LAWA is Charlotte’s first organization established to serve the Latino student. Originally founded over 25 years ago as the Latin American Women’s Association, the organization changed its name to Latin Americans Working for Achievement in 2017 to accurately reflect its diverse internal and external populations. Education equity and access, workforce and talent development, and college and career readiness are the major focus areas of LAWA programs. High School Series is a program targeting high school students to promote their enrollment at post-secondary education programs including technical training and four-year studies. Over 1,000 youth have participated in the program since 2010. The Scholarships program targets undergraduate students. Scholarships are granted based on merit, community involvement, financial need, and interest in continuous growth and improvement. Over 240 youth have been awarded a LAWA scholarship since 1992. Both programs provide Latino youth with the tools and resources needed to become self-sufficient, contributing members of our community.