The following is from Jinny Swedberg, Getting Ahead coordinator of Bridges to Prosperity Northern Illinois.
At Comprehensive Community Solutions, the Getting Ahead program supported by Bridges to Prosperity Northern Illinois is helping young adults rewrite their stories. Through a powerful combination of lived experience, practical tools, and supportive relationships, participants are gaining the confidence and clarity needed to build more stable futures.
For facilitator Molli, this work is deeply personal. Much of how she leads the Getting Ahead class is shaped by lessons she learned early in life, sometimes the hard way, about finances, expectations, and the unspoken rules that can shape opportunity. Today, she uses those experiences to guide young people as they begin to understand what stability really means and how to pursue it. Her approach creates space for honest conversation, reflection, and growth, something especially valuable for YouthBuild students who are already developing leadership and communication skills. Molli is intentional about listening to participants’ experiences, ensuring each session is grounded in what matters most to them.
That environment of trust and learning can be transformative, something Gianni knows firsthand.
As a participant in the Comprehensive Community Solutions YouthBuild program, Gianni came to Getting Ahead at a pivotal moment in his life. After years of instability and moving from place to place, he found himself back in Rockford without a clear direction, out of school, unemployed, and unsure of what came next. He described that time as hitting rock bottom.
Encouraged by his family, Gianni took a chance on Comprehensive Community Solutions and enrolled in the program. Through Getting Ahead, he discovered something he hadn’t expected: critical knowledge about life and stability that he had never been taught. More importantly, he began to see himself differently. The program helped him recognize his own strengths, build confidence, and set meaningful goals.
One of those goals, a SMART goal he set during the class, was to find a job. Today, Gianni is working as an infant swim instructor at the YMCA, a role that reflects both his commitment and his growth. He’s also saving for a new phone and looking ahead to a future career as a massage therapist. Gianni’s advice to others considering the program is simple but powerful: “Pay attention in class, ask questions, and stick with it.”
Together, stories like Molli’s and Gianni’s highlight what makes Getting Ahead so impactful for young adults. It’s not just about information; it’s about connection, self-discovery, and the belief that change is possible. With dedicated facilitators and motivated participants, the program continues to open doors, helping young people in Rockford take meaningful steps toward stability and opportunity. Learn more about our impactful Getting Ahead program through our testimonial video here.
The aha! Process Getting Ahead program engages investigators (participants) in exploring the realities of poverty in their communities and how those realities impact them. They also explore the causes of poverty, the “hidden rules” of economic class, and ways to develop resources and build stable lives. Getting Ahead graduates build relationships across class lines and often join the decision-making tables in their communities.
