For more than 40 years, Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) has worked to advance social and economic equity and well-being for Latinos in Minnesota. Founded in 1981 on St. Paul’s west side, CLUES is the state’s largest Latino-led nonprofit.

CLUES offers programs and services on health and wellness, arts and culture, economic prosperity, immigrant resources, advocacy, community engagement, adult education, and parenting resources. Throughout the years, the organization has grown with programs focused on chemical health services, career development resources, employment counseling, and more.

The work CLUES is doing is more critical now than ever, as the 2020 Census Off Site Link found that approximately 345,640 Hispanic/Latino people live in Minnesota – an increase of 141% since 2000.

A partner in prosperity for Latinos

Richard Esquivel, Vice President and Senior Business Development Officer at Sunrise Banks (pictured left), is a member of the Board of Directors for CLUES and serves on the finance committee. Esquivel has seen, first-hand, the powerful impact the organization has on Minnesota’s Latino community.

“CLUES is one of the best community organizations in this area because of the extensive work that they do – from social services to financial education programs to health and wellness,” he says. “They are a wonderful resource for the community and working with them has been such a rewarding experience for me personally.”

Esquivel says family and community are two of the driving components of the CLUES mission – foundational elements shared with Sunrise Banks.

“Everything at CLUES revolves around family and giving back to the community,” he says. “That is what we do here at Sunrise Banks. That is what inspires us every day and that is why we make such a good team.”

As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Sunrise Banks offers financially inclusive products that aim to better the lives of people, particularly those in low-to-moderate income communities. With approximately 14% of Latinos in the Twin Cities living below the poverty level – compared to 9% across all of Minnesota – the partnership between CLUES and Sunrise Banks is vital to the financial health and wellness of the Latino community.

“Approximately 70% of our clients come from low- to moderate-income families,” Esquivel explains. “That’s important to us and that’s why we focus on CLUES as one of the most impactful social services organizations around in what they do.”

Financial literacy outreach

With CLUES on a mission to improve economic equity for the Latino community, the organization aligns itself with banking institutions that support Latinos in building their financial capabilities. In partnership with Sunrise Banks, CLUES provides Latino families with reliable information regarding financial wellness – particularly around homeownership.

Members of the Sunrise Banks mortgage team work closely with CLUES to offer homeownership resources and guidance in Spanish through First-Time Homebuyer workshops.

Facilitators at these day-long sessions assist workshop attendees through each stage of buying a home, including an understanding of the terms used, the documents needed throughout the process, and the requirements for obtaining a mortgage loan – a common concern for many first-time homebuyers.

The workshops also present attendees with the variety of financing options available, specifically highlighting information about the Sunrise Banks Pathways2Home Mortgage program. This product utilizes an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) in place of a Social Security Number to secure a mortgage. This can help many families, particularly immigrant families, begin building generational wealth and becoming homeowners.

“It’s important that if you do not have a Social Security number, you do not let that stop you from buying a home and providing a better life for you and your family,” says Rocio Gomez, a mortgage loan officer with Sunrise Banks.

Through these workshops and individualized counseling, CLUES and Sunrise Banks can help more of Minnesota’s Latino families achieve their homeownership goals, improve their long-term financial health, and realize their dream of building a better future.

A celebration of Latino culture 

For the past several years, Sunrise Banks has served as a sponsor of CLUES’ Fiesta Latina. Held at the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, Fiesta Latina celebrates Latino culture through art, entertainment, food, sports, health and community resources, and other activities.

This year’s Fiesta Latina is set for Saturday, September 13 at the CLUES’ headquarters in St. Paul. It is free for everyone to attend.

The festival’s incredible attendance numbers – with approximately 7,000 people attending the 2024 event – is indicative of Minnesota’s growing Latino population.

Sunrise Banks will host a booth at this year’s Fiesta Latina, where attendees can talk with team members about reliable and affordable banking products and services, as well as financial literacy programs and other offerings designed to advance the community.

Sunrise Banks will also distribute school supplies to students and teachers at Fiesta Latina. Employees and customers donated backpacks, pencils, notebooks, markers, and other supplies at Sunrise Banks branches and offices as part of Community Impact Month, sponsored by the Minnesota Bankers Association.

Partnership opportunities

CLUES President and CEO Ruby Azurdia-Lee (pictured left) says that with the rising Latino population in Minnesota, the need for and objective of the partnership between CLUES and Sunrise Banks also continues to grow.

“Latinos are one of the largest cultural communities in Minnesota, approaching the 400,000-population mark today. Close to 50 percent of Latinos are under 20 years old and by 2035, Latinos will surpass half a million people,” she says.

“Sunrise Banks’ participation in CLUES Fiesta Latina provided a platform for the community to not only engage in free cultural celebrations but also learn about the many financial services that Sunrise Banks offers,” adds Azurdia-Lee. “As a community partner, Sunrise Banks often provides support to CLUES through board participation, staff guidance, and availing lending products that can help individuals reach prosperity and financial support.”

Addressing community needs

Sunrise Banks and CLUES plan to continue their partnership in economic empowerment, especially as CLUES further expands and strengthens its offerings and mission.

Esquivel applauds CLUES for their strong history and extensive achievements, as well as the bright outlook that lies ahead. He says the organization is working toward many goals to help advance the Latino community, which includes purchasing a daycare incubator to address the lack of childcare options available to Latino families.

“Ruby is so great at what she does, and she has such a hard-working staff,” he says. “There is so much on the horizon for CLUES – so many accomplishments and expansion into new areas of need that will lend well to the Sunrise Banks mission. It will be wonderful to be a part of it.”

CLUES’ comprehensive work is possible through the dedication and support of the surrounding community. If you would like to donate your time, talent, or resources to advance the CLUES mission and make a difference in the Latino community, learn how to get involved Off Site Link today.

Learn more about nonprofit banking solutions at sunrisebanks.com/nonprofit-banking Off Site Link.

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