Latinos Unidos for College and Higher Achievement (LUCHA)
We hope to create virtual communities in order to stay connected and meet the needs of students. Even while physically away from each other, LUCHA is committed to cultivating a feeling of togetherness.
- If you have any questions, contact the coordinator, Brooke Hornseth
- Advising appointments will be available via Zoom video or Zoom calls. To schedule an appointment, please contact Brooke Hornseth
- We are presently exploring different platforms to deliver virtual programming (i.e. Facebook, YouTube video, livestreaming, etc.) To find out more information about virtual programming through the LUCHA center, please keep checking this page or contact Brooke Hornseth
- For ongoing updates on COVID-19 and Minneapolis College’s response to the pandemic and government restrictions, please check your CAMPUS (@go.minneapolis.edu) email at least once daily.
The Mission of the LUCHA program is to better represent the cultural diversity and identities across the Latinx campus community. We assist in the recruitment, retention, and academic success of Latinx students attending Minneapolis College. Through culturally relevant academic advising, leadership development, honors society opportunities, cultural programming, and community outreach, we empower students so that they reach their fullest potential.
Culturally Relevant Advising
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LUCHA Program Coordinator will no longer be hosting in-person advising meetings.
To schedule an advising meeting with the coordinator, please contact Brooke Hornseth. To facilitate academic advising meetings, the Zoom platform will be utilized.
To find out more information on how to use Zoom for meetings, go online and sign-in with your StarID.
Get academic advising from an advisor that is actively part of the Latino community. We offer advising from a Latinx perspective where topics such as family, work, responsibilities, and mixed status families are taken into consideration.
Program Benefits
We will 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 Assistance
- Info on ordering Textbooks
- Visa (U-visa /F1 Visa) Questions
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 job and career fairs
- Network with the community and American Indian cultural events
- Problem solve
- Academic Advising appointments (Navigate)
- Appeals
- Scholarships
- Bills and Payment
- Transfer Pathways
- Auggie Plan Questions
- Raices Unidas Student Club
- Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society
- Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC)
- Star Scholars Scholarship Avelino Mills-Novoa
Student Leadership Opportunities
We invite you to join the student-led Raíces Unidas student club. You may contact the club president Rigo Gonzales.
To comply with social distancing policies, Raices Unidas meetings will now be held through Zoom video calls. Please see the schedule below to know when to tune in. If you would like to participate in Raices Unidas student club meetings, please contact LUCHA Coordinator Brooke Hornseth to access the Zoom meeting links.
We also invite you to join Phi Theta Kappa honors society. You may contact the honors society advisor, Francie Bubna-Walker.
LUCHA Center
The Center is a safe place to gather together in community. It is located in the Helland Center room H.2701. All are welcome to study, meet new friends, have access to computers and organize events.
LUCHA Cultural Events
The Minneapolis College Spring Noche Latina and Noche de Gala and other larger events on campus have been postponed.
Please continue to check this website for updates on possible rescheduled dates. Despite this time of social isolation, the LUCHA Program is dedicated to maintaining connectedness and a sense of community for our students.
We are working diligently to create a virtual space for students to connect with one another, share stories and concerns, access resources and other culturally relevant material.
Support Services
Additional resources are available:
- 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.