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Dr. Erin Montero Rangno's Students Welcome Guests from La Paz
La Paz encourages GPS students to become bilateral and bilingual through Spanish.
In conjunction with La Paz Chattanooga, GPS recently celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month and Latino Professional Week with an in-school workshop on being bilingual in the workplace.
La Paz is a local nonprofit that seeks to guide, connect, and strengthen Chattanooga's Latino community through advocacy, education, and inclusion. Four Latino community members joined La Paz in encouraging our Upper School Spanish students to continue studying foreign languages and to become better acquainted with their foreign neighbors.
“We’re proud of being who we are,” says Angela Garcia, Director of Marketing and Business Development for La Paz. “Having that second language will open many doors.”
Garcia brought the group to GPS for the two-class session. When the former managing editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press’ Noticias Libres came to Chattanooga in 2001, she says there were very few Latino businesses or stores. She rose to the ranks of managing editor and contributing writer for La Paz's publication, Lideres, which highlights and celebrates the accomplishments of Latinos in Chattanooga. (Lideres is Spanish for leaders.)
One of La Paz's recognized leaders is Emmanuel Escobar, Talent and Development Aid for EPB. “I grew up in high school feeling like I didn’t know who I am,” Escobar says. “I finally settled the terms. I am proud to be Latino, proud of who I am.”
The Mexico native is EPB’s diversity recruiter in the technology sector and is a company advocate and talent scout. Through his work he says he experiences both Latino and American cultures and is proud of the company for increasing its diversity. Within that diversity he encourages women to pursue careers in engineering, saying it will impact their lives.
“One of the quickest ways to develop a relationship is through language,” he says. “It connects people. It will give you an immediate in to who they are.”
Also born in Mexico, Monica Griffin arrived in Dalton, Georgia, as its Latino population began to grow nearly 20 years ago. She and 15 of her closest friends were hired as exchanged teachers to a population that swelled to 75 percent of Spanish-speaking residents.
“I only wanted to live here and help the community,” says Griffin, a mother of two who is Lead Preschool-3 Teacher and Spanish Immersion Curriculum Coordinator at St. Peter’s Episcopal School. Both of her children are bilingual.
“We need to embrace other cultures,” Griffin says. “We need to embrace other communities. It means that you are a well-rounded person when you speak another language. It is a wonderful thing to have students who are bilingual and bilateral.”
La Paz's Director of Community Health and Wellness, Jassica Cliche, manages several of the agency's programs for Lations. She relocated from her home country of Guatemala to Chattanooga 18 years ago. "I think it is important to be bilingual and to be able to translate that to my customers," she says. "I am the bridge. Being bilingual will open not just doors, but your heart and your mind to the world.”
La Paz's Director of Community Health and Wellness, Jassica Cliche, manages several of the agency's programs for Lations. She relocated from her home country of Guatemala to Chattanooga 18 years ago. "I think it is important to be bilingual and to be able to translate that to my customers," she says. "I am the bridge. Being bilingual will open not just doors, but your heart and your mind to the world.”
National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the contributions of Hispanics and Latinos as well as celebrates their language and culture. The month-long celebration runs from September 15 to October 15.
