Where We Are in Brooklyn
The Williamsburg Leadership Center
The Williamsburg Leadership Center (WLC) is El Puente’s flagship holistic youth and community development program that began in 1982 and still operates out of its original headquarters- an inspiring renovated former Catholic Church building in the Southside of Williamsburg (Los Sures). In the last three decades, the Williamsburg Center has been the hub for much of El Puente’s legacy of ground breaking and change making programs, advocacy and initiatives. It was the home for the El Puente Academy for 13 years. In addition, it remains the premier Arts and Cultural Center for the organization with a professional dance studio, art room, and presenting stage, fully equipped with a sound system and stage lighting.
Contact: 211 South 4th Street Brooklyn, NY 11211 | 718-387-0404
El Puente Beacon Leadership Center
El Puente Beacon Leadership Center at Middle School 50 opened in 1998. It is a multifaceted comprehensive program that runs year round and serves approximately 1,300 participants that include children, teens and adults. The Center offers a comprehensive bilingual after school program for primarily middle schools students, with a particular focus on high school transition for youth and their parents, and an evening teen program that includes a PAL Teen Impact Basketball program and break dancing. Classes include ballet, street jazz, acting, breaking and visual arts. The Beacon also runs a comprehensive skills based pre-professional summer arts day camp for youth ages 6-13.
Contact: 183 South 3rd Street Brooklyn, NY 11211 | 718-486-3936
El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice
El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice is an A-rated NYC public high school was established in 1993 under the leadership of its founding Principal Frances Lucerna and in partnership with the NYC Dept. of Education and New Visions for Public Schools.
As the first public school for human rights and Community School model in the nation, the El Puente Academy has received widespread recognition and awards for its innovation and leadership in culturally responsive curriculum, portfolio assessment, arts integration, and character/leadership development. The El Puente Academy is also part of the NYC DOE’S Expanded Success Initiative focused on the academic success of male Latino and African American students. The Academy is highlighted in the Eisenhower Foundation report, “What Works: Public School Reform ” and was part of a 2014 Stanford University Study sponsored by Linda Darling Hammond researching best practices in schools focused on social emotional development and social justice. In 2014, the El Puente Academy received an Honorable Mention in the NY Daily News’ Best NYC High Schools rankings.
Arts classes include drama, set design and guitar. Students showcase their talents during performances at school events such Revolution Day, Unity Day and the Fly Girl Festival.
Contact: 250 Hooper St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 | (718) 387-1125
Cornerstones
El Puente is the CBO operating “Cornerstones” at 4 NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments in South Williamsburg: Independence Towers, Taylor-Wythe Houses, Williams Plaza, and Berry Street. Cornerstone is a joint project of NYCHA and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to operate community centers in the ground floor of NYCHA developments that engage youth, families, and adults and improve quality of life and wellbeing of neighborhood residents. Of 335 NYCHA developments citywide, 99 were identified as the populations most vulnerable to the social determinants of health and engaged in the Cornerstone program.
El Puente was the inaugural Cornerstone partner at Taylor-Wythe in 2008, at Independence Towers and Williams Plaza in 2015, and at Berry Street in 2022. El Puente’s Cornerstones operate daily after school and in summer, serving 415 young people and their families. Programs are designed in direct response to youth- and family-identified needs and interests and include academic support, social-emotional learning and mentorship, arts instruction, exercise, Youth Councils and clubs, civic engagement, technology supports, nutrition education and food access, and service referrals for immigration, health and wellness, workforce trainings, and education.
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El Puente Bushwick Leadership Center is a vibrant, safe and nurturing community for young people (ages 13-21) and their families. It offers a comprehensive year round program that integrates El Puente’s signature Membership model that focuses on holistic leadership development, one to one mentoring and project based learning. An array of skills based activities focus on achieving educational mastery and transformative social action. Participation in the arts is an essential part of the Center as a powerful tool to educate and organize the community. “Time Flies: A History of Bushwick” and “A Community Rises: Creating a World without Domestic Violence”, two powerful community murals painted by the El Puente Muralistas and Bushwick members are part of Bushwick’s walking tours and are an inspiration to community residents
Contact: 311 Central Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11221 | 718-452-0404
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Independence Towers Leadership Center in South Williamsburg specializes in empowering youth through teaching arts and culture, as well as providing a safe space to cultivate their unique skills and talents. Independence offers a wide range of classes and activities. For elementary grade youth, it offers Homework Help, Cultural Arts, Technology, and Activism, as well as clubs such as Comic Book Club, Game Room and Dance. For middle and high school age youth, it offers evening programming on a daily basis, where they can take classes such as Dance, Basketball, Mentoring, and Youth Council.
Contact: 114 Taylor St. Brooklyn, NY 11249 | 718-387-0404
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In 2008 El Puente was asked to develop a youth/community development program at NYCHA’s Taylor – Wythe Houses, as part of DYCD’s Cornerstone Initiative. Since then, El Puente’s Leadership Center at Taylor-Wythe has emerged as a powerful “bridge” builder among the diverse Latino, African American and Hasidic residents of those NYCHA houses. The Center runs programs year round and offers a comprehensive youth day camp program (ages 6-12) during the summer. It also hosts special events, arts showcases, cultural celebrations, community forums and workshops focused on social service support/civic engagement such as immigration, health and wellness and voter participation.
Contact: 80 Clymer Street Brooklyn, NY 11211 | (718) 919-7586
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In 2015 El Puente was asked to develop another youth/community development program at NYCHA’s Johnathan Williams development, as part of DYCD’s Cornerstone Expansion. Since then, El Puente’s Leadership Center at Williams Plaza has emerged to focus on nurturing and inspiring leaders for Peace and Justice through the scope of wellness.The center will focus on providing an array of holistic activities such as movement & exercise, healthy food education, and service opportunities among others. Due to the creative focus on Holistic Wellness, leadership staff has created a plethora of activities and groups while utilizing youth/community leadership development programming that includes a comprehensive but holistic after school program for elementary youth, a fraternity/sorority-like Middle School group and an evening teen program focused on college/career preparation, the arts and community service.
Contact Information: 323 Roebling Street Brooklyn, NY 11211 | 718-408-6792