PUENTES LEADERSHIP & RESILIENCY FELLOWSHIP
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WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR COHORT 6?
This program is designed for individuals who self-identify as both Latin American and Jewish. Latin-Jews are Jewish individuals with roots or familial connections to countries in Latin America (North, South, or Central America, and the Caribbean).
This cohort is open to educators. Our definition of an educator is broad; we know learning can take place through a variety of ways in different environments. Educators who work in classrooms, camps, in the arts, forests or creative studios are welcome to apply. We seek those who dedicate themselves to teaching others in the Latin, Jewish or Latin-Jewish community.
You're an ideal candidate if you:
- Are an educator seeking to integrate your full Latin-Jewish identity into your teaching practice
- Want to develop holistic, culturally-informed educational frameworks
- Are passionate about preserving and transmitting Latin-Jewish heritage to the next generation
- Are ready to create meaningful change in your educational community
- Seek deep connection with other Latin-Jewish educators navigating similar journeys
- Believe in the power of education to bridge cultures and build inclusive spaces
For questions of eligibility, please email kimberly@jewtina.org.
I appreciate the opportunity and space to grow with people with a similar experience to mine. We all at some point have felt out of place in the communities we are a part of and have come together to build a community of our own with the help of Jewtina.
Ziggy, Cohort 5, 2025
Program Outline
The 2026 cohort will gather for an in-person, opening and closing retreat, and will include eight virtual gatherings and a virtual graduation.
Each fellow will create and pilot a curriculum exploring an aspect of Latin-Jewish peoplehood, designed to be accessible to both Latin and Jewish communities. These educational resources will then be added to our public toolkit collection for educators.
PUENTES Fellows will work on their projects between May and September, and will present their curricula at their cohort graduation.
VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS | Wednesdays 3-5pm pt / 6-8pm ET
January 21, 2026
March 4, 2026
April 15, 2026
May 13, 2026
August 12, 2026
September 9, 2026
IN-PERSON RETREAT DATES
February 2-5, 2026 | Opening Retreat
October 8-11, 2026 | Closing Retreat
Cohort Graduation
November 15, 2026
CAPSTONE PROJECTS
Our work is grounded in five core values that honor both Jewish and Latin traditions. These values will be your guide during PUENTES as you develop your capstone project—where your learning comes to life.
We call these projects "puentes" (bridges)—a fitting metaphor as they literally bridge cultures, communities, and learning approaches. The fellowship culminates in this capstone, where each fellow creates and pilots original curriculum exploring Latin-Jewish peoplehood.
PROJECT TIMELINE & DEVELOPMENT
Brainstorming will begin in February and, between May and September, you'll design an innovative educational tool or resource focused on how we educate multicultural people in our communities—teaching both Latin Jews and non-Latin Jews about Latin Jewish history, culture, and identity.
CORE THEMES TO EXPLORE
Your project should address one or more of these areas, reflecting your unique pedagogical approach and multicultural perspective:
- HISTORY Examples include: the AMIA bombing, Latin American dictatorships, migration narratives, or other pivotal moments in Latin Jewish experience
- CULTURE Examples include: identity and culture integrated learning sessions, such as Jewish and Día de los Muertos curriculum, or tools exploring the intersection of Latin and Jewish cultural practices
- PEOPLEHOOD Examples include: understanding Latin Jewish migration patterns, contemporary community experiences, or transnational identity development
WHAT YOU'LL CREATE
Each capstone represents months of reflection, research, and creative development, resulting in practical educational resources—complete with learning objectives, teaching methods, and materials—designed to raise awareness of Latin-Jewish heritage, advance equity in Jewish learning spaces, and build bridges between Jewish and Latino communities.
Your project should be scalable and applicable to real educational settings. Past projects have included artistic learning tools for families, curriculum guides, cultural workshops, and community programs.
SHARING YOUR IMPACT
You'll present your completed capstone at our closing retreat in October, sharing your puente with the cohort and celebrating the bridge you've built for future learners. All completed curricula are added to our public toolkit, accessible to educators worldwide, ensuring your work creates lasting impact far beyond the fellowship.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE EMPOWERED TO
DIVE DEEP into introspection, refining and defining their unique leadership and teaching ethos.
HONE a sophisticated and nuanced understanding of Latin-Jewish diversity, elevating their awareness of interconnected identities.
ENGAGE deeply with esteemed Jewish and Latin educators, absorbing transformative narratives that bridge cultures.
FORGE robust tools for resilience, preparing them to thrive in the face of challenges.
STRENGTHEN ties with fellow Latin-Jewish leaders, fostering a collaborative and empowered network of changemakers.
CREATE an educational capstone curriculum that elevates understanding of and honors Latin-Jewish peoplehood, designed to make these rich cultural traditions accessible and meaningful for both Latin and Jewish communities.
COME AWAY WITH
LIFELONG CONNECTION to the PUENTES alumni network of Latin-Jewish changemakers, featuring ongoing learning opportunities, alumni gatherings, and collaborative initiatives.
DEEP KNOWLEDGE of Latin-Jewish history and peoplehood through immersive cohort experiences that reveal how Jewish and Latin cultures complement and strengthen one another.
ENHANCED LEADERSHIP CAPACITY as educators who celebrate Jewish peoplehood, foster dialogue, and build bridges within and beyond Latin-Jewish spaces.
PRACTICAL SKILLS in facilitation and curriculum design, honed through creating transformative educational materials.
MENTORSHIPS with established Latin-Jewish leaders and program advisors.
PERSONALIZED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLANS to sustain growth beyond the fellowship.
DIRECT PATHWAYS to local leadership opportunities tailored for maximum impact.
COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES including curricula and toolkits from current and past cohorts.
Where else can you arrive to a place and openly be a queer, Latinx and Jewish person... AND be 100% understood? Only at Jewtina y Co. My whole self finally feels at home in Jewish community!
Daveed, Cohort 4, 2024
PROGRAM INVESTMENT
Thanks to the generosity of our funders, the contribution for this experience is a sliding scale $750-$1500 based on your financial situation.
What's Included:
- Two immersive in-person retreats (lodging and meals)
- Eight virtual learning workshops
- Program facilitation and mentorship
- Capstone project guidance and support
- Access to PUENTES alumni network
- Program materials and resources