Puente serves rural agricultural south coast areas through community advocacy leveraging resources to foster economic prosperity and security. This region has many of the problems of the larger communities however the resources are more spread out. Puente a services are a health clinic, dental care, education child care driver education , legal services and counseling for victims of domestic violence and mental health. The help the hard working people dream and achieve their dreams. They are funded by county grants, foundations and individual donations. Housing is a major concern. A rent for a trailer is $1000 a month. They have a ESL cafe where people gather to share customs and conversation while learning language. They also have a tradition of Posada where Joseph and Mary look for shelter just as people today search for room at the inn.
In the afternoon Patricia Scott from Booker T Washington Community Service Center came to tell us of the progress of building an affordable housing development and community center that will provide academic, career services recreational and health support services as well as a youth radio station. There will be 24 units for youth who have grown too old for the foster child program but still need to transition to life as adults. There will be 24 units of affordable housing for adults. She told us of the years of struggles with law suits and neighbors that make this center a reality. This is also a project that has changed to provide service to a changed community as gentrification has pushed out African American and Japanese American residents.
In the late afternoon each of the synod representatives shared their plans to interpret and act as a result of this experience....to be compassionate.
We had a final Bible study out of Matthew. The story is of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as refugees hiding from King Herod. Farewells and hugs abounded with a promise to meet again in Louisville at the church wide gathering.
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