Cristina Guruceaga's Portfolio
Latin American Association
Our history is intertwined with the rise of the Latino population in the metro Atlanta region.
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The LAA was founded in 1972 by sheriff deputy Angel Ortiz and Stratton Frank, a Miami native who moved to Atlanta in 1971. Ortiz and Frank founded a small organization to serve Atlanta’s then-emerging Latino population by helping immigrants find jobs and affordable housing. Ortiz and Frank wanted to help immigrants from Latin America settle into their new home country. Ortiz initially worked from the trunk of his car, interpreting for families and providing resources to help them adapt to their new community.
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In its early years, the LAA provided services at a number of locations that included an apartment complex on Buford Highway, a former doctor’s office in Chamblee and an office space below Kmart in Broadview Plaza (now Lindbergh Plaza). The first office of the LAA was located behind the old Kmart in Lindbergh Plaza, next to the police station, a perfect location for the many families and elderly living in apartments on Morosgo and Lindbergh drives. In 1979, Lino Dominguez purchased the LAA’s newsletter, Gazeta Latina, for $10 and turned it into MundoHispánico, now the largest Spanish-language newspaper in Georgia.
LAA Youth Conference
OUR PROJECT
LAA asked our team at Georgia Tech to analyze the data of the LAA Youth Conference.
The annual Latino Youth Leadership Conference is a day-long event aims to motivate Latino students to finish high school and pursue college; provide them with the tools and skills they need to access a college education; develop leadership skills; and promote career exploration. This event for middle and high school students features nationally renowned motivational speakers, a College & Career Fair and workshops on college access, leadership development and career exploration.
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Over 2,300 students from across Georgia, parents and teachers attend the Latino Youth Leadership Conference each year. The event offers sponsors and exhibitors exposure to Latino teens and access to this important market. In 2017, top sponsors included Georgia Army National Guard, Wells Fargo, Turner, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Power, McDonald’s, Publix and more.