Lao Center of MN

Introduction

Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota (LACM)‘s mission is to increase the capacity of the Lao-American population in Minnesota by responding to community identified needs with programs and services that promote the well-being of families and children. The primary thread of our programs is retaining the rich cultural heritage of the Lao community. Their five interconnected programs annually serve Lao families, including at-risk low and moderate income households.

Contact

Sunny Chanthanouvong, Executive Director
503 Irving Avenue North, Suite 100A
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55405

sunny@laocenter.org

Website

www.laocentermn.org

Business hours

Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Accessibility

Accessible by Metro Transit bus routes 9 and 19

Our award-winning staff is nationally recognized and addresses over 18,000 requested for assistance each year. Minnesota has the third largest population of Lao refugees in the United States with over 25,000 residents committed to cultural principle of diversity, education, compassion, and peace.

Programs and Services:

  • Health Program
    • Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative — immunizations and vaccines, follow up
    • Minnesota Senior Health Options — assisting elders with enrolling in insurance programs
    • Provide education, screening, vaccination, and linkage to care with Hepatitis
    • The Center for Asian and Pacific Islanders — assist immigrant
      children and adults in becoming fully immunized and up to date with immunizations
    • Children’s Health Insurance Programs — help people apply to provide health insurance to uninsured children
    • Providing alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics prevention education
    • Helping to ensure Lao women have access to mammogram screening related health care
  • Youth Advancement
    • Provides leadership development, support cultural development, and academic support with activities to youth
    • Helps to encourage and train Lao youth in key life skills to pursue academic, professional, and community goals
    • To ensure academic achievement and provide support with college-prep skills
    • Opportunities to interact through the arts (dance, literature, visual art, theatre, and multimedia)
  • Elder Empowerment
    • Helping elders remain independent and involved with the community through:
      • One on One Services
      • Referral to Adult Daycare
      • Healthcare Management
      • Help & Information
      • Senior LinkAge Line
      • Building Resume
      • Job Referral
      • Customize Training
  • Employment Counseling
    • Job Seeking
    • Job replacement
    • Career Training
    • ESL
    • Computer Training
    • Building Resume
    • Job Referral
    • Customize Training
  • Civic Engagement
    • Encourages community to go out to vote, provides voting education
    • Community dialogue with the city staff, county staff, and sheriff department
    • Community gardening to support the friendship and healthy eating and mental health issues
    • Provide services to Lao community to know how to recycle properly, to engage community about transit building
    • Leadership training to young professionals in local politics
  • Housing Counseling
    • Provides the services to help out the community for the housing, loan modification, pre purchase, home rental, apartment, public housing, buying a new home