DALTON, Ga. — Just more than a week ago, Dalton State College student Maria Guijon became president of the city’s Coalition of Latino Leaders, or CLILA, following the departure of its founder, America Gruner. Ms. Gruner left Dalton for a job in Atlanta.
Ms. Guijon, 20, studies psychology at Dalton State College and eventually wants to work with teens. She’s also the volunteer leader of CLILA, whose members register voters, hold forums and organize English and citizenship classes.
NEWSMAKER
Name: Maria Isabel Guijon
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Hometown: San Pablo Pejo Guanajuato, Mexico
The Chattanooga Times Free Press spoke with Ms. Guijon last week about grass-roots organizing and new immigrants’ needs.
Q: How old were you when you came to the U.S.?
A: Eleven.
Q: It was just a couple of years after that that you met America, right?
A: Yeah, like around 14, 15.
Q: You met America before she started CLILA?
A: She was giving a presentation for HIV, through the Promotoras de Salud Program, at church.
I was leading the youth group at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Q: Was there something about her activism that made an impression on you?
A: I was not aware of it until I started working with her more closely.
Q: When was that?
A: I started working at Promotoras de Salud in 2005 when I graduated Dalton High School.
Q: What did you do at Promotoras?
A: Health community worker. We do case management for people with different illnesses, diseases.
Q: So, then in 2006, America started CLILA? You were there from the beginning?
A: Yes. I was there from the beginning. We saw the necessity of getting an organization.
We would talk about it during our breaks or whenever we were going from place to place. Sometimes we had to go to the hospitals or the doctors. ... We kind of took advantage of that time to talk ... about her plans of incorporating a new organization, and working more (with) the Hispanic community — the people that need the most.
We are considered grass- roots.
Q: What does that mean to you?
A: It’s my inspiration to continue in CLILA. I believe that it’s really good to help, but it’s better to help those that are needing you the most. Especially with the Hispanics here, they need a lot of guidance. ...
We’re working directly with the people. That’s what motivates me to continue with CLILA.
Q: What has made you feel like your work has been successful?
A: It’s good to know that we are trying to motivate the community and to inform them about the importance of voting. We saw a reaction in the voting for the mayor. A lot of the people that we helped register ... went to vote.
That’s something really exciting, to see that the community members are starting to get involved in civic activities.
Q: What do you see as CLILA’s challenges?
A: A lot of times it’s financial. We started working with no pennies at all. That’s one of the biggest challenges. But it’s getting better, and hopefully we will be able to continue with the resources that we have been able to obtain.
Q: You get resources from donations?
A: Donations or grants. ... But we don’t have many. That’s the biggest challenge, to be able to work with the community with very limited resources.
Q: Was it a little bit daunting when America asked you to lead CLILA? What was your reaction?
A: I was in a way happy to be able to do it. But I was also aware that it was going to be a big responsibility. ...
A lot of people are believing in CLILA.
Q: Were you worried that it would take a lot of time?
A: Not really. ... We always say it’s ... a big group of people. ... There’s lots of people working together.
Q: When you came to the U.S. did you come straight to Dalton?
A: I went to Texas for a few days, but then I came here. It’s a difficult time. ... It’s very stressful.
Q: So, dealing with new immigrants, you know what it’s like?
A: You know how it feels like. You understand them a lot more. You understand their needs more.
Q: What are some of those needs?
A: There’s always a need for support, people who you can count on for information and to guide you as to how things work in the States. There’s always that need for ... knowing that there’s people like you that went through the same things that you’re going through now. To see the difference, to see that with time you can live in another place.
Q: You see that as part of CLILA’s role, giving people support?
A: Yes, that’s a great part of CLILA.
