Medellín’s City Hall and six private partners launch Tras los Puentes, a program to strengthen social and cultural collectives.

• Since 2021, and as part of its We Create Social Value program, Grupo Argos—together with the Fraternidad Medellín Foundation, Conconcreto Foundation, Sofía Pérez de Soto Foundation, and Compás Urbano—has been working with community leaders as well as artistic and cultural collectives in the neighborhoods of San Cristóbal, Manrique, and Moravia in Medellín.
• To date, more than 54 social and cultural collectives have benefited from the support provided by We Create Social Value in areas such as strategic management, financial administration and business development, personal skills, social impact, cross-cutting knowledge, and personalized mentoring.
• The new phase of the program will exponentially expand its reach thanks to the alliance between Grupo Argos, Fraternidad Medellín Foundation, Sofía Pérez de Soto Foundation, Conconcreto Foundation, Compás Urbano, the Medellín Mayor’s Office through its Secretariat for Citizen Participation, and Conjugarte.

With the goal of strengthening Medellín’s social and cultural collectives to drive positive transformation from within the communities, the Medellín Mayor’s Office—through the leadership of its Secretariat for Citizen Participation and Conjugarte—has formed an alliance with Grupo Argos and the Conconcreto, Sofía Pérez de Soto, Fraternidad Medellín, and Compás Urbano foundations to support more than 30 grassroots organizations in areas such as strategic management, financial administration, business development, power skills, social impact, and personalized mentoring.

Tras los Puentes was born from the integration of two flagship programs—Puentes and Tras Tus Huellas—which over the past five years have provided structured support to more than 54 social and community-based organizations in Medellín, promoting leadership, self-management, and sustainability in various neighborhoods.

Thanks to this new alliance, the program will expand its impact this year to over 30 collectives located in Aranjuez (Comuna 4), Manrique (Comuna 3), Villa Hermosa (Comuna 8), and the village of La Loma in the San Cristóbal district.

“When we talk about Tras los Puentes, we’re talking about believing in people. This program is proof that in Medellín we are doing things differently—bringing together the public and private sectors to reach those who need it most. Strengthening more than 30 collectives is not just about adding organizations; it’s about multiplying opportunities, dreams, and social fabric. What we’re starting today in Manrique, Aranjuez, Villa Hermosa, and San Cristóbal goes beyond providing support—it’s about believing in people, walking alongside them, and empowering their leadership for a more vibrant and participatory city.”
Camilo Cano Montoya
Secretary of Citizen Participation of Medellín

“Our purpose is to connect the communities in these areas of Medellín with opportunities, and the mechanism we have found to achieve this is by strengthening social leadership and building a resilient community fabric.”
Juliana Gaviria
Director of We Create Social Value

About the Program
Tras los Puentes aims to amplify community talent, strengthen artistic and sports expressions, and support environmental projects that enhance quality of life and social cohesion in Medellín through five core components:

• Core strengthening with expert consultants: Specialized guidance in strategic management, financial administration, and business development.
• Personalized support with volunteers: Tailored mentoring based on the specific needs of each collective, enabling the implementation of practical solutions.
• Training schools: Focused on personal development, social impact, and cross-cutting knowledge, complemented by additional learning opportunities.
• Territorial experiences: Gatherings and exchanges that foster social cohesion and collaborative learning.
• Visibility and collaboration: Activities designed to raise the public profile of the collectives and promote the building of joint work networks.