El Puente is a human rights institution founded in 1982 with a mission to inspire and nurture leadership for peace and justice. Based in NYC and Puerto Rico with national and international impact, El Puente directly serves approximately 12,000 individuals annually from nine youth Leadership Centers across the Southside of Williamsburg and Bushwick, Brooklyn and Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

El Puente creates community-led movements of self determination among low-income, oppressed peoples, Latine and communities of color through a holistic leadership and membership model, and high impact youth and community development programs. The majority of those served by El Puente are Latine (63%) and Black (26%), Spanish-speaking and low-income; many are immigrants and some undocumented, including recently arrived migrant families and asylum seekers. These individuals and their families face high barriers of access to employment and educational opportunities, affordable and adequate housing, and arts and cultural preservation.