Breakthrough: Bridgette Bowman

By Kimberlee Mitchell, Staff

Despite her five-foot-two and one-hundred-pound frame, Bridgette Bowman (Memphis 2013) is a larger-than-life force. A seasoned senior-level attorney in the nonprofit, private business, and government sectors, she mostly advocates for youth in court 25 to 30 hours a week as guardian ad litem (GAL), a court-appointed representative for those unable to advocate for themselves. She also serves on the governor’s juvenile justice and prevention advisory committee, an honor resulting from her youth advocacy work.  

There was a time, however, when deep anxiety loomed below Bridgette’s composed surface. Trusting others was a roadblock that kept her confidence at bay and anxiety high. Unbeknownst to Bridgette then, the trust issue was her own undoing. “I placed some people on pedestals without their permission. I forgot they were flawed and human just like me,” says Bridgette, a self-admitted people pleaser. “I trusted pastors, teachers, and friends. I was hurt by so many—not because of their flaws but because of my failure, my mismanaged expectations of them.”  

“I trusted pastors, teachers, and friends. I was hurt by so many—not because of their flaws but because of my failure, my mismanaged expectations of them.”  

This blind spot was revealed at the first national conference (NC1) in 2013 when Bridgette was at odds with one of her cohort members. “He didn’t look like me and often used terms I found demeaning to the population he served,” she explains. “We had a disagreement, and I walked away in anger, telling our coach/liaison, Ron Carter, that I wanted nothing more to do with him. Ron prayed with me, watched the Spirit move in my heart, and I stayed. I held the member accountable, forgave him, and was willing to trust the process regarding my transformation and his.”   

This encounter was a defining moment for her to hear the voice of the Lord about where he was calling her next.  

With dreams of being a prosecutor, Bridgette explains that “God called her to another extreme.” Youth ministry was not something she was interested in. “I wasn’t interested in ministry of any kind,” she points out. The first young person she wanted to help she met in an alternative school, but advocating for youth became her passion when things got personal. “My son started going down the wrong path, and it seemed like no one cared and that there were no real resources for us,” she describes. “I accepted the barren land of no resources, knowing more could be done. It became the burden that fueled my passion.”

“My son started going down the wrong path, and it seemed like no one cared and that there were no real resources for us. I accepted the barren land of no resources, knowing more could be done. It became the burden that fueled my passion.”    

This new passion also opened new doors for Bridgette, whose work at the time at a Memphis-based nonprofit made her a great fit for a DVULI Resource Networking facilitator. “I have been facilitating for DVULI for about six years now. Teaching “Resource Networking” has given me the confidence, strategy, and accountability partners to implement my breakthrough—but it took more than 10 years.”  

Bridgette is living out the material she teaches with her own Virginia-based nonprofit organization. The Themis Project is dedicated to interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline for juveniles ages 10 to 17 by curbing delinquent behaviors through creative programming, providing alternatives to detention and formal juvenile records, and addressing the whole child by recognizing the family’s needs. Through practicing resource networking, she was able to open a beautiful office space and build a staff by leveraging volunteer help. “We renovated a space using skilled volunteers. The number of hours and the quality of craftsmanship were priceless,” she explains. “Themis Project has at least nine facilitators who donate six to nine hours per week to the 32-week character development component of the leadership program. The actual value of their time is more than $2,400 weekly, totaling over $75,000 in value annually.”   

Bridgette now sees that she was “designed for a purpose.” Overcoming trust issues that decreased her confidence paved the way for her to flourish in strategic resourcefulness. She is free from crippling serial people-pleasing. “I now live and serve on purpose. No more anxiety. I am trusting the process and God.”  

When asked what it feels like to see the youth she leads finish The Themis Project, she says, “It’s amazing to see the youth graduate, but what’s even more beautiful is seeing the community come out to celebrate and encourage each of them. Their reasons for being in the program are not on display. Instead, the focus is placed on their accomplishments and personal transformation. They believed they could, and the prayer is they continue to believe that very thing.”   

Bridgette shares that goal for her own career. “My DVULI experience makes me work hard to do the nonprofit work full time,” she shares.

“That’s the prayer and the dream. I want to do this forever.”  

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