Courtney Porte

Courtney and her husband, Alex lived on Bridge Street and volunteered with Bridge Street Ministries for the first four years of their marriage. It was through their involvement with the BSM community that God ignited a compassion for individuals affected by poverty and a conviction to live in under privileged communities.

 

Today, Courtney, Alex, and their three children live and work on the west side of Chicago in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Courtney is from Zeeland, Michigan and graduated from Hope College with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications and Organizational Leadership.

 

Courtney has worked in a variety of nonprofit roles over the years. While in Grand Rapids, Courtney spent four years as a job coach for individuals with chronic mental illness. For two years, she was the Director of a church-founded community center in South Bend, IN and helped establish internal policies and a working Board of Directors. Currently she coordinates foundation and government grants for Breakthrough Urban Ministries, a community-based nonprofit on the west side of Chicago.

 

*Why did you choose to join the board?

“I am passionate about the mission and work of BSM. It was the people of Bridge Street Ministries and the neighbors on the west side that God used almost 10 years ago to spark a life-long direction for my husband and I towards pursuing relationships with people in poverty. I have great respect for not only the outcomes of the work done at Bridge Street Ministries, but the way in which the work is done is very Spirit-led. BSM and the bridge street neighborhood have given so much to me; I was excited to return to support the BSM mission as a Board member.”