El Puente is a community human rights institution that promotes leadership for peace and justice through the engagement of members in the arts, education, scientific research, wellness and environmental action. Organizing in North Brooklyn and beyond, El Puente remains at the forefront of community/youth learning and development issues and as such, initiates and impacts social policy both locally and nationally.EL PUENTE PROGRAMS:
*El Puente Leadership Centers*
El Puente operates three Leadership Centers for community/youth development in Brooklyn; one at its headquarters in Williamsburg, one at MS 50 in Williamsburg, and a third in Bushwick. Members of the El Puente Leadership Centers engage in interactive experiences as part of an exciting and creative community center membership that inspires them to take on social justice issues as expressed in El Puente Twelve Point Platform for Human Rights.
*El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice*
El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice was established in 1993 by El Puente in partnership with the NYC DOE and New Visions for Public Schools. The Academy reflects El Puente’s vision of education emerging from the community. In 2003, the Academy was recognized by the Department of Education’s Chancellor as one of New York City’s 208 Schools of Excellence. The Academy was also recently highlighted in the Eisenhower Foundation report What Works: Public School Reform.
*El Puente Community Health and Environment (CHE) Institute*
Recognizing the connection between health and the environment, CHE was created as a community health and environmental justice institute designed to promote individual and community wellness through collective self-help and community action.
*Teatro El Puente*
NYC’s first and longest running HIV/AIDS educational theater group, Teatro El Puente was established as the AIDS Drama Project in 1987. The company was the first educational AIDS theater company for adolescents in New York City. The company’s mission is to use theater to educate, focused on presenting pieces developed by its actors addressing issues pertinent to the well-being and safety of young people today such as: AIDS, HIV, drug and alcohol abuse, addiction, violence, sexual health, relationships, and conflict resolution.
*Arts and Culture*
El Puente’s arts and cultural programs are currently integrated within El Puente’s three Leadership Centers and the Academy. Today, members engage in a variety of arts disciplines that strive for excellence and mastery including dance, drama, voice, percussion, media arts, visual arts/public arts, graphic design and Hip Hop. Professional staff artists create collaborative theme based projects and presentations that promote human rights and social action.
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