GALEO Graduated 25 More Community Leaders
Georgia State University Goizueta Scholars Join Over 459 alumni of the GALEO Institute for Leadership
Press Release
Contact: Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO, 404.745.2580, jerry@2014old.galeo.org
(Atlanta, GA): April 24, 2015 – GALEO graduated 25 new leaders from the GALEO Institute for Leadership and the partnership with Georgia State University’s Goizueta Scholars program. This is the second cohort of Goizueta Scholars which have graduated from the GALEO Institute for Leadership, which had 15 young women and 10 young men. Goizueta scholars are required to participate in leadership development training during their sophomore year at Georgia State University. The graduation luncheon was held today, April 24, 2015, at Georgia State University.
GALEO Institute for Leadership graduates heard inspiring words from Antonio Molina, Chief of Staff of Georgia State Representative Pedro Marin. Molina provided the students with inspiring speech and encouraged them to continue their ongoing leadership development for the benefit of our communities.
The graduation follows a serious commitment for a year round program that develops basic leadership skills while also exposing the participants to other community leaders and potential opportunities for continued leadership development.
The participants were exposed to the following community leaders: Jose Blanco; Greg Bautista; Beverly Isegohi; David Araya & Angela Hurtado, Hispanic Organization Promoting Education; Rey Martinez, City Council Member in Loganville; Yovany Jerez, AT&T; Jessica Nunan, Caminar Latino; Christopher Perlera, Georgia Secretary of State’s Office; Genny Castillo, Director of Caucus Services for the Georgia House Democratic Caucus; Georgia State Representative David Casas (R-Lilburn); Antonio Molina, Chief of Staff for Georgia State Rep. Pedro Marin (D); Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO; and Rosa Martinez, State Farm Insurance Company.
The GALEO Latino Community Development Fund has implemented the GALEO Institute for Leadership to focus upon the leadership development of the Latino community across our state. As part of the GALEO Institute for Leadership, GALEO formed a strategic partnership with the University of Georgia’s Fanning Institute to expand and develop our joint efforts for the Community Leadership Program.
Part of the experiences that they had included working on a community project, which most of them dealt with immigration reform. Furthermore, one group has committed to starting an undocumented student alliance at Georgia State University to do advocacy for undocumented students. The students also experienced a visit to the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, GA in partnership with El Refugio. In addition, the students had a trip to the Capitol where they met with various elected officials and staffers.
This is the 14th group of graduates resulting from GALEO’s leadership development efforts. The total number of GALEO Institute for Leadership alumni now stands at 459 people from all across the state.
This leadership program was made possible in part by the Sapelo Foundation, University of Georgia-Fanning Institute, GALEO and Georgia State University.
The GALEO Institute for Leadership plans to continue the leadership sessions for 2016 and recruiting will begin soon. There is a statewide program running now with a strong Class of 2015 with an additional 28 participants. For information on the statewide 2015 sessions and the application process, please visit http://2014old.galeo.org/leadership/gil/ . For other questions regarding the next GALEO Institute for Leadership in 2016, contact Samuel Aguilar at 404.745.2546 or samuel@2014old.galeo.org. Pictures of the graduation are available upon request and are posted on www.facebook.com/GALEO.org . Click here for graduation pictues.
Sponsorship opportunities for the 2016 sessions are available to invest in Georgia’s future leaders. Please contact Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director, GALEO at jerry@2014old.galeo.org or 404.745.2580.
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About Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO)
GALEO’s mission is to increase civic engagement and leadership of the Latino/Hispanic community across Georgia.
CORE BELIEFS: Inclusive, Non-Partisan, Diversity, Responsive
Website: http://2014old.galeo.org