Meet Our Fall 2025 Interns: Makayla & Renee

Each semester, La Paz welcomes 2-3 interns who spend months learning about our organization, building relationships with our community, strengthening our agency partnerships, and gaining practical skills to support their education and civic life. We were so grateful for this semester's interns, who developed new initiatives for our food access efforts, an important part of La Paz's work in 2025.

Read below to get to know Makayla and Renee, our Fall 2025 food access interns!

Makayla Garrett

Food Access Intern

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Major: International Public Policy Economics

Minor: Spanish & Computer Science

What are some of your roles and responsibilities as Food Access Intern?

For my role here at La Paz, it is important for me to use bilingual communication skills to engage with our community members and help meet their needs. Using my Spanish speaking abilities helps me meet them halfway and strengthen my outreach to them. Another responsibility I have is coordinating food pickups with our local Chattanooga Area Food Bank and partner organizations to ensure that the food pantry remains stocked.

Why did you choose La Paz to fulfill your internship?

This was an opportunity I learned about through my school, and I believe that it was a blessing I found it. I have heard about La Paz through my friends before doing this internship but learned more about the organization’s missions and goals during my time here.

What have you learned or gained through this experience?

Through this internship with La Paz, I have gained experience working with a non-profit and have seen the highs and lows of working with marginalized communities. The experience is humbling and has given me a chance to interact with the kindest members of our community who have shared their testimonies of struggle and success with me. I have gained knowledge that I will carry with me for a lifetime. Interning with La Paz was nothing short of lifechanging. I will miss the friendly, welcoming environment that the lovely team La Paz has created, and I am eternally grateful for all the staff members for welcoming me to be part of the journey and mission here.

Final reflections

My time at La Paz was short but one of the most rewarding life experiences I have had. The community members and staff are very respectful and kind to me, and I feel spiritually fulfilled after each day of work. I will never forget one of the members I worked with share with me how La Paz and I have changed her life. I am so grateful to have been considered part of her journey and see her now thrive. I am grateful for all the wisdom and knowledge that has been imparted to me. I am grateful for the warmth I have received from La Paz. To sum up my time here in one word, it is that I am grateful. Estoy agradecida por todo lo que me ha enseñado La Paz.

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Renee Radford

Engagement/Food Pantry Intern

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga;

Major: BS Environmental Science, BA Spanish

What are some of your roles and responsibilities as Engagement/Food Pantry Intern?

My responsibilities are to increase community engagement with the Latinx community and the clients that use our services at La Paz. I talk to the clients about the events, activities, and

programs we currently offer and we also have flyers and pamphlets at our intern table that clients are welcome to take if they are interested. I also help with the setup, organization, and

distribution of our food pantry. I am in charge of our garden too! It is small, but I am currently

growing radishes, beets, kale, broccoli, peas, cilantro, lettuce, and some flowers. I expanded the new reusable bag program to include punch cards that encourage clients to keep bringing their reusable bags. After four visits to our pantry, they get a free gift card that can be used at any Food Lion.

Why did you choose La Paz to fulfill your internship?

I chose La Paz for my internship because I had heard previously that it was a wonderful

nonprofit organization that had a real impact in the Chattanooga area. As one of the only places in Chattanooga offering social services to members of the Latinx community, it caught my attention as a great way to do my part in helping those struggling in an unsupportive climate, especially in a state that has been compliant with the current administration regarding

immigration policies.

What have you learned or gained through this experience?

I have learned a lot! You can only read so much in the news about what people are going

through and I think a lot of people who support social services for underrepresented,

marginalized, or lesser privileged individuals find themselves at a loss for how to support people in need. Through La Paz, I have gained a deeper understanding of what members of the Latinx community, specifically recent immigrants, are dealing with on a day to day and how much uncertainty exists for their security and welfare. Aside from the Latinx community, I have learned that these struggles extend to many different groups in the Chattanooga area and that there is a real need for things to change.

Final reflections

The last thing I would like to add is how much I appreciate what La Paz does day in and day

out and I believe that all of Chattanooga benefits from the resources and advising La Paz gives to the Latinx community. To be working on the inside, getting to know the people who work here, and seeing the people whose lives have changed as a result is very inspiring. It gives me hope that progress can still be accomplished in troubling times and that love always wins over hate.

GRACIAS to Makayla and Renee for all you have done for La Paz Chattanooga!