Focus Area: Early Childhood

Grant Amount: $15,000

Located in south Minneapolis. Begun in 1974, Centro is the oldest and largest multi-service Latino organization in Minneapolis and provides services to low-income Latino families in the Twin Cities. Centro’s services include health, wellness, and education, including Siembra, a dual-language 4-Star Parent Aware-rated Montessori early childhood program that incorporates elements of Latinx culture.

Grant supports year three in developing a pilot of a new Montessori-based home-visiting program to serve 15 families in the metro area and also include an expansion pilot to Mankato. Centro has been gathering feedback from parents and engaging families in development of the model with the assistance of two parent leaders. The goal is for the entire program to be led by parents who have been trained as “connectors.”