ULI Spotlight: Asenhat Gomez, Deputy Director of Programs at El Puente of Williamsburg, NY

Asenhat Gomez is the deputy director of programs at El Puente of Williamsburg, NY  and the Ed Vargas Legacy Fund Scholarship recipient for 2024-2024.

El Puente is a youth-centered human rights organization that focuses on education, the arts, environmental justice, and wellness to inspire leadership for social justice.

Asenhat first joined El Puente after emigrating from the Dominican Republic to Brooklyn. Having grown up on a farm, she found New York—especially Williamsburg—to be quite foreign. El Puente provided her with a sense of belonging as she learned English. She has remained with the organization because it aligns with her passion for human rights and social justice. She believes that those facing challenges should take the lead in creating change. Now serving as the deputy director, she ensures that the organization stays true to its core values. El Puente understands that community struggles and systemic issues affect families and believes that children can play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges by working collaboratively with their communities.

The ULI program has provided Asenhat with a unique opportunity to connect with labor leaders outside of her organization. It has been an exciting chance for her to learn and collaborate, especially as she navigates the union landscape for the first time. She recognizes that unions advocate not only for their members but also for many non-unionized workers. These unions play a crucial role in amplifying the voices of non-union members, who also deserve the support and benefits that unions champion.

For her fieldwork project, which is part of the ULI requirements, she is developing leadership guidelines for new members of El Puente Leadership. Due to ongoing internal transitions, capturing stories and lessons learned is crucial. While there is a membership manual for youth members, creating a similar resource for the organization's leadership is essential. This initiative will formalize knowledge and preserve it as part of the organization's legacy.

As for her work at El Puente, Asenhat is excited about several projects, including environmental justice campaigns and a capital campaign focused on Brooklyn and Puerto Rico. The organization takes great pride in its initiatives in Puerto Rico, which emphasize ecological justice. These efforts empower the community and significantly impact the youth and residents across the island.