PUENTE is an acronym for People United to Enrich the Neighborhood Through Education. PUENTE is also the Spanish word for "bridge," and our educational services provide a bridge to opportunity, learning, and economic self-sufficiency.

Founded in Boyle Heights in 1985 by Sister Jennie Lechtenberg, PUENTE Learning Center began as a tutoring program for elementary school children without the resources to excel in school. Over the last 33 years, PUENTE has served over 110,000 individuals, enabling children to develop a lifelong love of learning, helping parents succeed in their role as their children's first and most important teachers, supporting youth as they move toward high school graduation and beyond, and assisting adults in need of English-language fluency and modern workforce skills.