At LatinoLEAD, we often discuss bridging the gap between ambition and experience. But what does that look like in practice? It looks like Jose Palmas. This week, we are celebrating a bittersweet milestone as our incredible Leadership Programs intern, Jose Palmas, prepares for his next chapter. Jose is a living example of why coaching, mentorship, and youth development are the most vital investments we can make in our collective futuro. A Legacy of Leadership: From Augsburg to

The Minnesota State Capitol is a place of profound history, but for many young adults in our community, it has long felt inaccessible. On Monday, March 30th, that narrative shifted. In a powerful collaboration between LatinoLEAD, the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs (MCLA), Latinos in Comunidad (LIC), and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers– Twin Cities (SHPE TC), Latine students and young professionals stepped into the historic Vault to claim their place in the leg

On the evening of February 27th, we gathered both in person at Yoga Sanctuary Minneapolis and virtually across the state for a profound act of community reclamation: Cien Años de Afrolatinidad: Guided Meditation & Community Gathering. When we closed out Black History Month, this intentional space served as a powerful reminder that Latine history is Black history. In a moment where our Minneapolis neighbors have faced significant challenges, this event was a strategic pivot to

The energy inside The Main Cinema on April 18th became an assembly of intention, where our stories met the collective power of our people. As the lights dimmed in Theater 4 for the world premiere of Nuestro Norte at the 45th Minneapolis Saint Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45), our uniquely assembled audience transformed the experience into a sanctuary of shared witness. Every person present was a living extension of the stories unfolding on screen—a convening of col

The future of Minnesota is multilingual. With over 9% of all K-12 students identified as multilingual learners, our state's diversity is a powerful asset. Yet, as our latest research shows, state funding, staffing, and accountability systems have not kept pace with this growth , undermining the promise of the LEAPS and READ Acts. LatinoLEAD is proud to release the World Café Executive Summary: Advancing Literacy Equity for Multilingual Learners in Minnesota, a powerful report

The 2025 Minnesota Legislative Session has some powerful legislative advocacy efforts for EL students in partnership with MCLA, MNEEP and LatinoLEAD, yet vital opportunities to strengthen our future workforce and provide essential support to Minnesota families were missed. Our commitment now is to turn that disappointment into data-driven action. From Missed Opportunity to Community-Powered Solution The clear advocacy gap seen in the 2025 session is the exact problem the Lat

The corazón of Minneapolis beats stronger because of its diverse business community, and this October, we are thrilled to spotlight the immense contributions of our Latine entrepreneurs during the City of Minneapolis' Second Annual Latino Business Week (October 5 - October 11). This week-long celebration, coinciding with National Hispanic Heritage Month, is a powerful affirmation of the Latine community's economic influence, innovation, and resilience.

This year’s LíderCon was a powerful, two-day affirmation of our community's strength, vision, and resilience, all celebrated under the theme of "Raíces y Futuro"—honoring our roots and leading our future. Hosted at Metro State University, this 5th-anniversary conference was an unforgettable convergence of Latine leaders, allies, and trailblazers, demonstrating that our heritage is the very foundation of our collective influence and success. Dìa 1: Transformation and The Power

We're still buzzing from the incredible energy of our 6th Annual AfroLatinidad: Vibras de la Diáspora , held on Saturday, July 12th, at...

(From Left to Right: Pang Shoua Vang, Gisela Santiago, Pablo Estaban Veloz, Bagwajinini – Alex Kmett, and Jimmy Patiño) At LatinoLEAD, we...