Established in 1981, CLUES is now Minnesota’s premier Latino behavioral health and human services agency. Our core services include: Mental Health Services, Chemical Health Services, Family Services, Aging Well Services, Community Health Worker Services, and Economic Advancement Services in education, employment, and financial literacy.  Our mission is to “enhance the quality of life of the Latino community in Minnesota” by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services to the Latino community in the Twin Cities. 

The growth of Minnesota’s Latino population has placed a significant demand on the adult education services offered at CLUES through our Education Department, which is dedicated to helping our clients improve their English proficiency, basic computer skills, and to study for the Citizenship Test.  In 2007, approximately 625 adult learners took ESL and other classes through CLUES. The Education Department also serves adults with low literacy abilities by helping them develop their reading and writing skills in their first language.  Classes are offered year-round during the day and in the evening. 

Few English programs in the Twin Cities are linked with children’s programming.  As a result, many parents of small children, especially women, are excluded from the opportunity to take part in ESL classes.   Offering children’s programming while parents are in language classes will fill this childcare need and promote parent participation in existing ESL classes offered by CLUES.   Serving preschool aged children, these classes will serve as a vehicle for early childhood development and pre-literacy training.  Additionally, through a partnership with La Conexión Latina, a grassroots organization in South Minneapolis, the children’s class will operate around a cooperative model, where parents help in children’s classes on a rotating basis.  This allows parents, especially women, to take ownership of their children’s education, as well as to develop their skills as leaders and community organizers. 

Responsibilities:

The VISTA member will work to develop the infrastructure needed to establish educational programming for the children of adult learners attending CLUES classes.  In order to do this, he/she will need to spend time learning about past and current programs within CLUES, the Education Department, and other community organizations to determine the most appropriate and effective way to implement the program so that it is linguistically appropriate and culturally proficient for the clients CLUES serves. 

The VISTA member will be responsible for identifying and establishing partnerships, as well as deepening the existing partnership with La Conexión.  Developing such partnerships will aid the VISTA in the development of curriculum, program design, and recruitment of volunteers to staff the children’s program and ensure its sustainability.  

The VISTA will work on building relationships with CLUES participants and their children, work closely with and learn about the students and families attending CLUES classes, as well as spread the word about the program to recruit students and their families to participate. 

Qualifications:

• Education or experience in any of the following areas highly recommended: Early Childhood Development, K-12 Education, Adult Education, TESL, non-profit sector, volunteer management
• Understanding of children’s development, learning, and supervision
• Understanding of adult learners and the language acquisition process
• People person - Like working with people of different backgrounds including ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds (REQUIRED)
• Able to understand, read, write, and communicate in Spanish and English (REQUIRED)
• Independent – can work independently and as a part of a team (REQUIRED)
• Understanding of other cultures
• Detail oriented
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Creative and flexible
• Able to multi-task
• Feel comfortable in a constantly changing environment – Able to make quick decisions and solve problems
• Own mode of transportation to do community outreach and travel between CLUES sites
• Computer skills (Microsoft office and internet)

Contact:

Brooke Easton

651-379-4229