Casten To Bring Founder and Executive Director of The Bridge Teen Center As State of the Union Guest
March 5th, 2024 - U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) announced that Priscilla Steinmetz, Founder and Executive Director of The Bridge Teen Center, will be his State of the Union 2024 guest.
Steinmetz is the Executive Director of The Bridge Teen Center, a nonprofit organization in Chicagoland focused on providing free programs during after-school and unsupervised hours where students can develop mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually in a safe environment. Their vision is to provide teens with a place to find hope, purpose, and direction.
“I’m thrilled to have Priscilla Steinmetz join me at the State of the Union,” said Congressman Casten. “Priscilla’s work at The Bridge Teen Center is a crucial resource for teens in our community. With an ongoing mental health crisis impacting teenagers, spaces that foster community and personal growth are important to support and invest in. I’m also proud to have chosen the Bridge Teen Center as a Community Funding Project recipient and will vote this week to secure $700,000 in federal funding for teen mental health in the 6th District in the FY 2024 appropriations package. ”
“I am extremely honored to have been selected as Rep. Casten's guest for this year's historic State of the Union address,” said Priscilla Steinmetz. “There are many amazing individuals doing incredible things in the communities he represents, and to have been selected for this honor is extremely humbling. Every single one of the 12,500+ different students we have served at The Bridge Teen Center since 2010 will be there with me in that House chamber. It is my privilege to represent them and all of the communities we serve."
Congressman Casten is currently working to secure $700,000 in FY24 federal community project funding for The Bridge Teen Center that would allow the organization to expand its workforce training and youth programming. The appropriations package that includes this funding is expected to be voted on this week.
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