Rebuild the Bridge: Help Puente Thrive Again Post-Pandemic

My name is Kaylee, and I am a former Puentista President. I am calling all former Puentistas and education advocates to help strengthen and rebuild the Puente High School Program to the impactful, empowering program it was when I was a student. The Puente High School Program guides students toward graduation while ensuring they are college-eligible and ready to enroll in higher education. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has faced challenges in funding and maintaining its impact. True to its name—Puente, meaning "bridge" in Spanish—the program continues to uphold its motto: "Building bridges to higher education."

Students in the Puente team are supported by teaching, writing, counseling, and community leadership. Puente students study the college preparatory curriculum and read and write about the American/Latino experience. The program's mission is to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn their degrees, and return to the community as leaders of future generations. Puentistas are involved within their community as they must do community service hours.

Before the pandemic, the Puente program was more than just a support system—it was familia. A dedicated parent committee played a vital role in fundraising for college tours and events, ensuring students had access to valuable opportunities. One of Puente’s most cherished traditions was its annual Kermes—a vibrant fundraising event filled with food stands, games, music, and entertainment, bringing members together in celebration. Another beloved tradition was the Puente Banquet, organized by juniors to honor the accomplishments of graduating seniors as they prepared to embark on their college journeys, celebrating with food, dancing, and community pride. Puentistas proudly wore shirts fostering a strong sense of unity and purpose. Demand for the program was so high that there was even a waitlist to join. But now, all of this is gone. No Puente shirts. No college tours. No banquet. No funding. A program that once opened doors for so many is struggling to survive. It’s time to rebuild Puente and restore the opportunities that once defined it.

I have now crossed that Puente bridge, earning a degree in Biology from a four-year institution—an achievement that would not have been possible without the Puente program. I am seeking to come back to my community as a leader, empowering future generations to pursue higher education and inspiring students like myself to reach for their dreams. With your support, we can restore Puente as a familia and inspire future Puentistas to dream big. Every contribution will go directly toward rebuilding our program and supporting our students. Our goal is to bring back Puente shirts and, with enough funding, even revive our cherished college tours. Puentistas are eager to make their voices heard and give back to the community—just as we once did through park cleanups, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Walk, the Adelante Madison Program, and more. Together, we can rebuild Puente and continue guiding students toward higher education. ¡Sí Se Puede!