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Education & Youth Development

At Puentes de Salud, we believe that true wellness must include educational opportunity, cultural connection, and youth empowerment. Our Education & Youth Development programs support Latine children and families from early childhood through adolescence, nurturing creativity, leadership, and lifelong learning.

We offer a full continuum of programming for youth ages 3–18, designed to address the social determinants of health and foster multilingual, intergenerational spaces where students and families can thrive.

Early Childhood, Elementary & Middle School

Our early education and middle school initiatives blend academic support with cultural enrichment, wellness, and family engagement.

Puentes a las Artes (PALA) – In partnership with Taller Puertorriqueño, PALA supports emergent bilingual learners (ages 3–4) through art-based education that fosters:

Education and Youth Development 2
Education and Youth Development 1
  • Cognitive and linguistic development
  • Visual literacy and storytelling
  • Cultural identity and family connection
Puentes Hacia el Futuro (Bridges Toward the Future) – Serving students in grades 1–8, PHF offers out-of-school programming that nurtures creativity, personal growth, and academic success. Activities include:
  • Individual tutoring and homework help
  • Bilingual social justice and sexuality education workshops (in collaboration with YES! Your Empowered Sexuality)
  • Art opportunities with Fleisher Art Memorial
  • Support for 8th graders applying to high school
  • Family workshops and intergenerational learning experiences

We are actively designing student and parent leadership structures to ensure that youth and families help shape program content, vision, and direction, becoming educators and mentors in their own right.

Puentes Hacia el Futuro is a proud partner of Southwark School, one of Philadelphia’s first community schools.

High School

Lanzando Líderes (Launching Leaders) is our after-school program for Latine high school students, focused on academic success, mentorship, and leadership development. Students engage in:
  • One-on-one mentoring and postsecondary readiness workshops
  • Career exploration and cultural identity sessions
  • Health and wellness programming, including body-neutral self-care
  • Peer-led discussions and social justice education
Lanzando Líderes affirms that Latine youth are not only learners but also leaders, advocates, and changemakers.

Volunteer Opportunities

Interested in supporting our education programs?

Please visit our Volunteer page for more information about available roles, and check our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates on active opportunities.

For specific inquiries, contact our volunteer coordinator, Argelia Mejia-Cuba, at argelia.mejia-cuba@puentesdArts and Culture 4esalud.org.

We generally recruit new education volunteers in August/September, January, and late spring.