CLUES is Minnesota’s largest Latino-led nonprofit organization, founded in 1981 by and for Latinos. Our work is to ensure the advancement of social and economic equity and wellbeing for Latinos in Minnesota. CLUES has offices on the East Side of St. Paul, Lake Street in Minneapolis, and also Willmar and Austin in Greater MN.
CLUES advances social and economic equity and wellbeing for Latinos by building upon our strengths and cultures, uplifting our community, and activating leadership for systemic change.
A Latino community that is growing in strength and unity, with diverse and amplified voices, equal representation, and the resources needed to lead healthy and thriving lives.
Our programs focus on Latino individuals and families, yet our experience and capabilities enable us to serve individuals and families from all walks of life including new immigrants and low-income families who dream of a better future.
CLUES was founded as Chicanos Latinos Unidos en Servicio in 1981 to provide culturally and linguistically relevant social services on the West Side of Saint Paul.
Since then, our program and services have grown to encompass a holistic approach to addressing the complex and interrelated barriers our community faces, including programming that advances Community Wellness, Community Leadership, and Community Prosperity.
In 1991, our first Minneapolis office was opened, and in 2001 we moved into our current office on Lake Street. That year we also launched a capital campaign to build our Headquarters building on the East Side of St. Paul.
In 2005, CLUES changed its name to Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio as our programs, services and staff continued to grow and develop. Our services now include chemical health services, Latino elder programming, employment counseling and more.
In 2018, CLUES broke ground on a $7 million expansion to our St. Paul Headquarters building. Opened in 2019, the expanded building provides a new home for our Latino elder program, a Teen Tech Center, Minnesota’s only nonprofit Latino art gallery and increased meeting and event space.
Today, CLUES employs more than 110 staff and engages more than 600 volunteers each year in our work. CLUES recently developed and announced our new 2021-2025 strategic plan that will guide our work into the future including a growing commitment to shifting inequitable systems and building community leadership. Learn more about our Programs and Services or how to get involved today!
