At La Paz, we’ve been discussing the organization turning 20 years old, and what our lives were like when we each turned 20 years old. What were you like at age 20?
Our staff and board all agreed that there was still very much to learn at that age. Some of us were still lost and discovering who we were. But we also felt a newfound power and confidence that propelled us towards our own purpose.
We’d like to say that this, too, is where La Paz is today: filled with passion and purpose.
Recently we’ve gotten to know a few folks in their early 20s who are positively impacting their friends, fellow students, and community. One of them is Mateo Jimenez, a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a graduate of Hamilton County Schools.
We first met Mateo when he was an intern with The Enterprise Center, a bright-faced Political Science major eager to bring cultural representation to his digital equity advocacy work.
Mateo’s upbringing is similar to that of many children of immigrant parents – translating for his parents at school meetings or doctor’s appointments, all while navigating his identity as someone found in between two cultures. After switching schools during a district rezoning, he experienced the heartache of starting over in a new place, much like his parents when they left Guatemala to come to the United States.
In his college life, Mateo is a founding member of Lambda Theta Phi, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s first Latin fraternity organization. He’s also part of the campus organization, HOLA (Hispanic Outreach Leadership Association), where he cultivates community and with other Latino university students.
“Our Latino population is growing immensely every single year. And we're starting to see that in colleges; years back when I was a freshman in college, there were barely any Latinos at UTC. It was just me and a group of 10 that were really actively involved on campus.”
Passionate about education access for his community, he wants to see more Latinos moving through higher education and pursuing careers that will contribute to our city. Although Mateo was past the age to participate in Avanzando Through College when La Paz began the program in the fall of 2023, he champions programming that supports Latino students and has witnessed some of his own friends join the first two cohorts.
“How do we help these students succeed in college? Avanzando has done that,” Mateo says of the program that provides soft skills development, tools for financial and mental wellbeing, as well as opportunities for industry networking. “It's really bridging a lot of gaps.”
While Mateo is proactive about building relationships that support Latino college students, he recognizes the importance of fostering positivity within his own community, and to younger generations. He and his chapter hope to bring the program Junior Lambdas to Chattanooga, a mentorship program established by the national president of his fraternity. “My hope is that we're able to inspire children in the community through that avenue.”
Growing up in Chattanooga at a time when Latinos were scarcely represented, Mateo’s wish is for the future generations to value and pursue education. “Although it's work, you're going to be doing a lot of meaningful impact once you're done,” he says. “You'll have your opportunities to be a doctor, to be a lawyer, a politician, or a firm owner.”
His definition of a thriving Latino community is one that has leaders making decisions and skilled professionals contributing to their city. “That's one thing that I hope to see in Chattanooga in the future. To see more people who look like me in those positions.”
Today, he’s building the foundation for strong Latino representation both on and off UTC’s campus. “We are a very inclusive community in Chattanooga. And I know for a fact that La Paz has a big role in that.”
Our work at La Paz over the past two decades has not only shaped our community, but has expanded our belief that a strong city is one that considers the potential of every single person, regardless of where they’re from.
As we look to this next year and beyond, La Paz is committed to continue opening doors for our Latino community and letting them decide what their future holds. We are committed to their potential.
Mateo is confident in the potential of our city’s Latinos because he knows La Paz always has their back. “I know that there are people out there advocating for me, people out there who are giving us a voice in the community.”
As a champion of La Paz, you support work that opens doors for the next generation of Latinos in our city, and empowers them to pursue their dreams.
Continue your impact and commit to supporting La Paz in 2025 by making a contribution—move forward with us, en comunidad.
With gratitude,
La Paz Chattanooga
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