Mission Statement
La Oportunidad's mission is to champion the development of Latino individuals and families to create a strong, peaceful community. La Oportunidad achieves its mission by providing bilingual and culturally-relevant, research-base and family-centered, programs for Latino children, youth, adults, and families, including the El Camino (The Path) Children’s Program, the Latino Youth Program, the Padres (Parents) Program, and the Latinos Ending Abuse Program (LEAP). These programs focus on the development of skills and support systems that result in strong, healthy, economically stable families; and children and youth who are resilient, connected to their cultural strengths, achieve their potential, and prepared to succeed.
Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
In 2013, La Oportunidad provided programs to 1,147 Twin Cities Latinos of all ages with programs for children, youth, adults and families. Specific accomplishments during the year include:
Direct Services: 1,147 Latino children, youth, parents and adults gained practical skills, increased capacity, learned to nurture healthy relationships and connected to a stronger and more peaceful community by participating in programs. 125 individuals participated in multiple groups or activities.
In addition, this year La Oportunidad began a new collaboration with Hennepin County Libraries to improve Twin Cities Latinos’ access to systems that will help them succeed. Padres class participants are introduced to the resources available at libraries and the value of books and reading to their young children. Some El Camino groups have hosted puppet shows and art displays at library branches.
Young Professionals/Jovenes Profesionales Program: What began as a pilot project in the summer of 2013 was formally introduced as an ongoing program in the fall, helping 58 teen and adult immigrants realistically plot their futures with personal assessment, targeted career planning and hands-on, step-by-step education, training and job seeking skill development.
A special Financial Literacy Project assessed financial lessons offered in Latino Youth Programs to determine their value and identify ways to improve programming that best addresses the needs and situations of young immigrant middle school students, especially Latina girls.
Community Education & Outreach: 20,000 individuals were impacted through La Oportunidad’s En Familia (In the Family) cable TV program, coordinating events and educational presentations, such as a Prosperity Act and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) conference, Exploring the Cultures of the Twin Cities Seminar along with City Stay/University of St. Thomas and a training session for AmeriCorps and VISTA volunteers working with Latino students through College Possible.
Current Goals
In addition to the same program goals of 2013 (question/answer #29), our organization's current year's goals are to fully implement and expand its newly created Young Professionals (Career Path) Program.
The organization also seeks to strengthen its technology capacity by contracting with a new tech support company that better addresses its tech needs, provides a pro-active approach and staff training and support.
Community or Constituency Served
Low-income Twin Cities Latinos of all ages, particularly in the Hennepin County area. Some non-Latinos as well.
Geographic Area Served
Twin Cities metro area, with emphasis on Hennepin County.
