Red por los derechos de la niñez y juventud de Puerto Rico
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Marcos Santana- Andújar
President and CEO@Red por los derechos de la niñez y juventud de Puerto Rico
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Marcos Santana Andújar is a prominent social leader, social worker, and human rights advocate in Puerto Rico, widely recognized for his work in the protection, care, development, and education of children, youth, and families, particularly those living in contexts of violence and poverty. A proud Afro-Boricua and Caribbean native from Juncos, Puerto Rico, Marcos’s personal experience—having lived in a domestic violence shelter with his mother as a child—has profoundly shaped his lifelong commitment to justice and equity.
He is the founder and president of La Red por los Derechos de la Niñez y Juventud de Puerto Rico, a nonprofit organization with a national reach dedicated to achieving systemic change to prevent, address, and eradicate violence against children and youth. Under his leadership, La Red has become a transformative force, working across direct services, advocacy, and public policy to promote family preservation, support youth who have experienced trauma, and drive evidence-based, trauma-informed practices rooted in a human rights approach.
Marcos envisions a Puerto Rico where poverty is not criminalized and where children and youth are recognized as full rights-holders, while families are given the resources and opportunities to thrive. His strategic framework is built on three main pillars:
• Innovation and Services
• Advocacy and Public Policy
• Training and Technical Assistance
Some of his most impactful projects include:
• Casa Ramón, Puerto Rico’s first housing program for homeless youth ages 18–24
• Techo Joven, a family-strengthening model for adolescents ages 13–17
• Sala Educativa Las Negras, a tech access and digital learning space for underserved children
• Head Start Program, awarded in San Juan (2021) and expanded to Juncos (2024)
• Basic Center for Homeless Youth, launched in 2022 to serve runaway and homeless youth
In 2018, Marcos was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities by the Universidad Católica del Sagrado Corazón, in recognition of his leadership and contributioMore...