On the South Coast, Puente knows some program participants struggle to muster holiday cheer. It’s a time when family matters most – and for those living without their families, it can be very tough.
“It’s the time Read more -->> 
Veronica Rivera never got past elementary school growing up. But if she had, she’d have been at the top of her class.
“She’s a really good student. She is always studying,” says Puente Program Director Rita Mancera, Read more -->> 
‘Ruth Shavel, volunteer’ is a permanent nametag for Shavel. So much so that when she started collecting donated items for Puente schoolchildren, she didn’t even need to be told how to sort everything.
You might even Read more -->> 
Pescadero youth get into Stanford – for high school credit
Stanford University is only an hour’s drive from Pescadero. But it can feel several lifetimes removed from the reality of the isolated South Coast, where most Read more -->> 
Celebrating the dead, Puente style
At Puente, preparing for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is anything but macabre. At a joyful workshop in early October, women’s hands (and a few men’s) reach into mixing bowls Read more -->> 
In spite of the hyper-blogged presidential debates and media-driven election controversies, many people on the South Coast do not feel connected to local, state or national elections.
This year, Puente was taking no chances. Read more -->>