NUESTRO NORTE
Our stories are as vast and vibrant as Minnesota itself.
Co-produced by LatinoLEAD and the Minnesota Humanities Center, Nuestro Norte is a 30-minute cinematic documentary by filmmaker Martín Blanco (Dual Studios). Through lived stories, original music, and symbolic film, the documentary offers a glimpse into Latine leadership, intergenerational strength, and deep-rooted belonging across our state.
While no single film can hold every experience in our rich community, these five profiles serve as a mirror reflecting our shared impact—and a catalyst to honor your own unique story.
Origins & Evolution
Nuestro Norte began in 2020 as Voices of LatinoLEAD, a monthly YouTube series created to highlight the achievements, stories, and lived experiences of Latine leaders across Minnesota.
Following statewide community listening sessions during the pandemic, Latine Minnesotans called for narrative change—demanding media that moves beyond the myth of "recent arrival" to showcase deep historical roots, community care systems, and collective leadership.
What started as a digital spotlight evolved into this landmark 30-minute documentary, co-produced alongside the Minnesota Humanities Center to honor our community's enduring legacy and vision for the future.
Nuestro Norte was produced in collaboration with LatinoLEAD, Dual Studios, and director Martín Blanco, with strategic guidance from the project’s Task Force: Sandy Vargas, Elsa Vega Perez, and Dr. Jessica Lopez Lyman.
Experience the Film
Watch the Trailer
Host a Screening
We invite you to help this film travel by hosting a screening, promoting the project, or integrating it into your leadership spaces and programming.
Host Requirements
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Securing and paying for an appropriate venue
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Providing equipment capable of presenting the film with high-quality sound and imagery
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Managing event logistics
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Providing accessibility and other special accommodations
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Administering the post event Nuestro Norte participant survey
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Completing a post event Screening Host summary
Screening Support
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High level guidance (if needed)
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Access to the film (no cost)
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Promotional materials
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Discussion resources
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Post event participant and host surveys
Note: Additional support may be available for public, school, and or community screenings.
About the Title
Meaning "Our North," Nuestro Norte is a bold declaration of belonging, asserting that Minnesota is a place of and for Latine communities—our shared North Star.
Historically, "El Norte" represented a distant destination or place of arrival for Latine immigrants. By shifting from "The North" to "Our North," the film moves the narrative from a story of seeking to one of deep rootedness and agency—claiming Minnesota not just as a destination, but as a home we have actively helped build.
