Who am I?
My name is Erika De Leon, and I will be a junior at Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, TN. I am majoring in education with a minor in Creative Writing.
What has made me want to serve at La Paz Chattanooga?
I am in a Bonner Scholars program that requires two years of summer service and a total of 280 hours. This is my second summer serving the Bonner program. One of the compositions Bonner offers, which is also one of the themes at La Paz, is: Civic Engagement. Since the Bonner program and La Paz Chattanooga have a theme in common, I became interested in seeing how it is performed by the Latino community and appreciate how they work together more in depth. Since Bonner serves and works with non-profit organizations, I became more passionate about working with organizations like this one, La Paz Chattanooga.
How did I hear about La Paz Chattanooga?
I heard about this organization from my cousin, Steisy Vásquez. Once she told me about this organization, without thinking twice, I wanted to apply for a spot where I could help and serve them. To achieve this, I contacted Lily and connected her to my coordinator to make an agreement for the purpose of working with them all summer 2024.
How has my experience serving at La Paz Chattanooga been?
Working at La Paz has allowed me to be more courteous and gain confidence in myself, helping others and improving as a person. My best experience has been spending time in small groups, according to what the Director Stacy Johnson and the rest of the staff would offer me. I am eternally grateful for being able to serve La Paz and I truly believe it was worth my time spent with them. It has been an honor to help them during the celebration of their 20th anniversary since the foundation of this organization.
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