Written by Connor Spelta
For those building new lives in Chattanooga, the journey often begins with an organization like La Paz. Even at a time of rapidly shifting policy and funding changes, this organization isn’t going anywhere, and remains firmly committed to the people they serve.
La Paz is a Latino services non-profit organization with a stated goal of “empowering and engaging Chattanooga’s Latino population through advocacy, education, and inclusion.”
“From the very beginning we’ve encountered many Hispanic men coming to Chattanooga for work opportunities, and they started coming in with their families. The needs start changing from job opportunities or like documentation to other processes, more programs, more resources that they need for the whole family instead of just an individual” said Daniela Durán, the communication coordinator for La Paz.
“The goal is stabilization and independence,” elaborated her sister Annie Duran, a case manager, and Daniela Durán’s sister.
They were originally incorporated under the name La Paz De Dios, meaning “The Peace of God,” in 2004. This name can be seen in the work they do to ensure a peaceful continued existence for the community they serve. Since 2013, they have held the title of the city’s official Latino Family Resource Center servicing a community that as of the 2020 census comprised 9.3% of the city’s population.
A team of only 15 people runs the organization, but they are able to do a lot with the people they have. Through partnerships with dozens of brands, foundations, non-profits, and governmental organizations they offer a plethora of services.
Almost everything the organization does is run out of their community center in Highland Park. The red brick building that hosts them was once a fire station, and has continued to be used for public service just with a more targeted public.
To meet the immediate physical needs of their clients they have a food pantry and hours where the community can come and get assistance filling out applications for SNAP food assistance as well as TennCare and CoverKids insurance.
Through an affiliation with the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organisation in the country, Unidos US, they offer a program called Avanzado Through College. A staff member helps coordinate resources within the program to prepare and support first-generation students through college.
For the past two years Annie Durán and Jenni Pontarelli have built and run a program to help house 20-25 year old youths as part of a $2.3 million grant to the city from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The process is a collaborative one.
“We ask how much can you afford, what are your expenses, what are your debts, and we make realistic goals about where they want to look for housing, and then we go from there,” said Annie Durán.
Case managers are able to take the time to meet one on one with clients to coordinate assistance. They facilitate legal assistance to those that need it, and their Latinx Relief fund is distributed by their case managers to help with emergency expenses and medical debt. The case managers assist a combined total of 100 clients every month.
A large portion of the community they serve are Guatemalan immigrants that primarily speak Mayan languages like Mam or K’iche. La Paz employs staff that speak these dialects in order to ensure they get the assistance they need.
All of this is in addition to their plethora of workshops and seminars teaching everything from civic engagement to support groups and dance classes. The help is provided free of charge, with self sufficiency is always the end goal.
As a non-profit, these services are dependent upon whatever third party funding and donations they can secure. Unfortunately, their funding has not been left unaffected by recent changes at the federal and state levels.
“We did lose some funding, and I can say it was due to all the DEI stuff that’s going on,” said Annie Durán, “At the same time we have received support from so many people that see what’s going on, the impact and the challenges, and they have contributed to our mission.”
The changes are not coming solely from the Federal government either. Tennessee State Bill 0227 would open the door to civil liability for any charitable organisation that provides housing to any undocumented immigrant that later commits a crime. The bill passed the Senate on April 3, 2025, and continues to work its way through the legislature.
Annie Durán recognized the harm that this bill could do to their organization, but also emphasized that L Paz remains undeterred in their mission. Her sister echoed this sentiment.
“We are going to keep working to ensure that our community stays informed [and] empowered. We will keep fighting to making sure that all Chattanoogans here feel welcome and have the resources and services that they need,” said Daniella Durán.
Shaping the Future
Written by Ella Sole
Within Chattanooga, the Hispanic community makes up 9.3 percent of the population (DataUSA, 2023). compared to 10 years ago, when the population was approximately 5.4 percent (DataUSA, 2013), shows evidence of significant growth within the Hispanic community, with the percentage almost doubling.
“Nationwide, we’ve seen an increase in immigration from Latin America. I think it’s pretty new to our region because historically, the folks who identify as Hispanic and Latino were living in areas of the country that they didn’t necessarily immigrate to, places in the Southwest,” Lily Sanchez, the Communications and Development Director at La Paz, said.
Many cities in the southern regions of America, leading reasons such as affordable housing, employment opportunities, and community through organizations such as La Paz, assist in the increase of these communities in places like Chattanooga.
“Immigration up here in the Southeast has increased substantially,” Sanchez said. “Chattanooga specifically has seen growth because of our expanding economy, and also the employment opportunities that come with that expansion, particularly in industries such as manufacturing, construction, and hospitality.”
La Paz and other similar organizations and clubs help acknowledge Chattanooga’s wide-ranging population group and help with the inclusion of the Hispanic and Latino community through different programs and services. Some of the services offered include food pantries, CoverKids and TennCare applications, and various programs to help the Hispanic and Latino community with education and inclusion.
“These individuals are most times seeking out support from La Paz, to be connected to the community, to ensure that they have access to basic needs, legal support, and any guidance on those issues,” Sanchez said. “We are fortunate to supply a lot of that here on site, whether it’s through our own staff members, site partners, or other organizations who periodically provide supplemental support.”
With the increasing hostility towards immigrants, organizations like La Paz combat this through the constant promotion of inclusion and assistance for immigrants and immigrant families.
“Our mission remains the same throughout any government administration, and it’s to empower and engage our community with resources and connections that they need to thrive and contribute to Chattanooga, and we will continue to do that no matter what the political landscape looks like,” Sanchez said. “ And if the need tomorrow is different than the need that we are meeting today, then we will pivot and transition to be able to meet that need.”
Meet the Storytellers
Connor Spelta is in the last semester of his senior year at UTC, pursuing a degree in Communication and a minor in Psychology. He uses his skills as a writer to highlight the unique environment and outdoor community in Chattanooga. He plans to attend law school after graduation and hopes for a future in criminal defense work. Connor Spelta is passionate about the environment and the outdoors, especially in the scenic city. He strives to tell stories of individuals and communities who work to foster community engagement with nature as an editor in UTC’s Rising Rock program. To reach Connor, email him at connorspelta@gmail.com.
Drew White is a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a major in communications and a minor in theatre. Drew’s deep connection to visual media and the story crafted through the art of editing creates a strong personal passion for visual media and editing. Drew has done editing work for the Delta Phi Lambda Sorority at UTC and this is her second semester in Rising Rock. In her work with Rising Rock, Drew has gained experience with camera drones and editing on Premiere Pro. Drew aims to touch the hearts of viewers on a large scale in mediums such as television, film, or music videos. To get in touch with Drew for any video editing needs, contact her at madelyndwhite11@gmail.com.
Ella Sole is a junior Communications major minoring in Environmental Studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is a photojournalist skilled in journalistic writing and photography. Sole’s experience includes working as a videographer and editor for UTC Survivor, and currently a part of UTC’s Rising Rock course. She is proficient in using Adobe programs, photography, and media writing. She is passionate about the outdoors and agriculture, and after graduating, she plans to use her writing to highlight women in agriculture. For further inquiries, contact her at xcr833@mocs.utc.edu.
Silas Pankratz is a photographer and editor with a passion for people and media production. He is a third-year student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he also serves as student staff and worship leader at The House, a Christian campus ministry. In addition to his academic and ministry commitments, Silas works as a marketing assistant for Todd Henon Properties in downtown Chattanooga, balancing responsibilities across various roles. These experiences have taught him to manage his time efficiently and work with intentionality. An avid lover of music, Silas enjoys playing instruments, listening to records, and attending live concerts, where he often combines his love for photography and music. With his diverse skill set, Silas is eager to help others and apply his talents wherever needed. To contact Pankratz, he can be reached at silaspan@gmail.com.
Cj Copeland is a junior Communication major with a minor in Nonprofit Development attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Her skills include graphic design, adobe software, and audio work. Copeland has experience as a staff photographer for the University Echo and personal photography projects. She is a photojournalist, who has branched out into artistic photography, due to her love of the craft. She has additional experience in writing, reporting, and photography through journalism work in the Special Olympics Tennessee. She is passionate about storytelling and advocating for the accessibility of the disabled. To reach out, and tell your story through her work contact her at MPQ772@mocs.utc.edu.