The mission of Puente del Pueblo is to transform lives in West Chicago by engaging the residents of the Timber Lake and Main Park Apartments through case management services, adult literacy programs, and supportive academic programs for children and youth. Puente is now the largest social service provider in West Chicago.
Youth Services
Puente del Niño serves 1st-5th grade students every day that school is in session. The program runs Monday through Thursday from 4:30pm – 6pm and Fridays from 3:25-6:00pm during the school year. Two locations serve our elementary students: Indian Knoll Elementary School and Wegner Elementary School. Most student participants will come from these two schools, but exceptions are made on a case by case basis.
Transportation is NOT provided by Puente for children from other schools. Parents are encouraged to visit the program anytime!
The program costs $30/year per student.
- Build academic skills, with a special focus on Math and Language Arts. Each day students will be challenged and coached to understand and complete their homework.
- Experience a deep sense of belonging as they build positive relationships with peers and supportive adult volunteer tutors.
- Grow their bodies with structured large motor activities.
- Enjoy a variety of recreational activities.
- Grow their trust in God (For parents who chose to opt their child into the Christian education component of the program, a rich curriculum of faith development is offered. Students whose parents chose to opt out of Christian education will receive an equally rich character-building curriculum.)
TO LEARN MORE CONTACT:
Program Coordinator at Wegner Elementary School:
Maria Fatheree
331-703-5034
mfatheree@wheatonbible.org
Program Coordinator at Indian Knoll Elementary School:
Mary Cortez
331-218-0295
mcortez@wheatonbible.org
Puente del Futuro serves 6th-8th grade students every day that school is in session, most breaks, and occasionally on the weekends. The program is located at the Timber Lake Community Center and runs from 3:00-6:30pm during the school year. Puente del Futuro serves students who live at Timber Lake and Main Park apartments, but residency exceptions are made on a case by case basis. Parents are encouraged to visit the program anytime!
The program costs $30/year per student.
Puente del Futuro provides middle school students with opportunities to
- Build academic skills, with a special focus on Math and Language Arts. Each day students will be challenged and coached to understand and complete their homework.
- Experience a deep sense of belonging as they build positive relationships with peers and supportive adult volunteer tutors.
- Gain life skills from caring adults as they navigate adolescent social pressures. Learn wisdom in decision making.
- Challenge their bodies and minds with structured athletic activities and sportsmanship guidance.
- Build a repertoire of new cultural experiences while on field trips.
- Explore ways to give back to their community through our service-learning curriculum.
- Grow their trust in God and deepen their understanding of what it means to serve Him. (For parents who chose to opt their child into the Christian education component of the program, a rich curriculum of faith development is offered. Students whose parents chose to opt out of Christian education will receive an equally rich character-building curriculum.)
TO LEARN MORE CONTACT:
Puente del Futuro Program Coordinator:
Bryn Wicklas
331-465-9798
bwicklas@wheatonbible.org
Puente’s High School Program capitalizes on the efforts of our students by helping them become highly successful participants in post-secondary education. The majority of the students in Puente’s Youth Development programs are first-in-the-family college attenders. As such, the families served by the program take advantage of the supports it offers to unlock doors of opportunity for their youth.
Puente’s High School Program serves students from West Chicago Community High School (WCCHS). The program is open every day that school is in session, many break days, and some weekends. It operates at Glen Arbor Church, which is adjacent to WCCHS, from 3:00-6:00pm. Students remain in good standing by meeting all program expectations (especially keeping regular meetings with their tutor-mentor) and by logging a certain number of hours per week in the program based on their grade level and academic performance. Parents are encouraged to visit the program anytime!
The program costs $70/year per student.
The High School Program provides High School students with opportunities to
- Build academic skills by offering: 1) distraction free study space, 2) individual tutoring as needed, including guided ACT/SAT test practice and coaching, 3) free access to a reliable WIFI network so that they can complete assignments using their D94 issued Chromebook, and 4) accountability from a one-on-one volunteer tutor-mentor.
- Explore a wide variety of career options presented live and personally by our network of nurses, engineers, business owners, attorneys, and a wide variety of other professionals every week.
- Experience a deep sense of belonging as they build positive relationships with peers and experience the focused attention from a one-on-one adult volunteer tutor-mentor
- Gain life skills from caring adults as they navigate adolescent social pressures. Learn wisdom in decision making.
- Visit a variety of colleges and universities on local day trips plus an annual out of state spring-break college tour.
- Guidance in completing College Applications, Scholarship applications, FAFSA, and more.
- Grow their trust in God by joining the youth group at Wheaton Bible Church/Iglesia del Pueblo.
TO LEARN MORE CONTACT:
Puente High School Program Coordinator:
Nathan Ludeña
815-661-2865
nludena@wheatonbible.org
Puente’s Elementary and Puente del Futuro After-School Programs transform in the summer into an eight-week, full-day, academically-focused program that gives families an affordable way to provide a safe and skill-building summer for rising 2nd to incoming 9th graders. Core activities include: Language Arts/Reading, Math, Life Skills Education, Service Learning, optional Christian Education—plus a field trip every Friday! Lunch is included for all student participants. Our bus picks up students from the Timber Lake and Main Park Apartments at 9:00 am and returns them home at 4:00 pm.
Puente’s High School Program transforms in the summer into an employment and small business development training program with two unique components:
- Classroom-based employment soft skills training with assistance in finding paid summer jobs.
- Small-business development practicum: Our curriculum and volunteer small business owners lead students through the creation of a real business, with real inventory, sales, investors, and leadership structure.
The programs costs $120/student. Puente offers a $20 discount on early registration. Scholarships are available for families who meet with Puente’s case management office and are determined eligible for assistance.
TO LEARN MORE CONTACT:
Program Coordinator at Wegner Elementary School:
Maria Fatheree
331-703-5034
mfatheree@wheatonbible.org
Program Coordinator at Indian Knoll Elementary School:
Mary Cortez
331-218-0295
mcortez@wheatonbible.org
Program del Futuro Program Coordinator:
Bryn Wicklas
331-465-9798
bwicklas@wheatonbible.org
Adult Services
The Case Management team at Puente del Pueblo begins with a needs assessment and then provides relevant information and referrals, along with advocacy to obtain services, budgeting assistance, transportation, interpretation and translation, and other services. Eligibility for crisis financial assistance from Puente del Pueblo is carefully evaluated as well.
In our case management program, we work together with a client to resolve any pressing issues or crises facing the household, as well as plan together for the household’s long term stability. Working on long term stability may include joint problem solving around food access, public benefits advocacy, issues related to immigration status, gainful employment, difficult roommate or family relationships, access to housing, access to education, transportation, spiritual care/community and many more elements.
CONNECT WITH CASE MANAGEMENT
Timber Lake Apartment Case Manager:
Irene Owens
Office: 630-876-6682
iowens@wheatonbible.org
Main Park Apartment Case Manager:
Ana Maria Vega
Office: 630-876-6688
Work Cell: 630-635-6305
amvega@wheatonbible.org
Puente works with people needing help with reading and language skills by offering both Spanish and English literacy programs. By enhancing these skills, individuals are able to pursue further education and employment goals. English literacy volunteers receive training through Literacy DuPage.
ESL Tutoring
Puente del Pueblo, in partnership with Literacy DuPage, equips volunteers to teach adults how to speak, read, and write in English. Upon completion of a fifteen-hour ESL (English as a Second Language) training course, Puente’s volunteer ESL tutors are scheduled to meet every week for two hours in small groups (1:1 to 1:4) with adults in the community. Our volunteer staff then teaches adult learners how to speak, read, and write in English. They meet at a time that fits the schedule of both the adult learner and the volunteer tutor, with some lessons taking place in the morning, and others in the evening or on weekends. The individualized instruction allows us to serve students at many levels of English proficiency, but limits the number of openings for new adult learners. For that reason, most English literacy adult learners must be placed on a waiting list before they are able to join the program and adult learners who make a determined commitment to learning are given priority.
SPANISH LITERACY
For our adult residents who never had the opportunity to complete formal schooling in their country of origin, Puente offers free Spanish Literacy classes (students pay only for books). Classes meet once each week for two and a half hours and target adults who are learning to read and write in Spanish for the first time. Basic math, and in some cases other primary subjects, are available as well. Class sizes are always small, typically 3-8 students. Those who are interested in this opportunity should contact us.
A request to our literate neighbors: Since illiteracy itself is a barrier to knowing about this service, if you are aware of a Spanish speaking illiterate adult in West Chicago, please share information about our class with that individual.
TO LEARN MORE CONTACT:
Puente Case Manager:
Irene Owens
Office: 630-876-6682
iowens@wheatonbible.org
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Office Support Team Member provides administrative support for Puente staff.
Special Services Team Member helps with one-time projects, events, cooking/baking, decorating, handyman projects, and more!