Raices Sagradas Community Mental Health

Raíces Sagradas characterizes its approach as “trauma-informed” and “culturally responsive,” and operates across multiple locations in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. It aims to reduce what it claims is the stigma associated with mental-health care among Hispanic immigrant populations. The organization frames its clinical work within a broader left-of-center advocacy agenda that includes what it characterizes as mental health equity for “historically marginalized groups” and “uninsured immigrant communities.” ^{1 3}

Background

Raices Sagradas Community Mental Health was established in 2008 under the name Holy Rosary Mental Health to improve access to mental health services for uninsured Spanish-speaking people in the Twin Cities. The organization operated within Catholic parish spaces in its early years, a strategy it attributes to the tendency of Hispanic individuals to seek support from faith leaders before turning to mental health professionals, and to the role of spirituality in many clients’ healing processes. The organization describes itself as a non-religious institution and does not require any particular religious affiliation to access its services. Raices Sagradas obtained 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in August 2010 and formalized its transition to an independent nonprofit under its current name. The organization’s primary office is located in Minneapolis and it has a second office in Saint Paul. ^{1 2}

Activities

Raices Sagradas Community Mental Health provides psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, and families in Spanish and English at no cost to clients. The organization also conducts psychological evaluations for immigration legal processes, including evaluations submitted in connection with court immigration cases. According to the organization’s 2025 tax returns, in that year it provided mental health care to 186 individuals and 67 couples and families, totaling over 4,500 therapy sessions, alongside 48 psychological evaluations for immigration cases. The organization claims the market value of these services exceeded $855,000. ⁴

Beyond direct clinical services, Raices Sagradas provides community education programming through a ten-session course on trauma, depression, and anxiety, which the organization claims reached more than 15,000 people through social media locally and outside of Minnesota. Raices Sagradas also advocates increased compensation for Latino and Latina mental health providers. ^{5 6}

Raices Sagradas has participated in community outreach events in partnership with left-of-center and government-affiliated organizations, including the Richfield Police Department’s “Unity in the Community” event, a Hennepin County youth sports resource fair, a Minnesota Department of Health Hispanic Heritage Celebration, and events organized by Urban Ventures, a Minneapolis-based youth development organization. The organization also co-hosted a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration and clothing drive in partnership with the Neighborhood Development Alliance (NEDA) and Latinos Serving Latinos and has partnered with St. Mary’s Health Clinic to expand mental health access on the West Side of Saint Paul. ⁴

Financials

Raices Sagradas Community Mental Health received a 2023 Medica Foundation grant in support of its services to immigrant families. The organization has also received state grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Health’s Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EDHI), which funded services to reduce disparities in Spanish-language and culturally-sensitive mental health care in Latino communities. ^{7 8}

In 2024, Raices Sagradas received 43 percent of its revenues ($185,167) from government grants. ⁹

Leadership

As of 2026, Maria Cervantes held the position of executive director of Raices Sagradas Community Mental Health. Cervantes previously held the position of associate director of the organization. ¹⁰

Deb Organ held the position of founder and clinical director of Raices Sagradas, as of 2026, with the clinical title of Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). Organ founded the organization in 2008 under its original name, Holy Rosary Mental Health, and has remained in a clinical leadership role through the organization’s history. ¹⁰

The board of directors of Raices Sagradas, as of 2026, was chaired by Veronica Soto Urribarri, with Gerardo Escamilla holding the position of treasurer, and additional directors including Estela Villagran Manancero, Luz Zagal, Maria Kaefer, Juan Linares, and Pedro Maldonado. ¹⁰

The organization reports that 90 percent of its board members identify as Hispanic and that 75 percent of its clinical staff are Hispanic. ¹¹