About La Oportunidad
Over the last 20 years, La Oportunidad has become an internationally recognized and leading provider of bilingual and bicultural family-centered educational and supportive programs to help Latino children, youth, adults, and families in the Twin Cities metro to achieve greater capacity, develop practical skills, nurture healthy relationships, and build a stronger community. La Oportunidad, a nonprofit 501c3 organization created in 1987, achieves its mission of "championing the development of Latino individuals and families to create a strong, peaceful community," through its holistic, culturally-relevant programming:
- The El Camino (The Path) Children's Program provides weekly after-school preventive cultural education and self-esteem building groups and a summer program to Latino children to assist them in developing positive attitudes and behaviors in the areas of self, family, and community that will reduce their vulnerability to negative behaviors in their adolescence. In 2007, El Camino served 360 children. Due to an increase in demand for the El Camino children’s program, La Oportunidad added a half-time position in 2006 and made it full-time in 2007.
- The Latino Youth Program provides weekly school-year groups, year-round truancy prevention groups, a mentorship program, and a leadership program to assist Latino adolescents to develop positive attitudes and behaviors in the areas of education, self, family, and community that will help them to become positive, contributing members of the community. In 2007, Latino Youth Programs served 725 youth.
- The Padres Parenting Programs provides year-round classes to empower Latino parents with the tools necessary to support their children’s education, and raise healthy, well-adjusted children who will contribute to their communities. In 2007, Padres direct programming served 270 parents. 92% of the parents who participated in the Padres Parenting Program increased participation in their children’s education. Due to an increase in demand for the Padres Parenting Program, La Oportunidad is increasing staff time in 2007.
- The Latinos Ending Abuse Program (LEAP) provides year-round classes to Latino men and women to give them the tools, education, and support necessary to help eliminate violent behaviors in their relationships, families, and communities. In 2007, LEAP served 215 Latino adults.
- Relections of Peace Photography Project
A Message from the Executive Director
Recent Accomplishments
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Over 1,570 children, youth and parents' lives were positively changed by La Oportunidad: El Camino children’s program, Latino Youth Program, Padres parenting, and Latinos Ending Abuse Program help Latino children, youth, adults, and families in the Twin Cities metro to achieve greater capacity, develop practical skills, nurture healthy relationships, and build a stronger community.
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Capacity-building: La Oportunidad engaged in an evaluation of the 2004-2006 Strategic Plan and created a new Strategic Plan for 2008-2010. As part of the multilateral process, La Oportunidad has revamped its mission, vision, values, and created key goals. La Oportunidad, Inc. is building its technological efficiency in order to provide greater organizational resources towards programming, including the creation of this new website.
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Community Outreach: The 8th annual Latino Youth Peace Conference, Peace is Possible community celebration, and La Feria, 13th Annual Latino Family Resource Fair provided resources for over 2,600 Latinos during 2007.
- Accountability to our Donors: Year after year, La Oportunidad continues to meet all accountability standards (including public disclosure, governance, financial activity, and fundraising) set forth by the Charities Review Council.
The Charities Review Council is an independent resource that helps Minnesota donors to make informed charitable giving decisions. The CRC sets accountability standards and reviews charities through its Accountability Wizard. Results of these reviews help the public determine the trustworthiness of a charity before giving.
