Social Work Graduate’s Goal is Building Community

ATLANTA — Soon-to-be double Panther Yoharis Mendoza Altamar (B.S. ’22, M.S.W. ’24) was certain since age 7 that she’d grow up to be a lawyer to help her community. That dream and the offer of a life-changing Goizueta Foundation scholarship led the first-generation student from Lithia Springs, Ga., to enroll in Georgia State’s criminal justice program.

Mendoza’s experiences in the criminal justice system as an undergraduate, particularly her internship with the Victim-Witness Assistance Program at the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, broadened her understanding of her potential to aid people impacted by the legal system.

She carried this work further upon her 2022 graduation when, with help provided by the Andrew Young School’s Career Services staff, she was hired as a bilingual victim advocate in the Douglas County Solicitor General’s Office.

As the only Spanish-speaking advocate, Mendoza aided victims in navigating the legal and court processes. She ensured they understood their rights and translated information and documents regarding their cases.

“It was really disappointing to see not many places were able to offer Spanish-language services for the community,” she said. “Even when resources were available, little was done to ensure the community was aware and could benefit. At that point, I decided not to go to law school. I knew there were many ways I could serve my community.”

Yoharis (center), her brother Bernardo, also a double Panther, and their family.

This awareness led Mendoza to the Master of Social Work program.

“My long-term goal now is to get my license so I can offer counseling services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in my community in the language they speak,” she said.

When Mendoza entered Georgia State’s M.S.W. program, she continued working as a victims-of-violence intern advocate for Raksha Inc., and later for the Latin American Association’s Victims of Violence program. She also served as a graduate administrative assistant (GAA) at the Latinx Student Services and Outreach Office (LASSO) at Georgia State.

“LASSO handled the scholarship I was awarded as an incoming freshman,” she said. “I ended up finding a job, family and community there. They have an amazing space on campus in which students find mentors and work with the community. They also covered tuition for me as a GAA, so it was a major relief on my pocket. It gave me time to mentor younger students who were getting bachelor’s degrees and/or thinking about getting master’s degrees and coming to Georgia State.”

As a college graduate, Mendoza is a role model for her younger cousins and the pride of her maternal grandmother and parents. In January she joined Arena Latina, which works with students to build community through sports, as its program director. The nonprofit was founded by her brother, Georgia State double Panther Bernardo Mendoza Altamar (B.B.A. ’17, M.P.Acy. ’18) in 2019.

“When we were younger, our parents instilled in us the importance of education,” Mendoza said. “I’m grateful for my parents, my siblings and my husband for their love and support and I feel very proud to say that I represent my family and my country. For me, this degree is an accomplishment I share with my entire family.”