Conexiones

Conexiones is a registered non-profit organization based in Morris, Minnesota. It is our vision to create stronger, more united communities by providing immigrants with the resources they need to enable success and a feeling of community connectivity. Conexiones strives to build connections and bridge cultural divides in Stevens and Swift County.

Conexiones works to connect immigrants with the community though the following focus areas:

• Relocation Services- providing guidance and resources as immigrants adjust to life in our community

• Health Services- supporting our community’s health and wellbeing through education

• Schools- collaborating with local schools to address the needs of the immigrant community 

• Community Events- organizing and sponsoring culture-enriching activities and events

Please consider donating to support Conexiones and our efforts. We very much appreciate the community support and our work would not be possible without donors like you.

Check out our website, www.conexionesmn.org,  to learn more about Conexiones and our work. 

2024 Year in Review

As we close out 2024, we want to express our gratitude for your support. It’s been a busy year of growth and progress, thanks to the dedication of our donors, partners, and community. We’re excited to share some highlights from the past year and offer a glimpse into our vision for 2025. 

We kicked the year off with a community dialogue on the topic of belonging. The event brought people together from all walks of life to build understanding across differences. We also hosted a bilingual four-part series on community wellbeing.  

We ramped up activities in Swift County this year, starting with a bilingual Family Fun Night, which included an ECFE class, storytime, and pickleball lessons. We continued our partnership with KMS School to host a Spanish-speaking parent night. Additionally, we organized two community pool nights at Pillsbury Pool. 

We offered field trips to Glacial Lakes State Park and Country Blossom Farm, which had strong attendance from families in both Stevens and Swift counties. We also hosted several other community-building events, including a kayaking outing, a class on fishing regulations given by the DNR, and a community potluck. We also facilitated Otter Cove Mobile Children’s Museum visits, enjoyed by both immigrants and locals, to Murdock and Morris. 

Conexiones Day, our annual festival celebrating community and culture, has always been our cornerstone event. It was once again a huge success, featuring dance performances, food vendors, games, and more. Also this year, we partnered with RUSC Kinship Mentoring to introduce Community Night Out, which was a well-attended event that connected locals and immigrants with emergency service providers. We’re excited to continue this event as an annual tradition.

Our staff works hard to organize community events and secure grants to fund them. We received six grants in 2024 alone, ranging from $2,000 to $25,000, helping stretch the donations we receive from community members. As a result of their hard work, both our staff members received special honors in 2024. Autumn Macias, our Executive Director, received the UMN Morris Community Partner Award, and Alma Contreras, our Assistant Director, was chosen to be part of Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Emerging Leaders Cohort. Both work diligently to serve our community and ensure our organization does as much as possible to help immigrants prosper here.

Looking ahead to 2025, our mission remains clear: connect immigrants with the community. By continuing our efforts in relocation support, school and health services, and community events, we aim to help families settle, engage, and thrive.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for taking the time to reflect with us on this year’s milestones. With your help, we look forward to another year of making a positive impact. The work we do wouldn’t be possible without generous supporters like you. 

The Conexiones Leadership Team