History & Timeline

•  1981: Chicanos Latinos Unidos en Servicio is established to provide Mental Health Services in the West Side of Saint Paul with four staff
•  1984: Rafael Ortega Begins 11 year term as Executive Director

Minnesota Latino Population: 32,000

•  1985: New Services are added to serve demand: Employment and Education, English Computer Classes, and Job Search Assistance
•  1987: Services to Elders begin at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
•  1988: HACER (Community Based Research Organization) is created
•  1989: Chemical Health Assessments begin, CLUES employs 17 FTE’s

•  1990: Latino Community grows by 60%, CLUES employs 21 FTE’s
•  1991: First Minneapolis Office is opened
•  1992: Chemical Health begins Outpatient Treatment Program
•  1992: La Escuelita  opens at CLUES

•  1995: CLUES Employs 35 Service Areas: Mental Health, Employment and Education,  Seniors and Youth Services
•  1995: Jesse Bethke Gomez becomes Executive Director
•  1996: CLUES serves over 7,300 clients
•  1998: CLUES serves over 12,500 clients

Latino Population grows by 75% increase since 1996

•  2001: $6 million Capital campaign launched for relocation in Minneapolis and to build Saint Paul Headquarters
•  2002: Chicano Latino Tobacco Control Network Project begins and research book is published
•  2004: Community Health Worker Pilot launched in rural areas. CLUES is named top 25 Hispanic nonprofit by Hispanic Business Magazine

2000 Census reports 188% increase in Latino Population over 1990 census

•  2005: 46^th Consulate of Mexico in US opens its doors at CLUES facility in Saint Paul
•  2005: CLUES changes its name to Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio
•  2006: First Latino Mental Illness/ Chemical Dependency (MICD) co-therapeutic program begins
•  2007: CLUES employs 72 staff and 230 volunteers. Core Services offered; Mental Health, Chemical Health, Employment, Latino Learning Institute, Family services, and Elder wellness program
•  2007: CLUES is named top 25 Hispanic nonprofit in the US by Hispanic Business Magazine
•  2008: Elder program moves to Dakota County and is renamed Aging Well Services
•  2008: Employment, Education, Financial Empowerment Services and the Learning Together Program merge under the umbrella of Economic Advancement Services
•  2009: CLUES tagline changes to “Many Cultures,  One Dream”

•  2011: CLUES celebrates 30 years of services to Minnesota when US Census reports Minnesota Latino population growth is 75%
•  2011: CLUES begins YA (Youth in Action) Program
•  2012: Ruby Azurdia-Lee becomes CLUES new President
•  2013: First Annual Feria de Salud is held. Innovative Community Lending Circles Program is launched to promote capital and credit-building opportunities.
•  2013: New mission, vision, values and strategic direction are developed by board and staff.  Leadership structure is revamped. Services and new initiatives are merged under four pillars: Health and Family Wellbeing, Economic Vitality, Education, and Cultural and Civic Engagement.

 2014: First ever Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) is approved. CLUES expands infrastructure by buying property next door to its Saint Paul headquarters and expanding offices to Plaza Verde building in Minneapolis. Voter Engagement and Citizenship pilots begin CLUES’ work in promoting Civic Engagement

•  2014: The book: “My Family, My Self: Latino Guide to Emotional Well Being” is written by CLUES staff and published in partnership with Hazelden
•  2014: 85 employees and over 600 volunteers implement the work of CLUES. Latinos in Minnesota represent close to 300,000 – 10 times the population size since CLUES was founded.