Mariana Vega
  • Social Work
  • Class of 2018
  • New London, CT

Mariana Vega of New London Leads Children through "Puentes al Futuro" Summer Program

2016 Aug 4

Eastern Connecticut State University concluded its fifth summer youth program for "Puentes al Futuro" (Bridges to the Future) on July 28. Sixty middle school students from Windham were led by 12 Eastern student leaders over the course of the four-week program.

Mariana Vega '17 of New London, who majors in Pre-Social Work, was among the student leaders who assisted in a variety of educational and recreational workshops for the children.

Coordinated by Eastern's Center for Community Engagement, the Eastern students served as counselors and mentors to build self-confidence among the students. One of the goals of Puentes is to encourage middle school students to learn about their personal identity and cultural roots, and realize that there is a path open for them to grow through school, attend college and realize their life's dreams.

The students also participated in service projects at the new West Avenue Community Center after-school site and went on field trips to the local nonprofit organization CLiCK (Commercially Licensed Cooperative Kitchen).

Puentes provides a safe space for summer fun and helps students improve their academics in advance of the next school year. The program is an extension of an after-school program in Windham schools during the academic year that has grown from only 20 students when it started five years ago to an anticipated level of 125 for the next year.