The Bridge Program: A Social Justice Response to Inequities in Education - 10/31/2022

Conversation Overview

Inequities in education, rooted in race, sex, gender, class, and immigration status, greatly impact the learning opportunities of students from kindergarten to graduate school. In 1999 the Undergraduate Studies Program at Antioch University Los Angeles started the Bridge program as a response, informed by principles of social justice, to those inequities. The current co-directors of the Bridge program, Kathryn Pope and Russell Thornhill, join with the Founding Director Bridge, David Tripp, for a lively conversation about what makes Bridge unique, what Bridge endeavors to accomplish, challenges Bridge has faced over the years, and exciting possibilities for the future of Bridge.

Guest Bios

Kathryn Pope completed her graduate work in Antioch University’s MFA program. Her teaching has covered a range of writing, education, and literature classes, covering topics of composition, language, research, literature, and creative writing. Kathryn is a core faculty member in the Undergraduate Studies Department at Antioch University, as well as Co-Director of the Antioch University Bridge Program.

Russell Thornhill is a mentor for the next generation of Black leaders and professors. He's an ordained minister who identifies as a Black, gay father and grandfather. He earned an MA in Organizational Management from AULA, and an MA in Religious Studies from the Claremont School of Theology. He is the director of the Business and Management Studies concentration in the AULA UGS Program, and is Co-Director of the AULA Bridge Program.

David Tripp, PhD taught at USC, CSULA, Southwest CC, and Glendale CC before teaching his first course at Antioch in the summer of 1989 and he's been here ever since. He served as chair of the BA program (1998-2002) and was the Founding Director (1999) of the Bridge Program. Always passionate about teaching and suffering from an "infinite curiosity problem," over the years he has designed over 40 courses or workshops for undergraduate students.

Additional Resources

The Bridge Program

The Bridge Program provides University level education for students who may not otherwise have access to higher education.

Each week, Bridge students attend class to begin college, to earn up to 15 transferable units of university credit, and to study philosophy, literature, art history, writing, and urban studies – all free of charge.

The Bridge Program is an important part of AULA’s commitment to economic justice, providing a jumpstart to higher education for students who may not otherwise have access to college. This comes at a time when access to education has become more difficult than in the past.

Since 1999, nearly 700 students have gathered to continue their education, to engage in creative and critical discussion, and ultimately, to broaden horizons of possibility for themselves, their families, and their communities.