We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eva Bass a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Eva, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Bridge Tha Gap Resource & Outreach Inc., our mission is to uplift, empower, and support communities that have been systematically oppressed and left behind. But for me, Eva Bass, this mission is deeply personal and tied to my own journey growing up in the Capital Region.

I entered the foster care system when I was just 3 months old, and I was in and out of foster care until I was 12. That experience shaped my understanding of what it means to feel displaced, to lack stability, and to navigate a world that often doesn’t see the potential in every child. It also showed me firsthand the resilience of young people who, despite the odds, manage to push forward.

This mission matters because I’ve lived it. I know what it’s like to long for belonging, opportunity, and someone to believe in you. That’s why everything we do at Bridge Tha Gap—from our mentorship programs to our community events and partnerships—is designed to build that bridge of support that I know so many need.

For me, this is more than a job; it’s a commitment to ensure that every child, every family, and every community member has the chance to thrive—regardless of where they come from. It’s about creating the kind of community I wished I had when I was in foster care—a community that stands in the gap and fights for everyone’s right to a better future.

Eva, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my story.

For those who may not have heard about me or my work before, I’m Eva Bass—a community advocate, mentor, and the founder of Bridge Tha Gap Resource & Outreach Inc., as well as Whole Being Wellness & Suites.

I got into this work because of my own experiences growing up in the foster care system in the Capital Region, from three months old to 12 years old, moving between placements and experiencing firsthand the challenges of instability, lack of support, and feeling disconnected from a sense of community. Those experiences lit a fire in me to be the person I needed when I was a kid.

At Bridge Tha Gap, we focus on creating safe spaces for youth and families, offering mentorship programs, violence prevention initiatives, community events, and connecting people to critical resources like housing, mental health support, and educational opportunities. We also provide workshops and leadership development to empower people to be changemakers in their own communities.

Through Whole Being Wellness & Suites, I also offer holistic wellness services, including mental health workshops, meditation, trauma-informed networking, and community-building sessions—all designed to address the mind, body, and spirit, especially for BIPOC and marginalized communities.

What sets my work apart is that it’s all rooted in lived experience. I understand the struggles because I’ve been there. Our approach is holistic, relational, and deeply collaborative—we don’t just deliver services, we build relationships and invest in long-term transformation.

I’m most proud of the countless youth, families, and community leaders who have found strength, healing, and empowerment through our work. Seeing young people step into their potential, or watching a family regain hope, makes everything worth it.

If there’s one thing I want potential clients, followers, or partners to know, it’s that we are dedicated to building bridges—between systems and communities, between resources and people, and most importantly, between dreams and opportunities.

Together, we’re proving that real change is possible, one relationship at a time.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Absolutely—I’ve had to pivot many times in my life, but one of the most significant was during the early days of building Bridge Tha Gap Resource & Outreach Inc.

When I first started this work, I envisioned a small, focused mentorship program that would support local youth through weekly gatherings and activities. But as I immersed myself in the community and listened to the real needs of families and neighbors, I realized that mentorship alone wasn’t enough.

We had kids who needed a safe place to go after school, parents who needed help accessing resources, entire families who were facing housing instability, food insecurity, and trauma. I couldn’t just stick to the plan I had in my head. I had to expand our scope—and fast.

That pivot meant learning new skills, forming new partnerships, and seeking additional funding to build a holistic approach that included violence prevention, community events, family support, and leadership development. It also meant navigating the challenges of growing an organization with limited resources while staying true to the mission of community empowerment.

It wasn’t easy—and there were times I doubted whether I could keep up. But every time I saw a family get the help they needed or a young person discover their voice, I knew I was on the right path.

That pivot taught me that true leadership means listening, adapting, and being willing to expand your vision when the community calls for it. It’s not just about sticking to the original plan—it’s about showing up where you’re needed most.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When I decided to start Bridge Tha Gap Resource & Outreach Inc., I didn’t have a big bank account or wealthy investors lined up. Like many grassroots organizations, I started with a big vision but very little money.

The initial capital came from a mix of personal sacrifices, community support, and a lot of creative hustling. I pulled together my own savings—small but meaningful—to cover basic start-up costs like filing fees, marketing materials, and initial program supplies.

I also leaned heavily on relationships with community leaders, local businesses, and mentors who believed in my vision. Many of them provided in-kind donations of space, equipment, or services to help get us off the ground. For example, local churches let us use their rooms for free or at a discounted rate so we could host community meetings and youth programming.

From there, I worked tirelessly to secure small grants and sponsorships from local organizations and foundations. It often meant late nights writing proposals, meeting with potential partners, and proving over and over that this work was needed—and that I was committed to making it happen.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that funding doesn’t always come in big checks—it comes in relationships, trust, and a community that wants to see you succeed. Every dollar, every donation, and every volunteer hour counted.

That’s how we started Bridge Tha Gap: through a lot of heart, a lot of hustle, and an unshakeable belief in the power of community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bridgethagapcdc.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CQDwgjqDZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-bass-412aa31a7?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16fGtRKai4/?mibextid=wwXIfr