Hispanic Engagement Meeting Held With City, County Leaders
Friday, July 21st, 2023
Leaders from the city and county governments as well as the Chamber of Commerce met Friday with leaders of the Hispanic community in a continuation of an effort to increase civic engagement. The Hispanic engagement meeting continued a City of Dalton initiative that was started in 2022 to develop an organization of leaders to both improve communication with the city and also to increase the Hispanic community's participation in both appointed and elected roles in government.
Caption: Business leaders and Chamber of Commerce board members Viviana and Carlos Ramirez speak to the Hispanic engagement meeting Friday at the JA Discovery Center
When the group began meeting in early 2022, the vision was to eventually form a standing advisory board or commission for the City of Dalton. That idea has evolved into the group becoming part of the Chamber of Commerce's Believe Greater Dalton (BGD) strategic plan. By operating under the BGD umbrella, the group can work with both the City of Dalton and Whitfield County as well as private businesses or organizations.
"Believe Greater Dalton is really the bridge," said Allyson Coker, the BGD director. "The way I see it, it's the bridge and the vehicle that we have for collaboration."
Former Dalton councilmember Annalee Sams spoke to the group Friday and discussed some progress that has already been made following last year's meetings. Sams, who resigned her council seat earlier this week in order to run for mayor, was instrumental in putting together the Hispanic engagement meetings last year. She spoke Friday as an interested citizen.
"(Increasing engagement) is a long-term challenge that already has solutions identified," Sams said. "Are we being actionable? Are things changing? The proof is found in that there are already members from those meetings (last year) serving on City of Dalton boards."
Since the first Hispanic engagement meetings were held in 2022, participants have been appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission (Manuel Meza), the Joint Development Authority (Carlos Ramirez), the Recreation Commission (Hector Santiago), and the Planning Commission (Octavio Perez, who was already serving, was re-appointed).
Captions: Dalton city administrator Andrew Parker and Annalee Sams spoke at the Hispanic engagement meeting Friday
"We need to do more and we need to see more changes now," Sams said, specifically mentioning Believe Greater Dalton's revitalization strategy for eliminating blight and improving the condition of Dalton's neighborhoods. "Believe Greater Dalton and the Chamber, I think that's truly the best vehicle for this group to be in to get where we need to go."
City administrator Andrew Parker updated the group on the latest strategic priorities for the city government, including continuing blight abatement and revitalization, the development of the new city charter, continued execution of capital projects, continued reinvestment in the Parks and Recreation system, and continued implementation of the city's stormwater infrastructure plan.
Parker also told the group about a partnership with the Latin American Association (LAA) that was developed since the first Hispanic engagement meetings. The LAA is now leasing space in the Mack Gaston Community Center where it offers services for members of the Hispanic community.
Caption: Business leaders Viviana and Carlos Ramirez introduced Annalee Sams at the Hispanic engagement meeting on Friday morning
"We recognized the need to have a partnership with LAA to provide some basic services to some of our residents who needed it the most and we recognized as a city... we’re probably not the best group to be doing what they’re trying to do," Parker said. "So we entered into a 3-year lease at no charge to LAA, they’re helping to pay some of the utilities but there’s no rental charge at Mack Gaston, and they’re providing these 5 service areas: civic engagement advocacy, economic empowerment classes and sessions, education youth services, family stabilization and well-being, and immigration services. They have also many certified bilingual social workers."
New Whitfield County Elections Supervisor Shaynee McClure also gave a brief presentation to the group outlining how to register to vote and also how to qualify to run for office. She also pointed out important election dates for 2023 and 2024. City elections will be held on November 7th this year, with early voting held from October 16th through November 3rd. McClure also pointed out some statistics about the Whitfield County electorate, noting that only 18% of registered voters identify as Hispanic. Data from the 2020 Census shows that Hispanics make up 37.7% of the county's population and 52.5% of the City of Dalton's population.
Friday's meeting wrapped up with those in attendance sharing contact information to set up a network for future meetings.
"What we’re looking for you to do is to go to your neighbors, your younger siblings or your kids who are in high school and say what are the challenges you see?" Sams said, discussing how the group and Believe Greater Dalton can move forward. "And, tell me first and foremost how do you feel connected or disconnected from your community?"
