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Serving the growing Hispanic community in the Chattanooga area

serving-growing-hispanic-community serving-growing-hispanic-community

By Perla Trevizo November 10, 2011 3 min read

Stacy Johnson, executive director of La Paz Chattanooga

Hamilton County School Board member George Ricks

A group of health care and nonprofit representatives tried to connect the dots with four lines without lifting their pencils and to match proverbs from different countries – all with the goal of thinking outside the box.

Representatives from La Paz Chattanooga and United Way’s Center for Nonprofits held a workshop Wednesday for organizations seeking to engage and market to Hispanics in the area.

There are about 15,000 Hispanics in Hamilton County, according to the U.S. census, although La Paz estimates there are more than 20,000.

The key in serving this community, according to Stacy Johnson, executive director of La Paz, is cultural competency.

“Knowledge, awareness and sensitivity are important,” she told the group.