Puentes Leadership & Resiliency Fellowship

PROGRAM OUTLINE

1. The 2024 cohort will gather for an in-person, opening and closing retreat, and will include eight virtual gatherings.
2. The 2024 opening retreat will take place from February 8-11, 2024. 
3. The 2024 mid-point retreat will take place from May 1-5, 2024. 
4. Fellows will create and lead capstone projects that raise awareness of Latin-Jewish heritage or advance a social change initiative in their community.
5. The 2024 graduation will take place on Sep 18, 2024. 
6. Virtual Workshops will take place from  3:00-5:00pm PT/ 6:00-8:00pm ET on on Wednesdays January 31, February 21, March 6 & 20, April 3, May 22, June 12, September 18.

GOALS

The goals of this fellowship are to empower participants to:

1. Dive deep into introspection, refining and defining their unique leadership ethos.
2. Hone a sophisticated and nuanced understanding of intersectionality, elevating their awareness of interconnected identities.
3. Engage deeply with esteemed Jewish and Latin educators, absorbing transformative narratives that bridge cultures.
4. Forge robust tools for resilience, preparing them to thrive in the face of challenges.
5. Strengthen ties with fellow Latin-Jewish leaders, fostering a collaborative and empowered network of changemakers.
6. Design a community capstone project that explores Latin-Jewish cultural elements or advances a social change initiative.

OUTCOMES

As a result of participating in this fellowship, participants will gain: 

1. Access to the PUENTES alumni network of Latin-Jewish change-makers.
2. Insight on a wide range of multicultural experiences from the Jewish and Latin communities.
3. An understanding of how Jewish and Latin cultures are complementary to one another and can strengthen the way we lead.
4. Empowerment with new tools to rise as comprehensive community changemakers, distinguished by a profound aptitude for fostering dialogue and building bridges.
5. Direct pathways to local leadership opportunities, tailored to maximize impact and engagement.
6. Valuable experience in spearheading and leading a community program.

FAQ

1. What is special about participating in the PUENTES Leadership & Resiliency Fellowship? Unlike other fellowships, PUENTES is a culturally-responsive, culturally-sustaining fellowship designed by and for Latin-Jews. Created with the Latin-Jewish community in mind, this fellowship examines Latin-Jewish intersectionality, elevates Jewish and Latin texts and scholarship, and places a special focus on resiliency building. 
2. Who is eligible to participate in this fellowship? Anyone who identifies as Jewish and Latino/e/x is eligible to apply to participate in this fellowship. 
3. Is this fellowship restricted to an age category such as young adults? The PUENTES Leadership & Resiliency Fellowship is open to anyone over the age of 21, and prides itself on being intergenerational. 
4. How much time should someone set aside for this commitment? This experience begins with an in-person opening retreat and is followed by eight virtual gatherings and an in-person closing retreat.  In addition to our gatherings, fellows will commit to bringing to life a community capstone project that either raises awareness of Latin-Jewish heritage, or advances a social change initiative   in their respective communities.
5. Can this fellowship be adapted for a geographical region? Yes, and we have already adapted the experience for the Bay Area and Los Angeles communities.
6. What is the cost of participation in this fellowship? Thanks to the generosity of our funders, PUENTES has been made possible with significant subsidization. The contribution for this experience is a sliding scale of $500-$1,000 based on your financial situation. In addition, there will be a stipend provided for travel to and from the retreat according to location and distance. For any questions about this or to explore a scholarship, email us at community@jewtina.org.