How LAA is Empowering the Hispanic Community 

For Santiago Marquez, serving the Hispanic community in Georgia isn’t just a job — it’s a calling. As the dedicated CEO of the Latin American Association (LAA) and a board member of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia for the past three years, Santiago has been at the forefront of efforts to provide vital support and resources to those who need them most.

The LAA operates from two main offices in Gwinnett County and Northwest Georgia, with additional locations in Dalton. Their work is organized around two key areas: family well-being and workforce development.

 “We focus on stabilizing families by addressing issues like food insecurity, access to public benefits and helping victims of violence,” Santiago explains. “But we also work to empower individuals through workforce development, offering English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, immigration services and job-skilling programs.”

One of the LAA’s standout initiatives is its micro-lending program, which helps aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, start and grow their businesses. 

“We’ve been running this program for ten years now,” said Santiago proudly. “We help incubate businesses, provide access to capital, and offer continued support to ensure these ventures thrive. It’s all about economic mobility.”

The Community Foundation has recently partnered with LAA in this initiative.

Through its Impact Investment Fund, the Community Foundation is providing an investment of $100,000 to LAA to expand its micro-lending program in Gwinnett County. 

This influx of funds enables LAA to offer specifically tailored loans of up to $10,000 to Latina women entrepreneurs participating in its Latina empowerment program, Avanzando Juntas (translated: Moving Forward Together). 

Micro-loans of this nature have proven to be immensely impactful for small businesses in their beginning stages, providing vital financial support for entrepreneurs who are just starting out. 

“Everything we do centers around one purpose — improving our world through the power of philanthropy. By providing increased capital to the LAA, we aspire to empower Latina entrepreneurs and instigate meaningful change in our community,” said DePriest Waddy, CEO of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. 

For over a decade, the LAA has been a pioneer in providing micro-loans to budding business owners, boasting an impressive track record. The success stories are numerous, but one stands out in particular. 

Recently, LAA was able to provide a mother who had the drive and an incredible work ethic with the resources she needed to start her own business. She now owns a thriving catering company called Sweet Toppings, thanks to the help of LAA. 

The LAA’s work doesn’t stop with financial support. Santiago emphasizes the holistic approach their organization takes. 

“Even those accessing capital might still need help with other challenges, like improving their English or navigating immigration issues,” he said. “We wrap our services around them to ensure they have the best chance at success.”

His passion for this work is rooted in a deep respect for the people LAA serves — individuals who are often overlooked but whose contributions are vital to the functioning of society.

“We rely on these folks to keep the country moving; we saw that during COVID, but I think we have forgotten,” Santiago reflected. “The people who pick the food, the people who keep manufacturing going, the people who work plants, factories and chicken processing — these are the heroes we once celebrated. But since the pandemic ended, we’ve kind of forgotten about them. These are the folks we serve, and they don’t have much of a voice. The LAA not only provides services for them but gives them a voice as well.”

The LAA is particularly focused on expanding its presence in Gwinnett County, where the need is great.

“That’s very important because that area where we’re going is around 70% Hispanic and there’s a lot of need there. There are 40,000 Latinos in Gwinnett County, so we’re looking forward to expanding our capacity,” Santiago said.

A key initiative in this expansion is the Continuum of Care, an assessment center that LAA has recently acquired. This center serves as a crucial hub where individuals in need can receive referrals and wraparound services. 

“The last thing that people in desperate situations need is to be sent somewhere else. We aim to provide an end destination, a place where they can receive all the support they need in one location,” Santiago said.

As LAA continues to expand and adapt to meet the needs of Gwinnett County’s growing Hispanic population, its commitment to inclusivity remains at the forefront. 

“LAA is here for everyone,” said Santiago. “Our doors are open to those who are most vulnerable, and this is really important because there are so many Latinos in Gwinnett County that are not being served. We’re excited about this opportunity.”

With the support of The Community Foundation, LAA is poised to continue making a profound difference in the lives of Gwinnett County’s Hispanic community and beyond.

Learn more about the LAA at thelaa.org.