3 Ways to Connect with Your People in 2024

Are you looking to connect deeply with your people in 2024? 

We are too!

That's what we do at The Bridge. We recruit, train, and send Christian mentors to connect with kids who are facing an uphill climb in life. So, as our way to say "Happy New Year!," we want to share with you three of our team's favorite connecting strategies.

1. Get below eye level.

"My go-to strategy is to get below eye level. I remember trying to connect with a two year old. His father was a somewhat threatening figure, towering over him. It wasn't until I got below that little boy's eye level that he could hear me and tell me what he needed. How would it feel to always be looking up at people twice your height?!"  - Beth Roberts, Program Director

2. Use shared experience to build community. 

"I like to discover what a child is interested in and find a way to be interested in it with them. Sometimes I have to get down in the same physical space and look at what they're looking at, but it really works! When I join them in what interests them, their brain can't help but form connections with me." - Jennae Mollenkamp, Advocate-Mentor

3. Light up!

"My favorite connecting strategy is to light up with a face that says, 'I'm happy to be with you!' For example, my grandchildren live in Michigan so I have limited opportunities to connect with them. When I do, I have all kinds of pent up 'happy to be with you!' I just make sure my face lights up and lets all that happiness out. With our Bridge kids, it sometimes takes a little more intentionality, but I just dig down into my heart to find all the 'I'm so happy to see you' that I can and I let it light up my face." - Chris Stewart, Executive Director

Thank you for helping us connect with Topeka kids in 2023. May God connect with you, and use you to connect deeply with your people in 2024!