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Welcome to Copper Shores Bridges

Empowerment. Stability. Community.

PODCAST: From struggle to Strength

Listen in as Danielle Thoune, a recent graduate of Getting Ahead, a Bridges Out of Poverty class, tells her life story and how she found herself face-to-face with the realities of poverty. 

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Focusing on individuals and systems

Empowering our community across all economic classes

Copper Shores Bridges is an initiative utilizing frameworks created and updated regularly by aha! Process. The program is for residents of Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Our Community Needs This

Many hardworking people across the country struggle in poverty to make ends meet despite being employed. When people live paycheck-to-paycheck, they are one flat tire, one burnt out lightbulb or one broken bone from not paying rent, not putting food on the table or not making utility payments on time.

These people are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed, or ALICE. This means that ALICE populations live above the Federal Poverty Line, but do not make above the Household Survival Budget, which includes housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, basic technology (like a smartphone and phone plan), and miscellaneous payments like taxes.

The reality is that observing the Federal Poverty Line alone does not show the full picture of living in poverty in the United States, and certainly not on a community level. ALICE offers a broader view of those struggling with poverty, and without that full understanding, solutions for ALICE cannot be made.

Map of Alice and Poverty in Copper Country
Getting Ahead Graduates Fall 2023

Getting Ahead

The signature program of Copper Shores Bridges is this 16-week program meant to help individuals who are sick and tired of being sick and tired improve stability. This is completely free to participants.
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Bridges Steering Committee at Copper Shores Mission Support

Workshops

In the free Bridges workshops we educate our community about the complexities of poverty and demonstrate that working together we can make an economic impact on individuals, institutions and our community.
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Money Matters Instructor Jill Lindenberg

Money Matters

Money Matters is designed to help investigators take an in-depth and personal look at finances. Investigators will discover all about ways to become more financially stable. 

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"Being poor is like climbing a hill with a backpack full of rocks... some of us just have more rocks than others."
ErinGetting Ahead Graduate
"As a participant in Bridges Copper Country, it's not just one and done. We will not forget about you."
Michael SteberBridges Program Director

Latest News and Updates about Bridges

January 3, 2025

Rich Simpson begins role as new Bridges Program Coordinator

To my mother: I watched my mom strive to bring us out of poverty by finding education and working multiple jobs. I watched that struggle as a young ...
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December 17, 2024

Bridges program expanding to Ontonagon County in 2025

Getting Ahead applications for Mass City are now due Friday, January 17. Copper Shores Bridges is excited to announce the expansion of Getting Ahead ...
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October 30, 2024

Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop in Ontonagon

Copper Shores Bridges invites community members to attend a Bridges Out of Poverty workshop on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at Cane Court (100 Cane ...
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The story of Bridges Copper Country is just beginning. The journey will feature moments of brilliance, pain, joy and most importantly, growth. If you’re interested in following along, learning how you can participate or simply show your support to those yearning for stability, we invite you to subscribe to our email list. We’ll update you regularly with what we have going on. 
Copper Shores Bridges Staff

Staff

Meet the Copper Shores Bridges Staff

Mary Jo Munch - Featured Image

Mary Jo Munch

Grants Manager / Program Coordinator
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Richard Simpson - Featured Image
Richard Simpson - Featured Image

Richard Simpson

Program Coordinator - Copper Shores Bridges
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Michael Steber - Featured Image

Michael Steber

Program Director - Copper Shores Bridges
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Kevin Store - Featured Image

Kevin Store

President / CEO
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Copper Shores Bridges Steering Committee

The Bridges program is led by an advisory committee of people from around Michigan's Copper Country. They meet regularly throughout the year with staff to provide advice and guidance for the program's operations. 

  • Richelle Dube - AmercInn Calumet
  • Pastor Aaron Gehrke – St. Peter and Paul Church
  • Erin Haapala - Gardenview
  • Tim Keteri – Adams Township School District
  • Robert La Fave – Village of L’Anse
  • Michael Messner – Calumet Electronics
  • Curt Pennala – Keweenaw County Sheriff
  • Jeff Ratcliffe – Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
  • Joshua Saaranen – Houghton County Sheriff
  • Sam Stonelake – Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
  • Heather Store – Calumet Electronics
  • Koni Turunen – Upper Great Lakes Family HealthCenter
If you are interested in volunteering as a steering committee member, email bridges@coppershores.org or call 1 (906) 523-5920!
aha processes logo

About aha! Process

aha! Process is an award-winning training and publishing company providing workshops, publications, and consulting services to help improve lives and build sustainable success in communities, schools, and higher education. They do this by creating an understanding of the dynamics that cause and maintain poverty from the individual to systems level.

Poverty, middle class, and wealth are about an abundance or lack of resources. Our work helps individuals, businesses, students, and communities build resources for a more successful sustainable future. Learn more about them at ahaprocess.com. 

Support Copper Shores Bridges

This program wouldn't be possible without the financial support of our community. We hope you consider making a donation to help individuals find stability in their lives.