about

Bridges is a literary magazine that began in a small classroom at Villanova University consisting of socially distanced chairs and masked faces. Under the guidance of Dr. Adrienne Perry, nineteen students set out to learn more about the editing and publishing industry, while also being tasked with creating a literary journal.

One of our first tasks as a class was writing a mission statement:

Bridges is a community of readers and creators celebrating the art, writing, and experiences of those voices that have often gone unheard. Aware of our contemporary political and cultural moment and the need for new perspectives, we seek to center work that respects, supports, and amplifies inclusion. We believe sharing connects us. We want to create a reading culture that fosters connection while reflecting the world’s diversity.

As a class, we decided to center our journal around the voices of BIPOC and transnational writers. The name Bridges was chosen with consideration of both the functional and metaphorical significance of bridges themselves. Bridges serve as a connection between people, places, and things. Bridges are complex structures that require many years of hard work and collaboration; they are essential to society and withstand the test of time.

Collaboration is key in creating a cohesive, impactful work of art. As teams tasked with editing prose, poetry, reviews and interviews, and web design, we have all carefully curated works of art that we feel reflect our goals and mission as a class. We have had the honor to work with each other and with amazing authors, and we are excited to be able to share this work with you, our readers. After a semester filled with learning, compiling, and editing, Bridges has come to life.