HACER

Our Mission

HACER’s mission is to engage Latino Minnesotans through research, evaluation, and community action to promote equitable representation at all levels of institutional decisions and policy change.

Our Vision

HACER’s vision is a Minnesota in which Latinos have pathways to justice and their voices and culture are lifted.

HACER is the only Latino-led, advocacy-driven research organization in the Upper Midwest. Since 1988, we have advanced equity by generating community-centered insights through Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and innovative methodologies.

Our work informs state initiatives in health equity, vaccination access, economic development, and financial education. Recognized at both local and state levels, we remain committed to amplifying Latino voices and expanding our impact across Minesota.

CORE VALUES

  • Community Ownership: We co-create solutions with those most impacted.
  • Cultural Relevance: We honor the lived experiences and traditions of Latino communities.
  • Equity: We challenge systemic barriers and promote fair access to opportunity.
  • Integrity: We uphold transparency, accountability, and respect in all we do.

AS AN INFLUENTIAL COMMUNITY LEADER, WE WILL:

  • Ensure that a broad array of decisions that reach across the community are informed by accessible, culturally and linguistically competent research.
  • Bring the Latino narrative into public discussions of social issues.
  • Increase understanding of the diverse Latino experience among leaders and organizations of influence as well as community-based organizations.
  • Help grow generations of Latino leaders who will catalyze change in their communities and lead the charge to a better future

We strive to use non-intrusive research techniques that resonate with Latinos to generate authentic information.

Our work is with government agencies, foundations, community organizations, and academic researchers.

We use qualitative and quantitative tools in our investigations to create the most accurate data set possible.

HACER recognizes that language is complicated and evolving. HACER has decided to use the term “Latino” to refer to people of Latin American heritage of all gender identities as that is the term most commonly used by the communities we work with. HACER celebrates the richness and diversity of experiences and LGBT+ identities in the Latino community and will continue to work toward building a more inclusive society until we all have equal rights and equitable access to the supports and services we need. While “Latino” is the term we use organizationally, staff are encouraged to use the term that feels most comfortable to them.