Community Heroes: Jim and Johanna Erdman and the Story of The Bridge

So many people in the area have had great experiences with The Bridge, whether it be finding community, enjoying coffee for a cause, or engaging in Fair Trade. It’s important to note that the organization would not be what it is today without the efforts of this month’s community heroes. This month, we’re highlighting Jim and Johanna Erdman for their work with The Bridge and the heart that they’ve put into the community.

The Beginnings of The Bridge

So how did The Bridge get its start? Jim and Johanna heard about New Town when the area was in the early stages of development. “We were church people and just thought, ‘What if we could be a positive presence and a safe place?’ And at that point, it was just a couple of developers from different church denominations who spent time out here,” Jim recalled. “Eventually we met Paul Dinkins who said, ‘You guys ever thought of having a coffee shop?’”

Development initially started happening with The Bridge in 2007, and in 2008 the organization was operating out of a kiosk. By 2009, the organization had officially become a 501c3. “I think first of all, it's a place that (people are) welcome,” Johanna said. Jim added, “It's meant to be for the people. And it's always been based on partnership and much more the serendipity of, we like to say who God brings into our lives than any master plan.”

The Three Pillars of The Bridge

“We've always had sort of three legs to the stool,” Jim said of The Bridge. The three important facets of The Bridge are that it’s a welcoming faith-based community, it provides space and hospitality for community connection, and it elevates the practice of Fair Trade. “We could keep it all going as long as all three of those things were healthy,” he said.

Championing Fair Trade

When it comes to Fair Trade, The Bridge has a wide range of handmade items that people can shop through as they wait for their coffee. “With Fair Trade, it's always going to be unique and nobody else will have the exact same item,” Johanna said.

Jim and Johanna are very passionate about the Fair Trade aspect of the business. Johanna works to make sure that The Bridge gives its business to artisans in a way that fairly compensates them. “I want to make sure that it is Fair Trade certified so that I know the people are being paid the fair living wages and that their children are not working and that it's safe working conditions, that kind of thing. But the most important thing is that they are paid upfront,” she said.

By paying upfront, the responsibility is on Johanna and The Bridge to sell the products and make the money back. The money that The Bridge makes from Fair Trade goes back into buying more goods from artisans, keeping the cycle going. “I keep saying it's too bad, more of it Fair Trade isn't going on in the United States, that people are receiving fair living wages for their work because that's really important,” Johanna said. “And the other thing with Fair Trade, it is keeping skills and craftsmanship alive that have been passed down through generations. If these communities don't have a market for what they create, those skills are going to die.”

Supporting the Community

The Bridge has also focused its monetary efforts on many different causes at local, regional, and national levels. From food pantries to tragedies, the organization’s goal is to use the money made from coffee to support the community in any way they can.

“I just, you know, express gratitude to the people who have embraced The Bridge. We get a lot of positive feedback,” Jim said. Jim and Johanna said that The Bridge is a culmination of the efforts of so many different people who make everything possible. They’re also grateful for the community that has made it possible for The Bridge to operate for nearly two decades.

About Jim and Johanna

In addition to their work with The Bridge, Jim is a retired pastor and still does some pastoral work online. Johanna is a substitute teacher and an organist/pianist. They both enjoy traveling, especially to visit their seven grandchildren.