Hispanic and Latino/a/x/e Businesses and Organizations to Support
Every year from September 15 – October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States. (The term ‘Hispanic’ is typically used to describe descendants of Spanish-speaking populations, while the term ‘Latino/a/x/e’ is used to describe those who are from or have ancestry in Latin America). The month celebrates the histories and legacies of Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, South American and Central American ancestries. Within this month fall the anniversaries of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile.
Members of our Racial Justice and Public Policy Team have compiled some recommendations of Hispanic and Latino/a/x/e businesses to support in honor of this month. In this post, we uplift these organizations in Minnesota and show gratitude for them all year long.
Community Programs
CLUES is Minnesota’s largest Latino-led nonprofit organization, founded in 1981 by and for Latinos. Their work is to ensure the advancement of social and economic equity and well-being 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.
HACER – Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research
HACER is the only advocacy-driven, Latino-specific research organization in the Upper Midwest. Founded in 1988, they began to address the lack of information about the Latine community, as well as Latine issues in Minnesota public discourse.
Latino Economic Development Center
An association of Latino Entrepreneurs and leaders in the state of Minnesota. Their members have drive, passion and know-how that creates the burgeoning Latino business community which is the nucleus of good quality of life.
La Oportunidad achieves its mission by providing bilingual and culturally relevant, research-based and family-centered, programs for Latino children, youth, adults and families, including the El Camino (The Path) Children’s Program, the Latino Youth Program, the Padres (Parents) Program, and the Latinos Ending Abuse Program (LEAP).
¡Qué Onda! is a leadership volunteer program that lasts throughout the school year for Latino youth between the ages of 14 and 21. Participants acquire basic knowledge about reproductive health, practice communication skills as they educate others and contribute to a better world by helping their community.
Professional Services
Diversity Media Group, LLC is a full-service Twin Cities video production company offering everything from web videos to TV commercials.
Perez Jimenez & Associates, LLC – Professional Tax & Accounting Services
Perez Jimenez & Associates is a Latino-owned company in Minneapolis offering professional tax and accounting services.
Community Organizing
Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina (COPAL)
COPAL’s mission is to unite Latinos in Minnesota in a community democracy that builds racial, gender, social and economic justice.
Their mission is to mobilize Latinas and Latin@ communities to end gender-based violence.
Navigate MN is an immigrant-led, multigenerational, Latinx-based community nonprofit organization 501c(3) that builds power for gender, racial and economic justice.
Restaurants & Entertainment
Hamburguesas El Gordo is a restaurant serving authentic Mexican street food, including tacos and burgers, with multiple locations in the Twin Cities.
La Michoacana Purépecha offers the authentic, original experience of traditional La Michoacana shops, serving frozen treats like popsicles, ice cream and aquas frescas.
Los Ocampa is an authentic Mexican restaurant in the Twin Cities, serving Mexican cuisine made with recipes and spices that have been handed down for generations.
Teatro del Pueblo is a small, nonprofit Latino theater located in St. Paul, MN. Fostered by the Latino community on the West Side, it has grown since its inception in 1992 to serve the St. Paul-Minneapolis metro area and greater Minnesota. Based in the West Side’s Latino community, Teatro del Pueblo promotes Latino culture through the creation and presentation of performing arts. Teatro develops and supports Latino artists, provides educational opportunities for all to experience Latino culture and promotes cross-cultural dialogue.