Two years ago, Elizabeth wasn’t sure she’d be able to find a high-quality summer program for her daughter, Cielo. Then she found out about PUENTE. Last week, Cielo was one of 150 students who completed our Summer Adventure Camp. The program is offered at a nominal fee to prevent summer learning loss for neighborhood children up to 6th grade. Cielo already wants to sign up for next summer. PUENTE has become an important part of their family’s connection to the community. Cielo, who attends a local Catholic school during the year, has made new friends and developed her personality in a high-quality, supportive learning environment. Not only that, but Elizabeth herself became a PUENTE adult student last year, enrolling in two classes that prepared her to take the HiSET exam for high-school equivalency. “As an adult, returning to school can be challenging, but at PUENTE I never felt embarrassed,” says Elizabeth. PUENTE’s HiSET classes are offered in Spanish in order to be responsive and accessible for students’ needs “I’ve always felt welcomed, and so does my daughter,” says Elizabeth “Everyone genuinely cares. This place feels like family.”
