Our Values
Many nonprofit organizations identify an “at-risk” community and enter it with expertise, resources, and a predetermined idea of what change should look like. Bridge to the Mountains begins somewhere else: with relationships.
Our work is grounded in a humanistic, trauma-informed approach that recognizes people as the experts in their own lives. We meet people where and how they are, without assuming that we know what is best for them or what their lives ought to become. We understand our role as one of accompaniment, offering practical support while remaining attentive to the experiences, choices, and circumstances of the people we work alongside.
Above all, we believe that meaningful relationships require humility, consistency, and a willingness to listen. We are guests in the communities we enter, and we take seriously the responsibility that comes with being welcomed into someone's life.
(01) Harm Reduction
Harm reduction isn’t just a practice; it’s the foundation of our approach, from supporting individuals with substance use to addressing the broader impacts of systemic harm. At its core, harm reduction prioritizes minimizing harm in all its forms while offering non-judgmental, compassionate support. It challenges stigmatizing systems and acknowledges the unique, lived experiences of those we serve. Our work is rooted in collaboration, providing resources and creating space for individuals to navigate their own paths forward on their terms.
(02) Community
We understand community as being-with—an existence alongside others that embraces difference, rather than seeking uniformity. We believe community arises through the recognition and respect for the radical otherness of the other. We do not position ourselves as experts over those we serve; rather, our work is a continuous process of listening and mutual exchange. The needs, perspectives, and experiences of those we accompany shape and guide our actions, informing how we show up and what we offer.
(03) Equity & Empowerment
We are committed to advancing equity by addressing the systemic and intersectional barriers that perpetuate marginalization. We challenge these structures by ensuring that all individuals—regardless of neighborhood—have access to the resources and opportunities that honor dignity and autonomy, especially in historically excluded or overlooked communities. Empowerment, for us, means creating an environment where people can exercise control over their lives and make informed decisions based on their own needs and aspirations.
(04) Resilience
We learn resilience from those we accompany. We see it in the persistence required to survive outside, and in the willingness to trust yet another “service provider” after enduring repeated harm and betrayal by systems and institutions. But resilience should never be romanticized in ways that excuse the conditions that make it necessary. For us, resilience is also a responsibility: to remain consistent, to keep showing up when things are difficult, and to make ourselves worthy of the trust people place in us.
Our Story
Bridge to the Mountains began with a simple friendship. In 2015, while attending Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, our founder, Dave Lettrich, visited Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community. While waiting for the service to begin, he struck up a conversation with a neighbor living on the street. That conversation grew into a friendship, leading him to meet others living under a bridge in Pittsburgh’s South Side—now known as Cupples Camp.
What started as regular conversations turned into shared experiences. A mutual love for the outdoors led Dave and his new friends to Ohiopyle in the summer of 2016, where they biked the river trail, hiked to Cucumber Falls, swam in the river, and built something deeper than community—kinship. To celebrate the end of that summer, they planned a larger trip, launching a GoFundMe campaign that raised $1,200. They called it Bridge to the Mountains—a name reflecting their journey from the bridge to the wilderness. With that support, twenty people—thirteen from the streets and seven others who worked alongside them—embarked on a whitewater rafting trip that erased social divides.
“It was never about giving to people in need,” Dave recalls. “We never saw it that way. It was about friends doing something fun together. It was an adventure, a bonding experience—something to remember together.”
That philosophy—building trust through shared experience—remains at the heart of Bridge to the Mountains today.
As Dave’s friendships deepened, so did his awareness of the systemic barriers his community faced. He saw the gaps—challenges navigating services, lack of harm reduction resources, and the absence of dedicated street outreach. So, he stepped in, distributing Narcan/Naloxone, outdoor survival gear, and working alongside people to navigate complex systems.
By May 2017, Dave had gathered a board of directors and formally incorporated Bridge to the Mountains as a Pennsylvania nonprofit. With just a $3,000 donation, he made a pivotal hire: Calla Kainaroi, the organization’s first employee. Together, they expanded the vision and reach of Bridge to the Mountains, establishing it as a professional, stand-alone street outreach organization—one rooted in relationships and led by the wisdom of those living on the street.
Today, Bridge to the Mountains is the leading provider of street outreach in Allegheny County, carrying forward its founding philosophy: accompanying individuals navigating life on the street, not as clients, but as neighbors, partners, and friends.