. Smith emphasized the coaching is not

lecture-based but modeled after conversations around a kitchen table. The design

encourages participants to share personal experiences and develop supportive peer

networks.

Since its start in the late 1990s in Chicago, Bridges Out of Poverty has expanded into more

than 200 communities worldwide. The local initiative began in 2016. Smith said graduation

rates in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area average between 90 and 92 percent, a figure he

credits to the required orientation sessions before classes begin.

Smith added that the program’s impact goes beyond completion statistics. Surveys show

graduates reduce debt-to-income ratios by half, increase assets by an average of $7,200, and

see annual incomes rise by about $18,000. He noted that success stories often include

graduates who secure higher-paying jobs, gain confidence, and build sustainable support

systems.

“We want to surround them with as many resources as possible so they can see all the

resources in the community,” Smith said. “They make a SMART goal for us at the end of class

and then that SMART goal can carry over to our life coaching.”

Recruitment for classes is supported by local agencies, chambers of commerce, and social

service networks. Flyers and social media announcements are used to promote upcoming

opportunities. Each quarter concludes with a graduation ceremony where participants receive

diplomas, their gift cards, and the chance to share testimonials about how the program has

influenced their lives.

Smith said one of the most memorable outcomes came from a Council Bluffs participant who,

with the support of her life coach, approached her supervisor about wages and received a $10

per hour raise. While he cautioned that results vary, he highlighted the story as an example of

how confidence and knowledge gained from the program can lead to life-changing outcomes.

Looking ahead, Smith said Bridges Out of Poverty is expanding its offerings to include shorter

workshops on specific skills, such as budgeting meals or improving household finances. The

organization also continues to seek new partners across Pottawattamie County and beyond to

host classes and poverty simulations.

“We are always looking for new partners,” Smith said. “If there’s an agency that says, hey, we

would love for you to host a class here in Pottawattamie County, we would be more than

honored to sit down and visit with them.”