Our Story
Bridges of Opportunity Equity Vaccination Clinic - May 2021. Led by collaborative efforts of Lafayette Communities that Care, public health, local government leaders, school administrators, local nonprofits, and faith communities. We served so many community members that we ran out of vaccines.
It all started when…
In 2011, while launching a partnership with Ryan Elementary in Lafayette, CO, the principal said, "Andy, we don't have an achievement gap; we have an opportunity gap." This was my first encounter with this concept.
Over the next 7 years, I worked closely with the school leadership to address this opportunity gap. I also embraced this mindset when assisting relocated refugee families, initiating anti-human trafficking efforts in Mexico, and launching community development programs in Africa.
In 2020, I established Bridges of Opportunity as a unifying platform for collaborative initiatives encompassing nonprofits, community groups, schools, government entities, faith communities, and local activists. Together, we swiftly addressed exacerbated urgent needs during the COVID-19 crisis. At that point, Bridges of Opportunity operated as a project within another nonprofit organization. In addition to leading collaborative efforts, I also managed grants for the Lafayette Communities that Care board, where I serve.
In 2024, we decided to establish Bridges of Opportunity a 501c3 nonprofit, to: consult other nonprofit leaders, to manage grants and other funding for grassroots efforts, and to be a catalyst for collaborative work.
~ Andy McCullough, Executive Director