Identities & Belonging: Latinos in Atlanta, Speaking Spanish & Healing Collectively

In this episode you will hear from Luis Andino, Angelica, Ludemar Ball-Mora and Natalia Garzón Martínez. They all spend some time discussing their definitions of Latinidad and how Atlanta has changed their sense of belonging over the years. Other topics discussed include language (loss and acquisition) for new generations of Latinos, educational gaps for communities, and much needed investments for communities in need. Read below to learn more about the people participating in this conversation and don’t forget to share and rate this podcast! Luis Andino  Since joining the Latin American Association (LAA), the region’s leading agency representing Latino issues in Georgia, Mr. Luis Andino has led youth-focused initiatives meant to foster hope and provide impactful outcomes, while building meaningful connections to empower and inspire the youth and families of Buford Hwy. Today, Mr. Andino humbly serves as the Managing Director of Youth Services for the LAA. His team hosts the Annual Latino Youth Leadership Conference, an event that sees hundreds of Latino students from schools across the state, that aims to bridge the gap between access to higher education opportunities and funding for students in attendance. Angelica Angelica grew up in El Paso, Texas, a border town to Mexico and New Mexico where the mountains serve as a background. Working with the Hispanic community for the last 18 years has been an eye opening as well as challenging and rewarding. I come from a very close-knit family and have two beautiful daughters who mean the world to me. Ludemar Ball-Mora Ludemar Ball-Mora was born and raised on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. A month before turning 30 years old, she moved to Massachusetts where she started working at a non-profit for Hispanic families. She arrived in Georgia in 2018 and started to work as Case Manager at Ser Familia in 2021. Ludemar enjoys helping and embracing the community, especially the Latinos.