Mario Duarte

Mario Duarte is founder and publisher of La Prensa de Minnesota. Born in El Salvador, he came to Minnesota in 1982 with his family at the age of 43. Forced to adapt, Mario took classes in English at Macalester College and took courses in TV and radio production at Minneapolis Community College. From 1985 to 1990, Mario was communications director for Centro Cultural Chicano, where he was in charge of producing their monthly newsletter, their weekly radio show and a monthly television show. It was during his experience as a volunteer during the 2000 Census that Mario realized the great need for a newspaper that focused on Minnesota’s Latino community. In 1991, Mario launched Minnesota’s first Latino newspaper, La Prensa de Minnesota. Mario's dedication to his community has been awarded by numerous companies and organizations including: Centro Legal, La Familia, La Raza Federation, El Instituto de Arte y Cultura, the American Red Cross and The Minnesota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He has also been awarded the Minnesota Order of the North Star by the Secretary of State of Minnesota for Community Leadership. He is also a founding member of the Minnesota Minority Media Coalition.