TRAINING AND EDUCATION
Developing Education at the Intersection of Arts and Social Change
El Puente models the whole student, whole school, whole community approach in partnership with M.S. 50 Community School and El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice. Our Global Justice Institute codifies 40 years of pedagogy for capacity building in social justice frameworks.
Where Arts, Justice & Education Meet
El Puente’s leadership centers form a dynamic network of spaces for holistic youth development, culturally rooted education, and community transformation. From its flagship site in Los Sures to school-based and NYCHA-centered programs, each location offers arts-based learning, academic support, and opportunities for leadership grounded in justice and self-determination.
El Puente’s Global Justice Institute
The Global Justice Institute (GJI) is the hub for training, development, and research at El Puente - realized through a process of codifying El Puenteʼs 40+ years of pedagogy and methodology of nurturing leaders for peace and justice. El Puente Global Justice Institute facilitates ongoing training and leadership development for the entire El Puente organization, as well as practitioners from across NYC, nationally and internationally. GJI training focuses on the areas of arts for social justice, cultural organizing, community & youth development, environmental advocacy, climate change, and more.
El Puente Bike Club
El Puente’s Bike Club is a transformative leadership development program based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that empowers youth through cycling, environmental education, and community advocacy. Founded in 2012 at El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice, the club began by addressing barriers to biking among students—such as safety concerns, stigma, and lack of access—and grew into a powerful vehicle for youth leadership and environmental justice.
Through weekly rides, skill-building workshops, and citywide events, students develop physical endurance, confidence, and teamwork while exploring critical topics like street safety, climate change, and urban infrastructure. The club has led rides across the George Washington Bridge, participated in the 5 Boro Bike Tour, and organized multi-day bike tours to national Youth Bike Summits in Allentown and Boston. Along the way, youth learn mechanics, camping, route mapping, and public speaking, often presenting at national forums on biking and equity.
