Latinos Unidos for College and Higher Achievement (LUCHA)

The mission of the LUCHA program is to assist in the recruitment, retention, and academic success of Latinx students attending Minneapolis College. Through culturally relevant academic advising, student leadership opportunities, cultural programming, and community outreach, we empower students so that they reach their fullest potential.

LUCHA strives to do this by:

• Providing and maintaining a safe space and supportive environment for all individuals and communities. This includes the intolerance of harassment and other discriminatory behavior, which are outlined in Procedure 4.04.01 of the Minneapolis College Code of Conduct Procedures.
• Advocating for the representation and participation of Latine students in positions of influence, both on and off Minneapolis College campus.
• Coordinating events that foster a supportive and educational environment for Latine students to connect with each other and with their culture(s).
• Centering the experiences of Latine individuals in conversations of/for social change.
• Promoting the Star Scholarship Program 

LUCHA offers advising from a Latine perspective where topics such as family, work, responsibilities, and mixed status families are taken into consideration. Please note that Spanish interpretation assistance can be provided as needed. Please reach out to Sagrario Torres Flores directly to accommodate interpretation assistance. 

Our LUCHA Coordinator can assist you with the following to get you started:

• Choose a major
• Select appropriate college courses and class registration
• Student E-mail /D2L
• Financial Aid questions
• Ordering Textbooks

Culturally-Specific Supports include but are not limited to:

• Admission application material questions for immigrant students
• Spanish language interpretation
• ESOL course placement
• MN Dream Act application
• Latine-specific scholarship search
• General questions about our Spanish track for Early Childhood Education program
• Star Scholarship Program

We will continue to work with you in the following areas until you graduate or transfer to a 4-year college.

• Keep you on track toward graduation
• Connect with career and community networking opportunities
• Academic Advising appointments (Navigate)
• Appeals
• Scholarships
• Bills and Payment
• Transfer Pathways
• Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC)
• The Latinx Student Union

Follow @lsu.minneapolis on Instagram to stay updated on what’s going on with the Latinx Student Union.

The Latinx Student Union is run by a board of students.

If you are interested in seeing what student leadership positions are available, please contact club advisor, Sagrario Torres Flores. 

There is no sign up necessary to attend our weekly meetings. We hope to see you there!

Health and Wellness Resources

• Boynton Student Health Clinic provides healthcare services by medical professionals on campus to all enrolled Minneapolis College students. Most services are provided at no cost to students.
• For information about food pantries, food closets, food banks, soup kitchens, congregate meal locations, food boxes and vouchers, visit foodpantries.org.   
• For online mental health resources, call 612-584-0077 or visit Synergy Therapy online or call 612-642-1355.
• Hennepin County provides in-person mental health services.
  • The Crisis Text Line offers free help to those who are having a mental health crisis or are contemplating suicide. Just text "MN" to 741741. Services are available 24/7 across Minnesota.
  • Call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-279-TALK (8255).
  • Hennepin County residents can call COPE (Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies) 24/7 at 612-596-1223.
• This Family Preparedness Plan by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center is divided into different sections that give guidance on family preparedness planning, regardless of immigration status. It gives additional advice to undocumented and/or mixed status families.  See downloadable PDF here.
• NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. For over 40 years, NAMI Minnesota has worked to promote the development of community mental health programs and services, change public attitudes about mental illnesses, improve access to services and increase opportunities for recovery.

Immigration and Legal Consultation Resources

• American Immigration Lawyers Association
  AILA provides KNOW YOUR RIGHTS handouts for several scenarios: ICE worksite raids (for employers), ICE home visits, and ICE public stops.

  Visit the Website (Know Your Rights Handouts: If ICE Visits a Home, Employer, or Public Space)

• Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
  The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) is a nonprofit organization that provides free immigration legal representation to low-income immigrants and refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota. ILCM also works to educate the community about immigration matters and advocates for public policies which respect the universal human rights of immigrants.

  Visit the Website

  Phone: (651) 641-1011

• Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights Refugee and Asylum
  Immigration and Civil Rights

  Visit the Website

  Phone: (612) 341-3302

  310 4th Ave S, Ste 1000
  Minneapolis, MN 55415

• Volunteers Lawyers Network
  Immigration, Bankruptcy, Employment and Family

  Visit the Website

  Phone: (612) 752-6655

  600 Nicollet Mall, Ste 390A
  Minneapolis, MN 55402

• Mid-MN Legal Aid
  Serves Minnesotans in the 20 counties of central Minnesota, including Hennepin, from offices in Minneapolis, St. Cloud and Willmar. Any request or question regarding legal assistance is handled by our intake process. Please contact your local office, apply online.

  Visit the Website

  Phone: (612) 334-5970

• Consulate General of Ecuador in Minnesota
  Provides consular services and advocacy for Ecuadorian citizens in Minnesota.

  Visit the Website

  Email: cecuminnesota@cancilleria.gob.ec

  Phone: (612) 721 6468

• Mexican Consulate in St. Paul
  Provides consular services, referrals, ventanillas de salud y educación, and advocacy for Mexican citizens in the state of Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Northern Wisconsin.

  Visit the Website

  (651) 771-5494

• UnitedWeDream is a national, immigrant-youth led network. In addition to having a resource library for scholarship and health resources for DACA and immigrant youth, they also share news updates regarding immigration policy, immigrant rights, and DACA. See website here.
• Unidos MN is an intersectional, intergenerational, feminist Latinx led organization committed to social justice. They have campaigns ranging from immigration, education, environmental justice and participatory democracy. Read more about their work here.
• Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) is Minnesota’s largest Latino-led nonprofit organization, focused on the advancement of social and economic equity and wellbeing for Latinos in Minnesota. They organize various programs and have many volunteer opportunities, ranging from youth mentorship programs to adult ESL classes. Read more about their programs here.
• Communities Organizing Latinx Power and Action (COPAL) is a grassroots organization that seeks to impact the quality of life for Latinos in MN through working on public policy, leadership, and community service. Their focus areas range from environmental justice to civic leadership and participation. Read more about their organization here. 
• MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) is an all-volunteer, grassroots, multiracial, and multinational immigrant rights mass-movement organization. MIRAC fights for legalization for all, an end to immigration raids and deportations, an end to all anti-immigrant laws, and full equality in all areas of life. Read more about their campaigns, upcoming events, and immigration resources.