We are honored and excited to announce that we have been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign, sponsored and funded by Target. And you have the chance to help direct a portion of Target’s donation to us! Now through September 30, vote for us through the Target Circle program to help determine […]
… Said Governor Walz as he signed the largest infrastructure bill in state history. The $2.6 billion infrastructure bill will support funding for state agencies, counties, cities, universities, and established nonprofits to acquire land, build roads, parks, and community centers, upgrade trails, improve public safety, and much more. “Our bills take care of what we […]
Even though the snow has not left us yet, we are already thinking about celebrating all together the richness of our Latino culture and art outdoors! Please, save the date for CLUES Fiesta Latina 2023: September 16, 12-4 pm at CLUES St. Paul! Fiesta Latina is a free, family-friendly community festival celebrating Latino culture with […]
On Monday, January 30th, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the "Driver’s License for All” bill by a 69 to 60 vote after hours of debate and discussion. Thanks to the decades of work and perseverance of many Latinx leaders and community-led coalitions, this proposed legislation will ensure All Minnesotans have access to driver’s licenses. […]
*Starting January 9, 2023, the free food distribution program, Canasta Familiar, has a new location in St. Paul* Every Monday, starting at 3 p.m. and while supplies last, we offer free food distribution and job search services, career and certification training, financial empowerment coaching, tax processing, housing counseling, and much more. Where? New location - […]
CLUES Behavioral Health therapists have created a video series to help clients better understand how therapy services work and feel more empowered. The videos are available in Spanish. Playlist 3 Videos What to expect during my first therapy session? 0:16 Therapy for my child: What is the art and play in therapy? 0:16 Options for increasing […]
On September 15, more than 400 business and community leaders gathered to celebrate Latino leadership and Hispanic Heritage Month at CLUES Gala Latina. The event was presented by CLUES, Best Buy and Cargill with the support of a variety of major sponsors including Blue Cross Blue Shield MN, Comcast, Health Partners, Old National Bank, Aaron […]
Latinos have a long-standing tradition of backyard or kitchen gardens used to grow food for the family and share with friends. For more than six months, CLUES Jardín de Armonía en Acción’s participants worked on compiling a Spanish-language vegetable growing guide that features artwork from two Latina artists who are also community garden participants, Lynda […]
This is a guest article from Liz Franklin, MSW, LICSW, Associate Director of Behavioral Health at CLUES The last two years have been full of uncertainty and change for Behavioral Health staff at CLUES for many of the same reasons as others living in the Twin Cities/the United States/the world. We have also had a […]
CLUES is pleased to welcome Hannah Novillo Erickson as its new Associate Director of Arts and Cultural Engagement. Hannah Novillo Erickson Hannah Novillo Erickson comes to CLUES with an extensive background in arts administration, curating, and community engagement. Hannah most recently worked as Associate Curator at the Minnesota Historical Society, building equity in the State’s […]
This is a guest article by CLUES Youth Programming Staff (Poderosas Collective) History of Pride and how it came to be: Toward the end of June 1969, uprisings led by BIPOC Queer people protesting police brutality toward the LGBTQIA+ community began the moment of resistance that is now known as the gay rights movement and […]
We invite you to journey with us through 2020 and 2021 and the impact of COVID-19 in our community. When COVID-19 was first detected in early 2020, our staff quickly moved into rapid response mode, shifting our programming and re-positioning our work to meet the immediate needs of the community. We launched a Latino Relief […]
CLUES is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15, 2022) and the richness and diversity of Latino culture and arts by hosting another edition of FIESTA LATINA. This free outdoor event will take place on Saturday, September 10 from 12- 4 pm at CLUES’ Headquarters, located at 797 East 7th St, Saint Paul. […]
We at CLUES are devastated by the news of the tragic loss of 19 students and 2 teachers in Uvalde, Texas. We grieve with the families of Uvalde, a small, largely Latino town close to the Mexico border. We have personal connections at CLUES with Uvalde and the surrounding area. We are outraged that our […]
This is a guest article by CLUES Family Services Program Team April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SAAM), and our Domestic and Sexual Violence Program is putting together the Clothesline Project (name El Tendedero in Spanish), an interactive exhibit that promotes collective reflection by acknowledging common experiences of harassment and sexual violence. This event is […]
This is a guest article by Dario Tangelson. Regional Community Coordinator at The Arc Minnesota It used to be the norm that human and medical services systems would decide what support was available for people with disabilities. The person with a disability’s label was the only thing considered, not any of their strengths or talents. […]
This is a guest article from the Volunteer Services Team at CLUES It is National Volunteer Week! Today through April 22nd we are celebrating and recognizing CLUES volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice, and support to our CLUES community. It is the power of our volunteers that help us reach our mission, we would […]
This is a guest article from Liz Franklin, MSW, LICSW, Associate Director of Behavioral Health at CLUES In recent years, advocates from the Autism Community have pushed for Autism Awareness month to be re-envisioned as Autism Acceptance Month. I feel like this change parallels changes I have experienced in my own understanding of Autism as […]
In these difficult times, many hard-working Minnesotans have trouble finding a job or sufficient financial income to support their families. Programs like SNAP and P-EBT, help CLUES to connect our community with resources that provide aid to keep families healthy. SNAP – Nutritional Assistance CLUES can help you or your family apply for financial assistance […]
We are excited to share with you our new cooking show and fundraising effort: Nuestros Sabores. Join us this holiday season in our kitchen to celebrate Latino flavors, experiences, and cultural diversity. This is an opportunity for you and your family to learn traditional Latino recipes from famous Latino chefs like Chef Gustavo Romero, Chef Jose […]
Resources for Parents and Child Caregivers Nobody teaches us how to be parents. It is common as parents to feel confused or insecure about raising our children. Parents with negative experiences often wonder how to create happy, safe and healthy environments. At CLUES, we have created a series of videos for parents, with the purpose […]
We want to invite you to join us on October 16th from 12-3 pm for our first edition of "La Cultura Cura" at CLUES Minneapolis (CareerForce Center. 777 East Lake Street, Minneapolis). A free family-friendly event highlighting the connection between health and art. We will be celebrating the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as […]
This is a guest article from Aaron Johnson-Ortiz, Director of Arts & Cultural Engagement at CLUES In 2021, as we negotiate what we can and cannot do in this ever-changing COVID environment, CLUES is slowly and cautiously reopening its doors to our community. This September, as we re-enter Hispanic Heritage Month, we have much to […]
CLUES is celebrating its 40th anniversary and the richness and diversity of Latino culture and arts by hosting its fifth annual FIESTA LATINA. This free outdoor event will take place on Saturday, September 18 from 12- 4 pm at CLUES’ Headquarters, located at 797 East 7th St. or “Calle Siete” in Saint Paul. CLUES, the […]
CLUES is celebrating its 40th anniversary and invites the community to join more than 1,000 people on August 14 at its Wellness Day Fair and Back to School Fiesta, a free event that promotes the health of families and communities through education and awareness around health and wellness issues. Located at CLUES Saint Paul on […]
CLUES turns 40 in 2021 and launches year-long celebrations. This spring, CLUES leadership unveiled our new Strategic Direction and Goals and introducing new Board leadership who will be guiding impact and success into the new decade. Cultural arts and community celebrations are planned for the summer with culminating events in the fall during Latinx Heritage Month. CLUES invites […]
CLUES is pleased to announce our receipt of the Charities Review Council “Meets Standards® Seal”! We are proud to be one of fewer than 339 nonprofits committed to upholding transparency and excellence. CLUES earns the Meets Standards® seal by voluntarily participating in Charities Review Council’s Accountability Wizard® review process. The only web-based product of its kind, […]
Today we want to highlight the story of Edgar Omar Dominguez Casalez, who is a participant of the CLUES Youth in Action program (YA!) and congratulate him on his high school graduation. ¡Felicidades Edgar! Edgar’s journey it’s a compelling story about the good things that can happen when determined kids in challenging circumstances connect with […]
This is a guest article from the CLUES Mental Health staff The month of May is designated as "mental health awareness month". During the month of May, CLUES joins the national mental health awareness movement. From CLUES, we join together to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people […]
As graduation approaches, we want to feature three graduates form Orono High School who fundraised on behalf of CLUES this past school year. Bella Petschen, Bridget Carlson, and Hadley Stephenson had the opportunity to participate in their DECA Community Giving Project in a Marketing course which had been designed to develop critical business skills and […]
CLUES is heartbroken to share with great sorrow that our dear friend and team member Dale Dufault, age 57, passed away on May 9 after battling cancer for a year. Dale joined CLUES in 2013 and most recently served as our Chief Operating Officer. He was humble, dedicated, and passionate about CLUES’ mission. He always […]
This is a guest article from Andrea Martinez, Family Systems Project Manager at CLUES Latino families with infants and toddlers in Minnesota face different obstacles to achieving a successful transition to kindergarten for their children. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Latino and Native American children have the lowest proficiency rates, at 68 […]
Good news for Minnesotans looking for rental assistance! Applications for RentHelpMN are open and CLUES can assist you in the application process. The State of Minnesota recognizes that many people have been directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recession and are in great need of assistance. That is why it has created […]
This week, April 18-24, is National Volunteer Week! Each day we’ll be sharing about the wonderful volunteers who make our work possible. Today’s volunteer in the spotlight is Katherine Herrera! In 2020 Katherine volunteered with CLUES for the first time as an Adult Mental Health Case Management Intern Family Services program. “Katherine started with me last […]
This week, April 18-24, is National Volunteer Week! Each day we’ll be sharing about the wonderful volunteers who make our work possible. Today’s volunteer in the spotlight is Valentina Martinez! In 2020 Valentina volunteered with CLUES for the first time as a Food Access Volunteer at the Canasta Familiar program. “Valentina is always ready to […]
This week, April 18-24, is National Volunteer Week! Each day we’ll be sharing about the wonderful volunteers who make our work possible. Today’s volunteer in the spotlight is Luisa Torres! In 2020 Luisa volunteered with CLUES for the first time as a mentor in our Youth in Action (YA!) program. “Luisa is awesome and truly […]
This week, April 18-24, is National Volunteer Week! Each day we’ll be sharing about the wonderful volunteers who make our work possible. Today’s volunteer in the spotlight is Dan Conley! In 2020 Dan volunteered with CLUES for the first time as a co-teacher in our evening Adult ESL program. “Dan didn’t have experience in teaching, […]
This is the Time! Change for Black and Brown people’s justice and police accountability is long overdue. Today’s guilty verdict by the jury seeking vindication for George Floyd and his family, and community outcries for police reform have finally found justice. Today’s verdict and the peaceful marches for justice have sparked the momentum needed for the […]
This is a guest article from Jennifer Galvan-Bautista, Volunteer Coordinator at CLUES Happy National Volunteer Week! Today through April 24 we celebrate and recognize our amazing volunteers. This week is not only about celebration but is also a week of acknowledgment. We are proud to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, and energy […]
CLUES turns 40 in 2021 and launches year-long celebrations. This spring, CLUES leadership is unveiling its new Strategic Direction and Goals and introducing new Board leadership who will be guiding impact and success into the new decade. Cultural arts and community celebrations are planned for the summer with culminating events in the fall during Latinx Heritage Month. “We […]
CLUES would like to highlight and congratulate our citizenship student Jesús. Jesús arrived in the US in 2003 from Michoacán, Mexico. He and his wife currently reside in Eagan. His citizenship teacher clearly remembers Jesús’s first day of class in February 2019. He arrived fully prepared - donning a new backpack full of supplies that […]
These newly created executive leadership level positions are designed to oversee the direction, effectiveness, impact, and sustainable growth of the organization. The Vice Presidents support the President and the Board of Directors in the oversight, implementation, and impact of CLUES mission, values, and strategic direction and goals. Please share with others and help us identify qualified […]
This is a guest article from Liz Franklin, Senior Manager of Community-Based Mental Health Services at CLUES. To put it mildly, it’s been a year. 2020 has held multiple experiences that individually would have completely defined this year. Experiencing so many of them on top of each other makes it hard to even hold the […]
Our Minneapolis services are now delivered at the CareerForce Center. 777 East Lake Street, Minneapolis Due to COVID-19 our services are delivered virtually, by phone, or by appointment only. For assistance or to schedule an appointment call: CLUES Minneapolis 612-746-3500 or our COVID-19 hotline 651-768-0000 ------------------------------ CLUES Canasta Familiar is open every Wednesday 2-5 pm […]
Graduating from high school as a first-generation Latina student is an impressive accomplishment. In a year like 2020, we want to extend the biggest congratulations to Ashantty, and the rest of our graduating seniors who are headed off to college or into the workforce. As members of our YA! Program, these seniors have persisted through tough […]
As the Covid-19 pandemic persists, it is normal and expected for people to be experiencing what is being called “Covid-19 Fatigue.” With ambiguity surrounding in person education, job security, and economic stability, it is understandable to want to return to normal and scale back on precautions you are taking, however, with cases in Minnesota still putting hospitals at high risk of being overburdened, it […]
On December 11th, CLUES was able to bring some light, hope, and positivity to over 150 Twin Cities Latino and immigrant families through the annual Al Niño Con Cariño Toy Drive event. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event was open only by registration and for CLUES participants. The event followed a drive-thru distribution […]
As COVID-19 continues, we'll get through this together. At CLUES, the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, program participants, volunteers and community partners are of the utmost importance. We are monitoring the developing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation and are taking necessary precautions to minimize the exposure and spread of the disease to our staff, volunteers […]
CLUES is proud to announce that it was selected this year as one of only two Twin Cities non-profit organizations to receive the prestigious 2020 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® award. CLUES and Pillsbury United Communities were selected for their work addressing economic mobility, specifically furthering the economic and social progress of individuals and families […]
Covid-19 has disproportionately affected Minnesota’s Latino community. Since mid-March, CLUES has responded with a Spanish language hotline, resource navigation, and referrals, and by distributing emergency financial assistance through the Latino Family Emergency Relief Fund. Our new Saving Circles Fund is another critical strategy that builds on the core strengths and values of our community by providing training and […]
This is a guest article from Aaron Johnson-Ortiz, Director of Arts & Cultural Engagement at CLUES. Every 1st and 2nd of November, many Latinos celebrate Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), a time when we honor our loved ones who have passed on to the next life. It is a time to come together as families […]
Graduation is always a special time at CLUES, but even more so this year. 2020 has brought many unforeseen challenges to its graduating class. We want to take the time to celebrate all that our youth participants have overcome and all that they are setting out to do. Whether they are graduating from high school, […]
This is a guest article from Kellie Rock, Sexual Assault Advocate at CLUES. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience some form of physical violence at the hands of their partner. But domestic violence is not limited to physical violence, it can be […]
CLUES in collaboration with Univision Minnesota hosted a telethon on Saturday October 17 to raise funds to help the Latino community overcome obstacles during these times of financial crisis. CLUES Saving Circles Fund support Latinos impacted financially by COVID-19 as they use funds for micro businesses and entrepreneurial projects or to pay for work uniforms, […]
This year CLUES has experienced an unprecedented level of care and financial support for the safety and well-being of the Latino families and individuals we serve. Through generous gifts and volunteer efforts, CLUES team members have supported over 5,000 Latinos impacted by COVID-19, distributed over $1 million in cash assistance, and we continue to provide […]
This is a guest article from Camila Mercado Michelli, Advocacy & Community Building Project Manager at CLUES. During every election cycle millions of people find themselves unable to vote because they miss a registration deadline, don’t update their registration, or are confused on how to register. National Voter Registration Day wants to make sure everyone […]
This is a guest article from Aaron Johnson-Ortiz, Director of Arts & Cultural Engagement at CLUES. On Tuesday, September 15, CLUES kicked off our “Manualidades” program, a Latino arts and crafts class for individuals and families to learn about traditional Latino art forms and to build community through the practice of our culture. For our first class, […]
A new Housing Assistance program by Minnesota Housing is available for Minnesota residents who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 and are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage. The COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) is now accepting applications. Please review the following information to see if you are eligible to apply and to learn […]
Today we celebrate International Youth Day! Here at CLUES we are proud to have many youth programs such as Entre Mujeres, which empowers young Latina high schoolers to recognize their personal worth, strengthen their leadership abilities and self-confidence, and make change in their communities and beyond. “Entre Mujeres is like a second family. It’s a […]
CLUES is thrilled to announce the launch of our new organizational website! Our new site was designed with community in mind and has a variety of features to make it easier for you to find the programs and information you need. Fully bilingual, unified site - Switch between Spanish and English on any page to […]
Hashtags such as #YoMeQuedoEnCasa and #StayHome have been spreading on social media to promote self quarantine and prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections. Now many families around the world are following an initiative that was born in Italy under the name Tutto andrà bene. This campaign is filling windows and doors of houses in many cities […]
The 2020 Census will determine your state’s representation in Congress, inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds will be distributed each year, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade. Several leaders in the Latino community in Minnesota share with us their vision of why we should all […]
CLUES Youth in Action (YA!) and Teen Tech Center students and mentors gathered together, virtually, to raise their voices in support of the incredible dedication and sacrifice of healthcare workers who are risking their lives every day to protect the community. ¡Gracias por todo lo que hacen por nosotros! Stay tuned for more impactful examples […]
Today’s volunteer in the spotlight is Juana Sandoval! Juana is YA! Coach St. Paul since 2016. “Juana has gone above and beyond as a YA! mentor. She was matched with her first mentee for three years and was a huge support as she graduated and began college. Juana took her on numerous college visits in […]
Today’s National Volunteer Week spotlight honors David Williard, who has served as Citizenship teacher since 2018. “David Williard did an excellent job leading our citizenship class on Monday evenings. David not only informed students about the US citizenship process and provided much-needed practice for their naturalization interviews, but, as an associate professor of history, he […]
Today’s volunteer in the spotlight is Drew Beck! “Drew is a High School student who has been committed to serving at the Canasta Familiar program since its inception and kick-off. His dedication to the community and willingness to serve resonates in his commitment to the distribution of food to participants during the last seven months. As […]
NCVRW also commemorates the advocates that have driven the survivors’ rights movement over the years. This year’s theme is “Seek Justice — Ensure Victims’ Rights — Inspire Hope.” Due to COVID-19, many planned in-person events have been canceled. However, to commemorate the week, CLUES will be hosting a Facebook Live presentation on Thursday, April 23 at 4:00 pm recognizing the survivors in our community.
This week, April 19-25, is National Volunteer Week! Each day we’ll be sharing about the wonderful volunteers who make our work possible. Today’s volunteer in the spotlight is Elizabeth Pulido! Elizabeth is the Children’s Mental Health Case Management Intern. “Elizabeth has a positive attitude all the time. She is an eager learner and willing to […]
A cohort of 26 Latina women participating in CLUES’ Adelante Mujeres (Women Forward) financial empowerment program joined with other CLUES program participants and staff to produce 2,000 masks to support local healthcare professionals. The group presented the masks to M Health Fairview Hospitals this Friday. Zela Fabbri, CLUES Economic Empowerment Supervisor, proposed the idea to […]
CLUES is heartbroken to share that a member of our family, Jose Rivera, passed away yesterday due to complications from a lung condition. Jose became ill in October 2019 and was being treated at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina while awaiting a lung transplant. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 4.
The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census be taken every 10 years to count all people—both citizens and non-citizens—living in the United States. Participating in the census is in everyone's best interest, because the information on the forms is used by decision-makers to determine which communities, schools, hospitals and roads receive federal funding.
Our senior participants are exhibiting the culmination of their art class designed in collaboration between CLUES and the East Side Arts Council’s Creative Connections for Seniors in the Latino Art Gallery at CLUES Saint Paul. The amazing artist Claudia Valentino led arts activities from October 1 through December 19 in 2019. Over the last three […]
On December 13, 2019, CLUES Minneapolis hosted Al Niño Con Cariño, a memorable and fun-filled event that provided nearly 600 children a little extra cheer this holiday season.
On Friday, November 8, CLUES and Best Buy celebrated the grand opening of the country’s newest Best Buy Teen Tech Center, located at CLUES’ Saint Paul Headquarters. Over 100 members of the community came together to inaugurate this new space where youth will be able to grow and expand their skills as they explore the intersections […]
Last Friday, CLUES hosted a special event to talk about Domestic Violence. We were honored to be joined by Megan, who shared her story of surviving and starting over after an abusive relationship.
For some children in our community, the holidays can be a painful reminder of what they have to live without. During this season of joy, CLUES is promoting our annual event, Al Niño con Cariño – To a Child with Love – in collaboration with Toy For Tots. This event offers low-income families the opportunity to […]
Unlike Halloween, Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is not meant to be a sad or frightening holiday, but rather an uplifting time to remember loved ones who have passed on. It is a party, full of colors and joyful motifs that refer to death from another perspective. With the heritage of indigenous culture, […]
On October 10, more than 600 business and community leaders gathered to celebrate Latino leadership and Hispanic Heritage Month at CLUES Gala Latina. The event was presented by CLUES and General Mills with the support of a variety of major sponsors including Cargill, Best Buy, Medtronic Foundation, Xcel Energy, 3M, Fairview, Metropolitan State University, US […]
CLUES unveiled the CLUES Latino Art Gallery, an innovative exhibition space dedicated to presenting multidisciplinary art, performance and public programming by Latino artists. The gallery’s inaugural exhibition, VisualizArte, opens September 12 and runs through December 12. Danza Mexica CITLACOATL and Palabristas poetry group participated at the opening reception.
On Tuesday, August 20, CLUES hosted a screening at Metropolitan State University to showcase short films created through this summer's Visiones Latino Youth Film Program.
CLUES is accepting applications to our new Latino Muralism Apprenticeship program, an intensive and immersive program that will cover all aspects of muralism, from its history and sociopolitical context to indoor and outdoor best practices to logistical skills like project management and fundraising.
CLUES hosted a Ribbon Cutting Wednesday, July 31, to welcome partners and donors to its new expansion doubling the size of its headquarters building on the East Side of Saint Paul.
Graduation is a special time of year at CLUES. It’s a time to reflect, to celebrate and to look forward to all that the future holds. Many of our youth participants are graduating from their high schools, colleges, and universities, and we are so proud to watch each of them go on to serve to […]
CLUES is a nonprofit public charity recognized as tax exempt by the IRS under section 501(c)(3). CLUES tax ID: 41-1386986. Our Donor Privacy Policy can be found here.
