About Us

Café Puente is a non-profit organization located in Petaluma.

MISSION

Café Puente’s mission is to cultivate a Spanish-language multicultural center where Latinx cultures are celebrated and everyone is welcome.

VISION

It is Café Puente's vision that Latinos have their roots present and feel welcome to share them with other cultures.

We see a future where Spanish and the indigenous languages of Latin America are valued and cross-cultural friendships enrich our communities.

Our Team

Our mission is made possible by the dedication of our team.

Eliot Enríquez is co-director of Café Puente, where he leads the design and implementation of culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and events for the community. Originally from Mexico, he has dedicated his career to building a more equitable and healthy society, guided by the conviction that healthcare is a fundamental human right.
At the same time, he serves as Director of Government and Community Relations at the Petaluma Clinic, strengthening strategic partnerships with public agencies, health systems, and community organizations. His work in the Bay Area has focused on reducing health disparities linked to poverty, discrimination, and structural barriers that affect immigrant and low-income communities.
Eliot holds two bachelor's degrees in International Relations and Latin American Studies from California State University, Chico.

Fer is a dancer, instructor, and choreographer with over 15 years of experience in the world of dance. She was born in Venezuela and, from a very young age, found in dance a form of expression, a sense of identity, and a deep connection.
Her journey took her to Ecuador, where she fulfilled her dream of opening her own dance studio, which she ran for more than three years before moving to the United States.
She currently serves as Director of the LATIDOS dance program and Manager of Operations and Communications at Café Puente, where she combines her artistic experience with her organizational skills and her commitment to community well-being. In these roles, she promotes cultural programs, designs communication strategies, and fosters spaces where families can learn, express themselves, and grow together.
She firmly believes in the power of dance to transform lives, build confidence, and foster a sense of community. Her mission is to invite people of all ages to experience, feel, and enjoy life through movement and art.

Emilie founded Café Puente in 2018 along with a group of Latino leaders.
While pursuing his master's degree in social enterprise (MBA), she developed Café Puente as her final project, born out of a strong desire to build bridges between people who speak Spanish-whether as a native or second language-to foster understanding and support between neighbors, and to resist the dominance of English and American culture.
As a white woman leading an organization serving Latino communities, Emilie is committed to helping other whites and non-Latinos support her in a respectful and meaningful way.
She works closely with staff, families and partner organizations to continue strengthening Café Puente as a space full of joy, linguistic justice and true community, where immigrants feel safe, valued and a sense of belonging.

Gladys Albarrán was born in Santa Ana, California, and grew up in Michoacán, Mexico, where she lived until she was 18. Her experience living between two cultures strengthened her bicultural identity and her deep love for her Latin roots.
She joined Café Puente as a volunteer, motivated by a desire to become more involved with the Latino community and connect with people who share stories and experiences similar to her own. She was looking for a place where she could learn, grow, and make a meaningful contribution.
Gladys appreciates the sense of community, the cultural exchange, and the opportunity to support others so they feel seen, valued, and supported. For her, Café Puente has become a place where she can be her true self, share her heritage, and contribute to the well-being of the community.

María Salinas is an Indigenous woman and Chatino teacher from Cerro del Aire, Nopala, Oaxaca, Mexico. She speaks her native language, Chatino, with pride and carries within her the strength of her culture and her community. She arrived in the United States in 2003, where she initially worked harvesting tomatoes in Florida, and later in California picking strawberries and grapes.
She currently works as a community organizer, natural landscape designer, and advocate for ecological restoration, contributing to forest management and fuel reduction projects. She also serves as an interpreter, facilitating communication for indigenous families in the region.
Her vision is to revive, preserve, and share her culture. In 2021, she began teaching Chatino, a project that stemmed from her desire to keep her language alive and pass it on to new generations. Today, she feels deeply grateful to be working with Café Puente, where she strives to educate, empower, and bring the community together through culture and knowledge.

Gyselle was born and raised in Cancún, Mexico. She is proud of her Yucatecan and Tabascan roots. She has a degree in Languages and Public Relations and moved to Petaluma in 2021. She joined our team in late 2024 as Community Relations Coordinator, a role that has allowed her to meet and welcome more people to our center. From day one, Gyselle has felt that Café Puente is a second home to her, and her main goal is to make each and every one of us feel the same way when we arrive.
She is currently involved in our groups for seniors (Raíces) and children (Puentecitos), and leads Puentistas (our group for Latinx youth ages 15 and up).

Dalya was born and raised in Petaluma. Her parents emigrated from Oaxaca, Mexico before she was born.
She graduated from SJSU in 2021—the first in her family to do so—with a bachelor’s degree in Child Development. She currently works in the EOPS program at SRJC and is passionate about supporting other first-generation college students.
Dalya became involved in the leadership of Café Puente since its inception in 2018. She was drawn to the mission because she knows her family and community need and deserve that space. Dalya is ready to do what it takes to bring together those who want to celebrate the Spanish language and honor the many Latino cultures in our city.

Brenda García is Emma’s mom and the leader of the Thursday Puentecitos group—an initiative she proposed herself and coordinates as a volunteer. What began as an idea has become an essential resource for more families with young children, showcasing Brenda’s leadership and commitment to the community.
Since arriving at Café Puente, she has found a second home and a place to grow alongside her daughter and other mothers. Today, in addition to her work at Puentecitos, she serves on our Latino Council and participates in the Petaluma City Parks and Recreation Commission, speaking out to ensure that the Latino experience is heard and valued.

Elizabeth Pérez is originally from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, and has called Petaluma home for the past 15 years. She first learned about Café Puente through Storytime, which she attended every Saturday with her two daughters. That experience opened the door for her to discover the richness of the community where she lives and sparked a desire to become more deeply involved in it.
Today, she serves as a facilitator for the Support Circle at Café Puente, a space created to provide support, listen, and share experiences among women. Elizabeth believes that, as mothers, we never stop learning, and she finds inspiration in being able to offer other women the resources, tools, and knowledge she wishes she had had earlier in her journey.
Her main motivation is to create a place where moms feel supported, valued, and connected, while their children enjoy a safe and loving environment.

Karina is originally from Guerrero, Mexico, and is 34 years old. She moved to Fairfield, California, 11 years ago with her partner, and together they have raised a family of three children. Her life took a dramatic turn when she moved to Petaluma, a change that brought many emotional and personal challenges.
It was her friend Brenda García who told her about Café Puente, a place where she could find a sense of community and once again feel the warmth and harmony she so desperately needed. Karina started out as a volunteer, and little by little, Café Puente became a place where she felt at home: supported, welcomed, and loved.
Today, Karina deeply values the community she has found. For her, Café Puente is a place that offers joy, peace, and the assurance that, no matter where you come from or how you got here, there will always be a place for you with open arms.

Rosalina Salinas, proudly born in Oaxaca in the Chatina community, carries within her the strength of her culture, her roots, and her mother tongue. In 2022, she connected with Café Puente thanks to a friend, and from the very first moment, she felt it was a special place. That same year, she helped organize the first Day of the Dead event, celebrating and preserving her traditions with love, respect, and deep cultural pride.
Over time, she joined the Puentecitos group as a volunteer, and today she also leads the perinatal support group, where she supports mothers—especially during the postpartum period—by offering guidance on positive parenting and creating a warm, safe, and informative environment. Her goal is for every mother to feel heard, understood, and at home.
In addition, Rosalina serves as an events coordinator, working with the team to enhance activities that celebrate culture, community, and family well-being.

Mely Amador was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and moved to Petaluma in 1997. Over the years, she has developed a deep sense of belonging in this community, which has watched her grow and thrive.
Since 2010, she has been dedicated to transforming the homes of older adults, with the goal of improving their quality of life through cleaning, organizing, and caring for the spaces where they live. Her work reflects her sensitivity, her commitment, and her desire to support those who need it most.
In 2018, she got involved with Café Puente, and shortly thereafter joined the Raíces senior citizens’ group, where she has been able to share her passion for serving the community while learning and growing alongside wonderful people.
Mely's involvement reflects her love for culture, mutual support, and the well-being of older adults.

Meztli Aviña is a bilingual and bicultural marriage and family therapist with over 15 years of experience serving BIPOC communities in schools, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and mental health systems. Her work is grounded in cultural humility, social justice, and collective healing.
She holds credentials in Bilingual Education and School Counseling, as well as master’s degrees in School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Career Counseling from Sonoma State University. In her private practice, she works with adults, children, couples, and families, and collaborates with mental health agencies to train therapists in culturally responsive and trauma-informed approaches.
She also teaches in the Social Work and Human Services programs at Santa Rosa Junior College and Mendocino College. Her approach integrates EMDR, liberation psychology, and holistic methods to address intergenerational trauma, helping her clients find balance and overall well-being.

Daniela Carrillo was born in Colombia; she identifies as a Hispanic American woman, a person of mixed heritage, and a child of God. She immigrated to the United States in 2022, bringing with her her cultural roots, her language, and a deep calling to teach. She is grateful for every opportunity to share her culture through educational and community settings that strengthen identity and a sense of belonging.
She holds a bachelor's degree in science from her home country, a background that complements her work as an educator and informs her approach, which is rooted in curiosity, observation, and experience.
As a Storytime teacher at Café Puente, she uses language as a powerful tool to strengthen identity, expand vocabulary, and spark the imagination of children and families. In her role as a support group facilitator, she creates safe spaces for listening, reflection, and emotional support, where every person is valued and respected.
In addition, she works as a science and kindergarten teacher in elementary school, guiding students from kindergarten through sixth grade in exploring nature, caring for the environment, and understanding the connection between learning and everyday life.
She firmly believes that the larger our vocabulary, the greater our ability to express ideas, understand emotions, and represent the world we inhabit. For her, education is a way to foster identity, awareness, and community.

Kimberly Altamarino is the daughter of immigrants from Oaxaca, Mexico. She was born and raised in Petaluma, where she has built her entire life: her education, friendships, family, and sense of community. In 2024, she became a mother, an experience she describes as the best thing that has ever happened to her and one that profoundly transformed the way she sees the world.
She discovered Café Puente through Puentecitos, looking for a place where her son Río could socialize and where she herself could connect with other moms. That desire for community led her to create and launch Mamás Unidas, a group formed in response to the lack of spaces for Latina moms in Petaluma. Although there were groups for mothers, most were in English and had structures that didn’t reflect the cultural experiences of Latina families.
Mamás Unidas was founded to provide a place of their own: a space where moms can relax, share, make friends, and feel supported without the constant pressure of having to care for their children right away. Its vision is to build an authentic, accessible, and culturally relevant support network for moms in the community.

Daniel Edgar was born in Venezuela, and from a young age he found in dance a way to build confidence, socialize, and strengthen his discipline. His training in salsa casino began on the island of Margarita, where he was part of a dance group that had a profound impact on his connection to Caribbean culture and rhythm.
His journey led him to Café Puente thanks to Fer, the director of the LATIDOS dance program.
Daniel started out as a volunteer at the Mercadito Cultural and the Future Festival in 2025, where his energy, cheerfulness, and willingness to support the community immediately stood out.
Daniel currently co-teaches salsa classes alongside Fer, creating a space where dance serves as a bridge: a place to learn, share, celebrate Latin identity, and build community. Their dedication and warmth have enabled many people to find in dance not only technique and rhythm, but also confidence, joy, and a sense of belonging.

Board of Directors

Our vision is made possible thanks to the leadership of our board of directors.

Fabiola Santiago Hernández is originally from Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico. She moved to California with her parents at the age of six and later earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in public health from UCLA. Her work focuses on cultural preservation, economic equity, and social justice through Mi Oaxaca, the organization she founded and leads.
In late 2024, she moved to Petaluma, starting over in a community where she still had few ties. At Café Puente, she found a vital space for connection: a place where she and her son have been able to engage with the Spanish-speaking community and with other people from Oaxaca who keep their indigenous languages alive.
She currently serves on the board of directors of Café Puente, where she brings her strong belief in the importance of creating cultural spaces that honor the diversity and richness of Latin cultures, highlight their nuances, and create opportunities for the community.

Eric Huerta is a finance professional with extensive experience in taxation and investment management, having built his career at firms such as Deloitte and Andreessen Horowitz.
He currently serves as Controller at a growing real estate investment platform.
A native of Petaluma, Eric maintains strong ties to his community and takes pride in contributing to it through his active involvement in local organizations.

Stephanie Sosa identifies as a Latina woman born in Mexico. Her journey with Café Puente began when she met Emilie during the organization’s early days, initially joining as a volunteer and, more recently, as a member of the board of directors.
For Stephanie, Café Puente became a place where she felt accepted, valued, and fully represented. Her language was no longer a barrier, and she found a place where she truly belonged.
Café Puente provided her with the opportunity and a safe environment to nurture her Mexican culture, share it with others, and learn about the diversity of Latin American cultures. Stephanie firmly believes that Café Puente has the power to bring cultures together, celebrate identities, and create a space where Spanish and Latin American indigenous languages are embraced rather than viewed as an obstacle.
As Café Puente continues to grow and make a significant impact on the community, Stephanie has been honored to be part of this movement. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve on the board of directors and contribute her expertise. She is committed to continuing to share her voice, her perspective as a Latina woman, and her dedication to advocating for and promoting the well-being of her community.

Joshua Davis is the Chair of the Board of Directors at Café Puente. He is a Research Professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Law and a partner at Berger Montague PC. He brings a wealth of legal experience and a strong track record of leadership within nonprofit organizations.
In addition to his role at Café Puente, Joshua holds leadership positions at Rodef Sholom and the American Antitrust Institute. His work at Café Puente focuses on strengthening governance, providing strategic guidance, and offering legal insight to support the organization’s growth and mission.