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Latinos Unidos for College and Higher Achievement (LUCHA)

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Contact Information

LUCHA is currently open for in-person operations. Feel free to contact the coordinator, Sagrario Torres Flores to schedule an in-person appointment.

If you have any questions, contact the coordinator, contact Sagrario Torres Flores, 612-234-2143.
Advising appointments are available by appointment only. Appointments are in-person but can be made available via Zoom by request.
Learn more about our LUCHA Coordinator and Equity and Inclusion Team
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LUCHA Mission

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 Center

The LUCHA Center (H. 2701) is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. It is a space where you can connect with other students who may share similar identities and experiences. Students who do not identify as Latino/a/e/x are welcome into the space. LUCHA centers Latinx culture and identities, and welcome anyone who identifies with or is an ally to this cultural identity.

The LUCHA Center has tables, computers, and a large monitor open for students to use. We also have a microwave and mini-fridge for students to use to heat up or store their lunch!

Stop by to work on homework, projects, eat lunch, or just connect with other students!

Culturally Relevant Advising

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.

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 career and community networking opportunities
Problem solve
Academic Advising appointments (Navigate)
Appeals
Scholarships
Bills and Payment
Transfer Pathways
Auggie Plan Questions
The Latinx Student Union
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC)
Star Scholars Scholarship

The Latinx Student Union

The Latinx Student Union meets every Thursday from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. in Helland Center H.2701. The Latinx Student Union is run by a board of students.

Positions include:

Co-Presidents
Treasurer
Event Coordinators
Historian
Outreach Coordinator

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

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

Support Services

Health 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.

Financial Aid Resources

The Page Grant is awarded to students of color who graduate from a Minnesota high school and attend a Minnesota post-secondary institution. Read more here.
Minneapolis College offers various scholarships, funded through the Minneapolis College Foundation. See application here.
Latino Economic Development Center organizes a Latino Scholarship Fund. Stay informed with updates here.
Eligible non-citizens can apply to the MN Dream Act every year for financial aid while pursuing a higher education. See application and eligibility details here.
- English MN Dream Act Fact Sheet
- Spanish MN Dream Act Fact Sheet
TheDream.US organizes two scholarships open to immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS who came to the U.S. before the age of 16 and before Nov. 1, 2017. Read more about the National Scholarship and the Opportunity Scholarship here.
UnitedWeDream has composed a list of scholarships and financial aid opportunities for undocumented students and DACA recipients. See the list of scholarships here. Browse their website for health and news resources for all things immigration.

Advocacy and Education Resources

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.