La Paz Chattanooga this month joined UnidosUS as an affiliate member. UnidosUS is the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, La Paz said in a news release.
UnidosUS serves the Hispanic population throughout the country through research, policy analysis, advocacy efforts and program work.
La Paz Chattanooga is now part of a national network of nearly 300 affiliates to serve millions of Latinos in the areas of immigration, education, employment, health, housing and more.
“For decades, the reach and impact of UnidosUS’s work has been made stronger thanks to the work of our affiliates. These organizations share in our mission to broaden opportunities for Latinos across the country. Through our unique partnership, we have successfully advocated for and elevated the voice of our community on critical issues,” says Sonia Pérez, chief operating officer for UnidosUS.
After 15 years in the local community, the staff and board of La Paz Chattanooga felt the organization was ready to become an affiliate of UnidosUS.
“We’ve gleaned so much from interacting with nonprofits and know this relationship will connect us to leaders across the nation working within the Latino population,” says Stacy Johnson, executive director of La Paz Chattanooga.
Johnson also said that as the organization grows, its leadership needs to think on a larger scale about how to positively impact Latinos.
La Paz served more than 5,000 individuals in 2018 and anticipates the percentage of Latino and Hispanic individuals in Chattanooga to increase to 20 percent by 2020.
Source: La Paz Chattanooga