History

Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization (CMCEO) provides culturally appropriate services and resources to disadvantaged immigrants, African and minority community in Central Minnesota in languages that the community understands. Our mission is to support and empower, underserved and economically disadvantaged communities of color, refugee and immigrant groups in Central Minnesota through services and advocacy to achieve equitable and just society. We strive to achieve vibrant communities that are socially and economically empowered through economic stability, equity, culture, advocacy, and helping build bridges across and within communities.

Through innovative community resource center, we assist communities to overcome language and technological barriers. Through education, social services, after school, entrepreneurship and employment programs, we promote pathways and open gateways to economic empowerment and integration.
Since 2015 we provide services such as housing (including renthelpmn), training, employment support (training, staff and employer bridge-building), summer programs, afterschool program, access to food, vaccine and medical treatment, transportation, childcare, business development and legal services. We reach out to employers as bridge-builders in the Greater St. Cloud area to coordinate efforts to support the community. We work and help underserved communities of color and economically disadvantaged groups and individuals for whom English is a second language. Since 2015, we have been helping individuals and families who lack access to resources for employment, health and wellbeing, housing, and economic empowerment get the services they need. CMCEO supports between 5,000 to 10,000 people annually. We cover greater St. Cloud area (Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne counties) and according to 2020 U.S. Census data, there are over 33,000 people of color in the greater St. Cloud area.

From the being of forming Take Ten, a skills-based program that teaches conflict resolution, bullying prevention, and tools to make peaceful choices in St. Cloud, we have expanded services to teaching Education Training, Housing Support, Career Advancement, Economic Empowerment, Youth Development & Business Development at more than 3 locations in Saint Cloud and Saint Joseph. With the support of Initiative Foundation and Stearns County, we were able to leverage $1.4 million dollars in programing and direct support to the community in 2021 alone.

At the present, the effects of racism, division and tension are evident all-around St. Cloud. They can be seen in the places we live, learn, work and play, in our social interactions and the systems and policies that disrupt the lives of so many children and families. People experience these effects when they take their children to school, apply for jobs, rent or buy a home, visit a doctor or try to access healthy food, in interactions with the police and more.

In response to the increased tension in St. Cloud that are mainly related to different community groups, we facilitated inter-faith group that brings together religious leaders in St. Cloud area in the past. These has improved relations and created close working relations and understanding between religious groups in St. Cloud area. However, hate crimes, racism, economic disparities, prejudice and fear are still widespread and on the rise. CMCEO, together with partners, grantees, community leaders, social justice organizations, quasi-governmental entities and the business community, will engage in this work and launch a journey towards healing and transformation.