Sacramento nonprofit partners with Sac State to inspire youth

A Sacramento nonprofit organization, The Public Bridge, has partnered with Sacramento State to expose at-risk youth to the realities of college life and the consequences of poor decisions through a series of impactful tours. On Wednesday the students toured Sacramento State’s campus, while one of the previous tours was a trip to Folsom State Prison.The goal was to show the stark contrast between the two environments. For some participants, the experience has been transformative. “Going to Folsom, it was very eye-opening and shocking,” said Skyler Miles, a student who participated in the program. The initiative is led by E’Drick Brown, founder of The Public Bridge, who spent 23 years incarcerated. Brown said his mission is to help Sacramento’s youth by showing them the consequences of their choices. “I made a promise to myself, I made a promise to God, if I was ever to get out of that cage, I would do exactly what I’m doing now,” Brown said. Brown emphasized the importance of visual learning for the students. “You should go to school instead of going to prison. I came to show them, so I feel like the visual aspect of them being able to see things from their own eyes—no filter, no AI—this is reality,” he said. The program’s impact is evident in participants like Miles, who is set to attend Alabama State University this fall, majoring in biology. “You get to choose what you want to do with your life. Do you want to stay in the streets and end up this way, or do you want to go to a four-year university?” Miles said.Herman Johnson, the president of 100 Black Men Sacramento Chapter, is now planning to partner with The Public Bridge. “He’s devoted his life to helping the youth, and I think that’s amazing,” Johnson said. “That’s why I want to have 100 black men partner with what they’re doing and help out in any way we can.”The tours are part of a partnership between The Public Bridge and Project Rebound at Sacramento State, aiming to inspire young people to make positive life choices.The organization said it’s always in need of volunteers. For more information visit their website.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

A Sacramento nonprofit organization, The Public Bridge, has partnered with Sacramento State to expose at-risk youth to the realities of college life and the consequences of poor decisions through a series of impactful tours.

On Wednesday the students toured Sacramento State’s campus, while one of the previous tours was a trip to Folsom State Prison.

The goal was to show the stark contrast between the two environments. For some participants, the experience has been transformative.

“Going to Folsom, it was very eye-opening and shocking,” said Skyler Miles, a student who participated in the program.

The initiative is led by E’Drick Brown, founder of The Public Bridge, who spent 23 years incarcerated. Brown said his mission is to help Sacramento’s youth by showing them the consequences of their choices.

“I made a promise to myself, I made a promise to God, if I was ever to get out of that cage, I would do exactly what I’m doing now,” Brown said.

Brown emphasized the importance of visual learning for the students.

“You should go to school instead of going to prison. I came to show them, so I feel like the visual aspect of them being able to see things from their own eyes—no filter, no AI—this is reality,” he said.

The program’s impact is evident in participants like Miles, who is set to attend Alabama State University this fall, majoring in biology.

“You get to choose what you want to do with your life. Do you want to stay in the streets and end up this way, or do you want to go to a four-year university?” Miles said.

Herman Johnson, the president of 100 Black Men Sacramento Chapter, is now planning to partner with The Public Bridge.

“He’s devoted his life to helping the youth, and I think that’s amazing,” Johnson said. “That’s why I want to have 100 black men partner with what they’re doing and help out in any way we can.”

The tours are part of a partnership between The Public Bridge and Project Rebound at Sacramento State, aiming to inspire young people to make positive life choices.

The organization said it’s always in need of volunteers. For more information visit their website.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel