LATANYA GRAVES, PRESIDENT BLACK HAWK COUNTY NAACP

We are asking for families or individuals that have been directly impacted by violence in our community to be on the panel.  If you are interested,  please send your brief bio to waterloonaacp@gmail.com.  Deadline if interested in being on the panel is Tuesday, February 7, 2017.  The deadline allows the committee to gather all information needed  for the flyers (pictures, bio, etc.), so we can have a great turnout and hear from you. The flyers will be circulated through all social and media outlets! To become a sponsor please call (319) 214-3434.

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LATANYA was born in Paducah, Kentucky, and at a very young age her family moved to Waterloo, Iowa.  She is the 2nd oldest of four siblings and attended Hawthorne Elementary, McKinstry Jr. High and East High School.  She is very proud to be a “Trojan” alumni.  Having always been a person that has tried to be fair, at a very young age LaTanya knew she had a yearning desire to assist anyone in need.  It didn’t matter the color of your skin, if you called on her she was there to assist you.  Because she wanted to make a difference in her community and the lives of the many individuals whom she would come into contact with, LaTanya became an advocate and member of many community organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Social Action Inc. (SAI) the African American Leadership Coalition (AALC), Transition Project Helping Hands (TPHH), Smith Brother’s Memorial Homeless Program (SBMHP), Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), just to name a few.  LaTanya also feels education is lifelong and began her journey in 1984 obtaining a Diploma in the Business Office Clerical Program from Hawkeye Institute of Technology.  She then received a Secretarial Specialist Diploma from American Institute of Commerce in 1989 also making the Dean’s List.  Yet, she wanted more and in 1998 she re-enrolled at Hawkeye Community College.  However, working full-time, raising a family and being involved in her community was a daunting task so she could only take part-time classes.  She obtained her Associates in Arts from HCC “Cum laude” in 2005.  After taking a much needed break from school she didn’t return until 2007 with encouragement from friends to keep going.  Thus, she started taking part-time classes at Upper Iowa University and walked across the stage in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, again “Cum laude.”  Due to work, life, and her involvement in the community she went on another hiatus.  However, the desire to pursue higher education was always at the forefront and being a person that always promoted education, LaTanya enrolled at Capella University in 2012 and began the journey of pursuing her Masters in Human Services, with a Specialization in Community Services.  She graduated “Summa cum laude” in 2016.  She feels her purpose is to assist and advocate for those individuals whose voices sometimes go unheard and thus, founded “DIVA’S” (Divine, Intelligent, Victorious Aspiring Sisters) in 2008.  After 25 years of service at Hawkeye Community College, she retired, in June of 2015.  However, she still works with youth and young adults in the community and is employed at Bakari Behavioral Health, which stands for “One Who Shows Great Promise!”  LaTanya truly believes we all have great promise and sometimes we just need a push in the right direction.  She loves God, her family and friends and just people.  In her leisure, she loves to travel, read, and hang out with her “Besties for life,” especially road trips!

WATERLOO NAACP

LATANYA GRAVES - PRESIDENT

P.O. BOX 304

WATERLOO, IOWA 50704

319.214.3434

WATERLOONAACP.ORG