Officials said, "Founded in 2009, the Latino Leadership Awards aim to celebrate the rich contributions of Chattanooga’s Latino community — from entrepreneurs and businesses to community advocates shaping Chattanooga’s future.
"After years structured as a midday luncheon, the event was reimagined in 2023 as an evening celebration, complete with dinner and dancing."
“The Latino Leadership Awards are a long-treasured event, not just for La Paz staff and board members, but also for our friends and supporters across the area,” said La Paz Chattanooga COO Vivian Lozano.
“It’s always such a joyful occasion — truly an atmosphere as lively as the community it honors. It is a genuine honor to uplift and celebrate a community that pours so much life into the city we call home.”
Award categories, as well as finalists in each category, are listed below:
Latino Leader of the Year
Viridiana Marin, Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition
Jazmine Fernandez, Hamilton County Schools
Xavier Cotto, Southside Youth Development (and La Paz board member)
Chattanooga’s Choice
Ensamble de México dance group
Louie Marin-Howard, The Pop Up Project
Jacqueline Rivera-Cornier, Catholic Charities of East Tennessee
Latino Community Champion Award (organization/business)
Baker Donelson
The Pop Up Project
Chattanooga Area Food Bank
Emerging Latino Leader Award
Jennifer Velasquez, Chattanooga State Community College
Steisy Vasquez, Chattanooga State Community College
Alex De La Cruz, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
La Paz Volunteer of the Year Award
Daisy Hernandez Puac
Brittany Faith
Melissa Callejas
Latino Business of the Year
Fernando’s Restaurant
Jacinto’s Auto Sales
Sign Revolution
Latino New Business of the Year
Victoria’s Bouquets
Little Venezuela
Radio Fiesta Latina
The 2025 Latino Leadership Awards will take place on Friday, Sept. 19 at The Westin Chattanooga, 801 Pine St. To learn more about the event and award categories, vote for “Chattanooga’s Choice” and to purchase tickets, lapazchattanooga.org/awards.