Jana Lynne “JL” Umipig, Jorge Luis Berrios, and Sylvia Hernandez focused their residency on curating monthly intergenerational events in El Puente’s presenting space. These community events focused on healing, empowerment and activation regarding issues of environmental justice, decolonization, gentrification, health and wellness, and liberation. They collaborated with artists from El Puente’s staff, youth arts programs, and community artist networks citywide. These gatherings were critical to help the community cope with ongoing COVID-related trauma and challenges. The artists also led the creative visioning, planning, and implementation of annual cultural events such as Dia de Los Muertos, Three Kings, Manifest, and the WEPA! Latino Street Festival. Jorge and Sylvia facilitated poetry and quilting workshops at El Puente Academy High School, while JL was instrumental in nurturing a new cohort of staff artists as a co-facilitator of their Arts Collective. She offered critical modeling and support for understanding and implementing El Puente’s “Creative Justice” methodology.

El Puente is a human rights institution that promotes leadership for self-determination by engaging youth and adults in the arts, education, wellness and environmental action. El Puente integrates the activities and community campaigns of El Puente Arts, the Green Light District community sustainability initiative and the Global Justice Training Institute within its 6 Youth Leadership Centers, the El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice, El Puente/MS50 Community School and El Puente Puerto Rico.