THE BRIDGE, A MINISTRY OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, IS A NON-PROFIT, TAX-EXEMPT CHURCH INCORPORATED ON MAY 23, 2011 IN WASHINGTON STATE. OUR MISSION IS TO ASSIST OUR NEIGHBORS IN FINDING HOPE, DISCOVERING THEIR OWN VALUE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS FOR SURVIVAL. OUR EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY SEEKS TO ACHIEVE THIS IN MANY WAYS. THE BRIDGE HAS INTENTIONALLY SEARCHED FOR EVENTS, SPEAKERS AND CLASSES TO HOST, WHICH BRING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND INFORMATION TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITY. THE BRIDGE PROVIDES SPACE, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY. THIS MINISTRY EDUCATES THE RECOVERING ADDICT (AND THEIR FAMILY) ABOUT THEIR DISEASE THEIR OBLIGATIONS AND THEIR JOURNEY TO SOBRIETY AND HEALTH. THE BRIDGE FUNDS, MAINTAINS AND HOST A COFFEE SHOP MINISTRY WHICH WE CALL HOLY GROUNDS COFFEE. WE ASSIST IN SKILL DEVELOPMENT SO THAT OUR BARISTA CAN FIND MEANINGFUL, PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT. THE BRIDGE SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC-ACCESS RADIO STATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN CREATE LOCALLY MADE PROGRAMMING. WE WANT A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN RADIO PRODUCTION SKILLS. THEY WOULD THEN USE THESE SKILLS TO CREATE PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE, INFORM AND INTERACT WITH LISTENERS IN TACOMA. TO DO SO WE ARE PARTNERING WITH LOCAL LABOR, PROGRESSIVE, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES WHOSE VOICES ARE SELDOM HEARD ON RADIO IN PIERCE COUNTY. THIS WOULD EXPAND THE ACCESS TO NEEDED INFORMATION CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE VIA EXISTING MEDIA PROVIDERS. WE WANT TO FOCUS ON LOCAL ACTIVITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND EVENTS. WE WILL INCLUDE CITY, COUNTY, STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND LEGAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, WE WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ETHNIC GROUPS TO BROADCAST CULTURAL PROGRAMS (MUSIC, STORIES, PLAYS, LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION) IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGES. TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF ASSISTING OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR DIVERSE PROGRAMMING WILL COME FROM THE COMMUNITY AND COVER TOPICS SUCH AS NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS, LOCAL MUSICIANS, INTERVIEWS WITH ALTERNATIVE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES, ETHNIC COMMUNITIES AND ECOLOGICAL OUTLOOKS, ALL WITH A VIEW TO EDUCATING TACOMA ABOUT ITS EVENTS, PEOPLE AND HERITAGE. HERE IS A SAMPLE OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR AIRING: OH, BEHAVE. A CALL-IN SHOW WITH A VETERINARIAN ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT PET BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS. SOUND OFF. WEEKLY EDITORIALS BY LOCAL RESIDENTS. PART OF THE UNION. LABOR HISTORY AND NEWS. ITS MY PARTY. NEWS, REVIEWS, ANALYSIS AND INTERVIEWS FROM AN ALTERNATIVE POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE. NEIGHBORHOOD VIEW. EACH PROGRAM WOULD HIGHLIGHT A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE GREATER TACOMA AREA. THIS WOULD INCLUDE EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND INTERVIEWS WITH RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEMBERS. CHEAP THRILLS. WHAT ARE THE BEST-KEPT SECRETS OF TACOMA? POCKET PARKS, MEETING SPOTS, FAVORITE HANGOUTS. BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR. DISCUSSION AND EXPLORATION OF THE ECOLOGY OF THE AREA AND THE GROUPS THAT ARE ACTIVE IN HELPING TO PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT IN TACOMA. ETHNIC CELEBRATION. A VARIETY OF WORLD CULTURES AND MUSIC THAT TACOMA HAS TO OFFER.