Donate Now - Give Kids A Chance Shop Today - Click Here To Shop
Join Newsletter
* required

Programs - Bridges

Program Mission:  HOLA Bridges is a middle school intersession and after school program designed to help students focus on achieving their goals by using integrated programming which emphasizes commitment to academics, team building, self expression, civic participation and project based learning.

HOLA Bridges intersession program targets high-risk youth who would otherwise be unsupervised during their vaction time.  HOLA Bridges after school program serves middle school youth who attend their regular school during the day.  Some of the activities offered include math, science and language arts tutorials, music and dance instruction, sports leagues, college tours, digital media classes and science clubs.

Program Goals:

  • Improved academic performance
  • Increased confidence in self expression
  • Ability to work well on a team
  • Improved attitude/behavior
  • Development of leadership skills
  • Increased sense of commitment and responsibility
  • Increased awareness of the advantages to going to college

 

Recent News


 

 

 

Loren Rubin

Bridges Daytime Director

As well as being Program Director for Heart of Los Angeles’ Bridges Daytime Program, Loren is also an award winning actor and director. In 2000 he won the LA Weekly Award for his Direction and Production Design for, “The Master and Margarita,” which ran for six months at the Hudson Backstage Theater.

Loren has a degree in Theater and Liberal Arts, and a background of grassroots community organizing, starting when he was five years old working as a volunteer in political campaigns and with the non-profit election watchdog group Project LEAP.

His previous position as Program Coordinator for the educational non-profit Constitutional Rights Foundation gave him many tools
for integrating civic participation
and service learning into the HOLA Bridges curriculum.



Silvia Velazquez

Bridges After School Director

Silvia Velazquez is an alumnus of HOLA. Growing up, HOLA was her second home. Now she is back at HOLA as the Bridges After-School director hoping to be a role model for youth, just as many of the HOLA staff were to her growing up. Silvia loves to travel and assist people whenever she can. She has spent her summers in Latin America helping rural communities and working with high school students. Silvia is a graduate of Colorado College and holds a B.A in Art Studio with a minor in Education. She is currently searching for a master program to continue her study in Education.