The Latin American Association (LAA) calls Dalton, Georgia a third home as we have expanded operations to improve access to critically needed services for the rapidly-growing Latino community in Northwest Georgia.
The LAA initially provided services in the areas of family services and well-being and, has now expanded to provide all services across all of the LAA’s focus areas, including immigration services, economic empowerment, youth education, and civic engagement.
Latin American Association Dalton Outreach Center – Mack Gaston Community Center
Address: 218 N Fredrick St, Dalton, GA 30721
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday | 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tel. 706.529.9162
Latin American Association Dalton Outreach Center – Mohawk Green Plant
Address: 508 E Morris St., Dalton, GA 30721
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday | 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tel. 706.272.1992
Dalton Staff
In Partnership with
The expansion into Dalton was made possible thanks to the partnership and commitment of Mohawk. The expansion is also in recognition of the great strides that have already been made to empower Dalton’s Latinos, many of whom have lived there since late the 1980s.
Why has Mohawk partnered with the LAA?
• Aligns with Mohawk’s vision of becoming the employer of choice for ALL. Over 60% of their workforce in the Dalton area is Hispanic.
• Supports the Company’s business strategy by serving our diverse workforce and the community by offering important services through the LAA.
Dalton/Whitfield Leadership Institute
In early February of 2023, we launched the inaugural Dalton/Whitfield Leadership Institute to develop leaders in the Dalton Latino community. Big thanks to Mohawk (@mohawkindustries) and UGA’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development for helping us build this program!
At the LAA, we are very excited and honored to see how the fruits of our labor are paying off thanks to our dedicated team who envision a better tomorrow. When Latinos thrive, Georgia prospers.
Family Stabilization and Well-Being
Immigration Services
Economic Empowerment
Youth Services
Events
Mohawk Sholarship Ceremony at GNTC
the Latin American Association (LAA), in collaboration with the Georgia Northwestern Technical College and Mohawk Industries, awarded $1,000 scholarships to six young Hispanics from our community. They are all outstanding students who graduated from Dalton, Calhoun, Condon Central and Rome High School and are currently enrolled at GNTC.
4th Annual Dalton — Whitfield Latino Leadership Institute Class of 2026 Graduation
In partnership with the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute of Leadership Development and Mohawk Industries, Inc. sponsorship, the Latin American Association hosted the fourth Dalton-Whitfield Latino Leadership Institute program.
The Class of 2026 consisted of 20 participants from the NWGA area. This cohort participated in a retreat and five sessions from January to May. The last session and graduation of the Dalton-Whitfield Latino Leadership Institute was hosted on May 7th at the Junior Achievement Discovery Center of Greater Dalton.
The graduation of the Class of 2026 of the Dalton-Whitfield Latino Leadership Institute featured Mrs. Annalee Sams, City of Dalton Mayor; Miss Haley Chapman, Mohawk Ind. Senior Community Relations and PR Specialist and Mr. Santiago Marquez, Latin American Association CEO.
Scholarship Ceremony at Agave Lounge
The LAA-Bright Futures, Soccer & Success & de Dios Family Scholarship presentation took place at Agave Lounge Event Venue – Salon de Eventos in Dalton.
The Latin American Association awarded 16 scholarships to senior high school students in our Dalton-Whitfield community. Twelve of them received a scholarship of $1,500 each as part of the LAA-Bright Futures program;1 received a $1,000 scholarship from the Soccer and Success program; and 3 received a $1000 scholarship sponsored by de Dios Family Memorial Fund.
Soccer and Success Tournament
The Latin American Association held the 2026 Soccer and Success Tournament for third graders from Blue Ridge, Brookwood, City Park, Park Creek, Roan School, and Westwood schools.
Soccer and Success is an after-school program that teaches basic soccer skills to improve children’s physical and mental health and overall well-being.
We are proud of all the teams for working hard, showing teamwork and great sportsmanship.
Special thanks to Dalton Public Schools for collaborating with the Latin American Association to making this program a success and to the Mack Gaston Community Center for allowing us to use their facilities.
Back to School Bash
The Latin American Association successfully hosted the 6th annual Back to School Bash in Dalton. The event took place at the Mack Gaston Community Center and over 800 local Pre-K to 12 grade students received a backpack with school supplies. During the event, families received resources and information from community agencies and businesses who tabled at the event, and several raffles were held, presented by sponsors and collaborators. In addition, the LAA conducted a Food Distribution event serving 250 families with food bags.
Gallery
Mentor Latinx youth and aid in their path to future success
Through mentoring, we can build a stronger and brighter future for our community.
The LAA’s Latino Youth Leadership Academy (LYLA) Mentoring Program serves immigrant and first-generation youth throughout metro-Atlanta in six Gwinnett, Fulton, and DeKalb County middle and high schools. The LYLA is looking forward to serving Latino youth in northwest Georgia in 2020. The program will serve youth enrolled in Dalton public schools.
In today’s world, immigrant and first-generation youth often face tremendous obstacles in achieving their goals. We aim to pair our students with one-on-one mentors (community volunteers like you) to support youth in attaining their dreams and becoming leaders in their communities.
COVID-19 social distancing protocols and forced virtual learning have put youth in especially isolated situations, making mentors an even more important addition to their lives during this global pandemic. We at the LAA are planning for all possible outcomes in the fall, including a fully virtual mentoring program with curriculum to facilitate new and continuing mentor/mentee relationships.
Apply here to be a MENTOR
FAMILY WELL-BEING
Georgia’s Latino population has exploded over the past 20 years, with Hispanics now representing 11 percent of the residents of metro Atlanta. As the number of Latinos in the state continues to grow, so do the socio-economic disparities that exist for Latino families. One-third of Latinos in the Atlanta region, for instance, live in poverty, and thousands of Latino families face hunger.
Our Family Well-Being department professionals work closely with families to meet their basic needs and assist them in times of crisis so that they can achieve stability and self-sufficiency. The work of the Family Well-Being focus area includes the Latino Basic Needs Program, the annual Spirit of Giving, and advocacy to address housing, health, and hunger for the Hispanic community.
The LAA serves primarily Latino families through the following family-stabilizing services:
· Homelessness Prevention:
o The LAA works with individuals and families who are facing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless by providing emergency financial assistance for rent, mortgage, or utility payments and case management to identify and address challenges a family may be facing.
The funding for this services is provided by the City of Dalton’s Community Development Block Grant and United Way. United Way funds allow the LAA to extend financial assistance to Murray County.
Contact: Yugeily Manriquez, Family Well-Being Specialist, 706.272.1996, ymanriquez@thelaa.org
· Benefits Enrollment*:
o The LAA’s highly trained, bilingual caseworkers assist clients in enrolling in public benefits they may be eligible for, such as SNAP, Medicaid, and PeachCare.
*For appointments and further assistance, contact:
Veronica Raymundo, Benefits Enrollment Specialist, 706.272.1997, vraymundo@thelaa.org
Marilyn Chavez, Benefits Enrollment Specialist / SNAP Case Manager, 706.272.1998, mchavez@thelaa.org
Food Provision:
We refer our clients to the following community partners: Chattanooga Food Bank, Salvation Army, City of Refuge, Greater Works Dalton.
Assistance to the community
· Applications & Renewals for Medical Assistances (Medicaid and PeachCare)
· Applications & Renewals for SNAP (Food Stamps)
· Advocacy on your Application or Renewal for SNAP, Medicaid or PeachCare
· Child Support Applications
· Birth Certificate Corrections (For Georgia Birth Certificates only)
· Assistance to fill out applications for United States Passports
· Financial Assistance (Rent, Mortgage, and Utility if funds are available)
· Translations
Community Resources and Information
· Resources list for financial aid and low cost housing
· Support and referrals to victims of sexual and domestic abuse/violence
Applying for benefits
If you are applying for benefits (SNAP/Medicaid/Peachcare) make sure to have the following documents:
· Client ID Number (if you’ve previously had benefits in GA, this number is the same)
· Identification with photo (not expired)
· Birth certificates + Social Security Cards (of anyone applying)
· Most recent Utility Bills (Light, Gas, Water) in the name of the applicant
· Lease Contract in the name of the applicant/ Form 821
· Form 809 or Check stubs/ Employment Letter/ Self-Employment Forms
Contacts:
Veronica Raymundo, Benefits Enrollment Specialist, 706.272.1997, vraymundo@thelaa.org
Marilyn Chavez, Benefits Enrollment Specialist / SNAP Case Manager, 706.272.1998, mchavez@thelaa.org
Renewing your benefits
If you are renewing your benefits (SNAP/Medicaid/Peachcare) make sure to have the following documents:
· Client ID Number
· Identification with photo (not expired)
· Most recent Utility Bills (Light, Gas, Water) in the name of the applicant
· Lease Contract/ Form 821
· Check stubs/ Employment Letter/ Self-Employment Forms
Contacts:
Veronica Raymundo, Benefits Enrollment Specialist, 706.272.1997, vraymundo@thelaa.org
Marilyn Chavez, Benefits Enrollment Specialist / SNAP Case Manager, 706.272.1998, mchavez@thelaa.org
To learn more, please visit https://thelaa.org/translations/
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
We offer affordable legal services to help eligible, low-income immigrants obtain immigration benefits in the U.S. Our legal team consists of Attorneys, DOJ Partially Accredited Representatives, Paralegals, support staff, and volunteers.
The legal services we provide include (but are not limited to):
Permanent Residency;
Naturalization;
Assistance with removal or deportation;
Legal assistance for unaccompanied minors;
Renewals of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA);
Victims of crime or violence relief;
Court motions;
Asylum; and
Pardons
Please be aware that we may not always be able to take new cases in all of the areas above and it will vary based on demand and our current caseload.
*We do not accept cases of employment-based, student and tourist visas nor offer legal representation of individuals detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Every individual seeking services requires a consultation in order for the LAA to determine eligibility. You can schedule a consultation by calling 404.471.1889 and leaving a message or by sending an e-mail to immigrationservices@thelaa.org; please provide your name, phone number, and type of immigration service you are seeking. Someone from our team will contact you for an initial screening and to schedule the appointment for a consultation. Consultations are made on a first come, first serve basis and do not guarantee further service or legal representation.
WE SEE CLIENTS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
