HISTORY
Puentes Collective are Latine millennials and younger generations of leaders in the faith and social justice movement. Puentes leaders are bicultural and some bilingual; bridging between our Spanish speaking Latine communities and the English speaking communities in the U.S.
Puente work is intentionally for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) and by BIPOC. We are thankful to our Madrina Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra who helped lay the foundation of this work as an elder.
La Colectiva Puentes son líderes Latine millennials y generaciones más jóvenes en el movimiento de fe y la justicia social. Los líderes puentes son bicultural y algunos son bilingües; construyendo puentes entre la comunidad de habla español e inglés dentro de espacios de la fe y el movimiento de la justicia social en los Estados Unidos. El trabajo de Puentes es por y para personas de color (BIPOC for sus siglas en ingles). Agradecemos a nuestra Madrina Revda. Dra. Alexia Salvatierra por su ayuda a establecer está obra.
VISION
The mission and vision of Puentes Collective is forming and nurturing young leaders committed to lasting social change in our community.
La misión y visión de la Colectiva Puentes es formar y edificar líderes jóvenes comprometidos al cambio social duradero en nuestra comunidad.
BOARD MEMBERS
Alina Ortíz Salvatierra
Alina grew up in faith communities resisting and organizing around injustice her whole life. She has had a rare and incredible amount of exposure to powerful faith leaders and organizers in her family and community throughout her life. She has been very guided and fueled by faith. Having a mother who is a Lutheran Pastor has instilled very deep values of justice, forgiveness, and sacrificial love for her. Because of these experiences, she feels a deep dedication and responsibility to justice and people power. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Education and Studio Arts from Hampshire College. Alina is co-founder and current treasurer of Puentes Collective.
Dina Martínez
As a Latina woman who grew up in south central LA and went to school in UC Santa Barbara, I found myself constantly under cultural tensions. In my college years I felt God met me here in this middle ground and learning to sit with people in the middle shows how God is
powerful to walk with people in all walks of life. Puentes help different people groups see each other better and to advocate for people in the margins. We help bring equity bymaking space.
Priscilla Merlo
Priscilla is a Honduran-American born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. She’s a graduate from Pepperdine University, majoring in International Relations with an emphasis in Latin American studies. With a passion for justice for migrants, families, and women, Priscilla has interned with organizations such as Mateo 25, Eden Ministries in Shanghai, and Pomona Hope. Priscilla enjoys writing poetry, spending time with her family, and connecting with nature, especially at the beach. Recently, Priscilla has been commissioned by the City of Pomona for a mural project engaging Pomona children and youth.
Alma L Cárdenas Rodríguez
Alma is a México-Estadounidense born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, CA. She is proud to be a second generation Latina, and daughter of parents that migrated from Mexico's Durango and Jalisco states. Her upbringing was heavily influenced by her protestant Latina faith community whose unwillingness to engage or answer her questions led her to seminary school. Alma holds a Master of Arts in Transformational Urban Leadership from Azusa Pacific University. She is her own definition of wife, mother, friend, mentor, mentee, pastora & teóloga who values truth, justice, and the prophetic voice of our youth & women of color. Alma's first book publication Groanings from the Desert was published in 2020.
Vanessa Martínez Soltero
until the age of 12. Her activism in
social justice and faith spaces from
a decolonizing and indigenizing
perspective continue to shape and
inform her life's work seeing the
divinity in both la lucha and joy.
She has also been part of various
leadership fellowships focused on
racial & immigrant justice with
organizations like Bread for the
World, Rockwood Leadership Institute,
Forum for Theological Exploration &
Sojourners. Vanessa is co-founder
& current board chair of Puentes Collective.
COMADRES COUNCIL
The Comadres Council is a wise council of BIPOC elders in our extended communities to whom Puentes refer to for wisdom on social justice and faith spaces.
El Consejo de Comadres es un consejo de sabios de personas de color en nuestras comunidades a quienes Puentes se refieren para sabiduría dentro de los espacios de justicia social y la fe.