Latin Americans Working for Achievement

We are determined to advance the education and quality of life for Latinos in the Charlotte region. Through scholarships and college and career readiness programs, we provide a leg up to local families.

LAWA is Charlotte's first organization established to focus on the Latino student. Originally founded in 1992 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. LAWA programs provide Latino youth the tools and resources to become self-sufficient, integrated, and contributing members of the community and workforce.

In collaboration with high schools, colleges, universities, and corporate partners, LAWA delivers scholarships and workshops. Workshops promote high school completion and post-secondary education by introducing students to trade, vocational opportunities, associate degrees, and 4-year university programs, and by mentoring students and their families through the application process. LAWA scholarships are awarded to youth pursuing higher education. The scholarship application and renewal process encourage undergraduate completion.

LAWA aims to close academic achievement gaps, improve high school graduation rates, and increase the number of students that pursue and complete post-secondary study.