Oakland Digital Arts & Literacy Center (ODALC)

09/16/2026

Cassandra Rowe Joins BridgeGood Board of Directors | Veteran research and design leader brings more than 25 years of experience across Pinterest, Netflix, and The Walt Disney Company.

OAKLAND, Calif., September 15, 2026 — BRIDGEGOOD announced today that research and design leader Cassandra Rowe has joined its Board of Directors, bringing decades of experience in customer insight, product strategy, organizational leadership, and design to the nonprofit’s leadership.

Rowe has spent more than 25 years helping organizations navigate periods of growth and change. Her career includes leadership roles at Pinterest, Netflix, and The Walt Disney Company, where she has worked across research, product development, design strategy, global expansion, and emerging technology.

"Cassandra understands that great technology starts with understanding people," said Shaun Tai, Executive Director of BRIDGEGOOD. "She has spent her career building teams, creating opportunities, and helping organizations turn complex challenges into thoughtful action. That perspective is incredibly valuable to BRIDGEGOOD as we continue preparing students and emerging talent to participate in a rapidly changing technology economy."

Rowe spent more than a decade at Pinterest, leading the Design and Research organizations through significant growth and change, including global scaling, IPO readiness, and the rapid adoption of AI. She grew Pinterest’s Research function and brought customer insight into decision-making, helped evolve how design, product, and engineering worked together, and championed product quality and accessibility at scale.

Before Pinterest, Rowe served as Senior Manager of Growth UX Research at Netflix, supporting the company’s international expansion through customer research focused on areas including product strategy, localization, payments, and market entry. Earlier in her career, she worked at The Walt Disney Company in research and strategy.

Her appointment also brings previous nonprofit and industry board experience to BRIDGEGOOD. From 2021 to 2023, Rowe served as Vice President and a CIRQ Board Member with the Insights Association, contributing to conversations about business strategy, financial sustainability, and the evolving research industry.

Throughout her career, Rowe has been deeply committed to building strong communities and creating the conditions for people to thrive, learn, and grow. She has invested in others through coaching, mentorship, and teaching, and created Pinterest’s Design Apprenticeship and Internship programs to open pathways into design and research for candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, an area closely connected to BRIDGEGOOD’s work with emerging talent.

As a member of BRIDGEGOOD’s Board of Directors, Rowe will help guide the organization as technology, design, and artificial intelligence continue to reshape how people learn, work, and build careers.

Her appointment is effective September 2026.

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About BRIDGEGOOD

BRIDGEGOOD is a tuition-free design and technology nonprofit focused on economic mobility for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities. Since 2009, BRIDGEGOOD has served 36,000+ people, including 20,000+ program participants, through real-world training in UX design, cybersecurity, AI, and career readiness.

BRIDGEGOOD provides tuition-free design and technology training that supports economic mobility for students and job seekers, predominantly ages 18–24, while extending beyond age 30 through community college partnerships and programs for diverse adult learners. BRIDGEGOOD centers Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities and delivers real-world job training through the UX Design Apprenticeship and Cybersecurity for Social Good.

To learn more, visit bridgegood.com.

08/19/2026

We believe, yes we do. Day 1: BridgeGood apprentices were still finding their voice, others were brand new to user experience design, and some were just starting to build their confidence, which is exactly why they came to our nonprofit in the first place. Fast forward three months, to our App for Good showcase, and they stood up and delivered in a way that made me ask myself, how is this the same person. A week out, I know the answer: they're ready to launch a career, starting now.

On stage, one of our 2025 graduates, Tamanna, said BRIDGEGOOD doesn't just provide access, that across nearly two decades of cohorts, what we've actually been doing is building power and building movements. After all these years, I don't think I've heard it that poetically, and I'm grateful she did.

This is why I'm so proud of this group of talented designers. Most products get built by rooms that look and think the same way. When the people designing technology actually come from the communities that technology is meant to serve, accessibility stops being an afterthought and equity stops being a slide in someone's deck. Purpose becomes pixels, and pixels become products that actually work for more people.

If you weren't able to join us, here's a way you can still be part of what's next. This is the one year in our history where I can tell you, honestly, that a $25 gift, a $50 donation, gets multiplied. Every dollar goes directly to resources for these apprentices and to the job seekers who need support the most. It's easy to assume a single donation doesn't move the needle. This year, with BRIDGEGOOD, it truly does.

What did we give these apprentices, beyond the technical know-how? Pride, confidence, and relevant, hirable skills across the board.

To funders considering where to invest next, and to the organizations doing this work alongside us, here's what seventeen years has taught me: nothing writes a stronger grant than consistency and honesty held together over time. That's what we've built at BRIDGEGOOD.

Purpose to Pixels might be over. What we're collectively building isn't. Thank you Team BG: Angela, Elisa, Mubarak, Brodie, David, Sydney, Tarrea, (THE BEST) volunteers, and our Board of Directors for your dedication. Photo by Khadine!

Consider making a tax-deductible donation at bridgegood.com/donate, or Venmo $50 to to help keep design education free for all.

08/13/2026

Did you know Oakland Digital Arts & Literacy Center (ODALC) rebranded to BridgeGood in 2016?

If you didn't, the spirit of Oakland Digital lives within BRIDGEGOOD, but our impact has scaled well beyond where we started. What began as a small effort to bring design and technology skills to Oakland's community has grown into a national program, and this year, our UX (User Experience) Design Apprentices are joining us from North Carolina, Seattle, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, in addition to right here at home.

Tomorrow, Friday, August 14, that growth comes full circle. Twenty apprentices will present "Purpose to Pixels," an App for Social Good Showcase, pitching original apps built to tackle health and education equity, accessibility, and AI (artificial intelligence), using design to solve real problems in their own communities.

This is the same belief Oakland Digital was built on almost two decades ago: talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. Come see what happens when that opportunity is finally given room to grow, and see how far it has traveled since we started. Also, meet Team BG: Angela, Elisa, Mubarak, Shaun, and Tamanna!

Purpose to Pixels: App for Social Good Showcase Tomorrow, Friday, August 14, 2:00 to 4:00 PM (doors open 1:30) Block Community Hub, Uptown Station, 1955 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Get your free ticket:

See the apps BRIDGEGOOD's UX Design Apprentices built for social good & meet them in person at Block Hub in Uptown Station, Oakland.

08/05/2026

04/28/2026

BRIDGEGOOD x ADOBE x VALKYRIES x WARRIORS | We believe longevity matters. Excellence in craft matters. Social impact matters. And when those values are built with honesty, consistency, and care, they continue to lead the way.

Creative Threads reminded us what becomes possible when creativity, opportunity, and community come together in a real and visible way. Seeing our students and graduates share their work with pride, celebrate at the Warriors game, and have their custom shoes showcased at Chase Center was a powerful moment for our community. It was bigger than a single event. It reflected what happens when young creatives are given space to grow, when craft is taken seriously, and when community investment becomes real.

We are grateful to the Golden State Warriors organization, the Golden State Valkyries, and Adobe for helping make this experience possible. Thank you for continuing to invest in creativity, visibility, and real opportunity for our students and graduates.

We also want to thank everyone who has stood with BRIDGEGOOD through strong seasons and challenging ones. Thank you to our students and graduates for trusting us with your time, talent, and dreams. Thank you to our supporters, donors, and funders who choose to do what is right, not what simply checks boxes. Thank you to the people who understand that real impact is built over time, with integrity, relationships, and follow through.

This photo means a lot to us because it represents more than attendance. It represents belief. It reflects nearly 2 decades of showing up. It reflects work that chooses substance over optics, people over transactions, and long term impact over short term recognition.

We are grateful for everyone who continues to stand with BRIDGEGOOD. For those who keep believing in this work and walking with our community through every season, we do not take that lightly. We will continue to deliver with excellence and integrity, with financial and economic mobility as the end goal.

Join us on May 5th as we unveil the Top 20 Inspire Oakland designs. Free RSVP at 2026inspireoakland.eventbrite.com, and please help us spread the word. 💛

04/20/2026

Join us for the 17th Annual Inspire Oakland Design Challenge: Top 20 Showcase & Top 6 Reveal.

On Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 1 PM, BridgeGood will welcome the public to Jack London Square in Oakland for an afternoon of creativity, community, and career opportunity.

It is a live showcase of 20 standout student designers from across the Bay Area and Northern California presenting original concepts created for real-world, public impact in Oakland and the East Bay.

From billboards and bus benches to LED displays and digital campaigns, attendees will experience design work built for communities, not just the classroom.

And at the end of the event, the Top 6 designs will be revealed live!

Why attend:
- See the Top 20 finalists showcase their strongest work live
- Experience bold design concepts created for real public visibility in Oakland
- Hear from BRIDGEGOOD Co-Founder and Executive Director Shaun Tai
- Connect with creatives, professionals, supporters, and community members
- Enjoy free entry, food, networking, and good energy in an inclusive space

Why it matters:
- Inspire Oakland is more than a showcase. It is what happens when emerging creatives are given access, support, visibility, and the chance to be seen. It reflects the power of design to build confidence, open doors, and create more inclusive futures.
- For many of these student designers, this is more than a single event. It is a step toward stronger portfolios, deeper community, and greater career opportunity.

Event Details
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
95 Washington Street
Jack London Square, Oakland, CA

FREE REGISTRATION: https://2026inspireoakland.eventbrite.com

Open to the public. A suggested donation of $10 is appreciated to help support BRIDGEGOOD’s mission and future opportunities for local talent.

Can’t attend? You can still support local student creatives.

Donate at www.bridgegood.com/donate
Venmo:
Cash App: $BRIDGEGOOD

Come experience what happens when emerging Bay Area creatives are given visibility, opportunity, and a stage to shine. Please help spread the word and support their (GOOD) work!

RSVP FREE: https://2026inspireoakland.eventbrite.com