GALEO Year in REVIEW for 2015
Jan 7-8: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, as trustee for the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation attended a trustee meeting in Winston Salem, NC.
Jan 8: Samuel Aguilar, GALEO, met with a Republican State Senator to discuss GALEO’s legislative priorities.
Jan 8: Samuel Aguilar, GALEO, attended the Georgia Rural Urban Summit’s Legislative Forecast and presented on GALEO’s policy priorities.
Jan 9: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, participated in the voter registration efforts at naturalization ceremony at U.S.C.I.S. in Tucker.
Jan 9: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, was interviewed by Tim Bryant on News Talk Radio in Athens regarding the elimination of at-large voting for both the Cities of Gainesville and Dalton.
Jan 12-14: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in a conference on immigration hosted by the American Jewish Committee in Houston, Texas.
Jan 13: Tony Del Campo, Chairman of GALEO, Rocio Woody, GALEO Secretary, Samuel Aguilar, GALEO Program Manager, along with other Latino community leaders, met with Governor Nathan Deal and Secretary of State Brian Kemp to address the needs of Georgia’s Latino community. The meeting was coordinated by GALEO Board Chair, Tony Del Campo.
Jan 15: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, was interviewed by Rose Johnson, WABE 90.1 FM, on immigration matters and Georgia legislative initiatives.
Jan 15 – 17: GALEO members and volunteers attended the annual H.O.P.E. Global Forum hosted in Atlanta, Georgia and heard from various community leaders, including President Bill Clinton, H.U.D. Secretary Julian Castro, Ambassador Andrew Young and Congressman John Lewis.
Jan 15: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in a trustee meeting of the Atlanta Beltline Partnership.
Jan 16: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, participated in the voter registration efforts at naturalization ceremony at U.S.C.I.S. in Tucker.
Jan 20: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, presented to students at Westminster High School on immigration matters.
Jan 22: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in the board meeting of Leadership Atlanta.
Jan 23: GALEO Board hosted a social for new board members.
Jan 23: Press Release: GALEO Congratulates Leonard Gomez, Grantville City Council, for being elected to be the 1st Latino in Georgia to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem
Jan 24: GALEO conducted a train-the-trainer training session for new facilitators of the GALEO Institute for Leadership in Athens, GA.
Jan 26: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in the City of Atlanta’s Welcoming Initiative meeting.
Jan 26: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, along with some GALEO board members, attended the AIPAC Annual meeting at the Cobb Galleria.
Jan 28: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, attends the Georgia Trend luncheon honoring the 2015 Most Influential Georgians. He was honored as one of Georgia’s Notables, the third time he was distinguished with that honor.
Jan 30: GALEO Institute for Leadership class at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: Group Problem solving and decision making with David Araya and Angela Hurtado.
Feb 3: Samuel Aguilar and Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, hosted an application and interview day for University of North Georgia students interested in the GALEO Institute for Leadership program.
Feb 4: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, attended the State of the City address for the City of Atlanta by special invitation of Mayor Kasim Reed.
Feb 5: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, was interviewed on Vida 96.5 FM, and discussed immigration reform and elimination of at-large voting in Gainesville.
Feb 5: GALEO participated in efforts to provide testimony in support of SB44, legislative initiative authored by Sen. Nan Orrock (D), to allow for Georgia deferred action students to qualify for in-state tuition at Georgia’s colleges and universities.
Feb 7: GALEO conducted the second part of the GALEO Institute for Leadership training for facilitators.
Feb 9: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, was invited by Alston & Bird to attend a forum on the “Role of Protest in the Civil Rights Movement Yesterday & Today.”
Feb 10: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in a round table discussing with the DeKalb County Search Committee for their Superintendent.
Feb 10: GALEO meeting with Monsignor Jaime Barona of Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Gainesville to discuss Gainesville plans and collaboration.
Feb 10: GALEO Leadership Council meeting at the Latin American Association.
Feb 13: GALEO hosted the Georgia State University’s GALEO Institute for Leadership Class of 2016 at the State Capitol where they met with Latina/o staffers and elected officials, including Georgia State Rep. David Casas (R), Genny Castillo with the Georgia House Democratic Caucus and Christopher Perlera, Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
Feb 16: GALEO hosted a visitor from France, Ms. Salomon, to discuss diversity issues in Georgia. The meeting was coordinated by the Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV).
Feb 16: GALEO coordinated a meeting with Mr. Hank Huckabee, Chancellor of the Board of Regents.
Feb 17: Meeting in Gainesville with the committee leadership to discuss strategy and next steps for the elimination of at-large voting.
Feb 18: GALEO, along with other allies, participated in a rally to protect early voting in Georgia. Some legislators were proposing to cut early voting access.
Feb 20: The 2015 class of the GALEO Institute for Leadership kicked off with an opening reception in Atlanta. Speakers included Telemundo General Manager, Ivan Shammas and Hall County Sherriff Sergeant AnMarie Martin.
Feb 20-21: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, as trustee for the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation attended a trustee meeting in Winston Salem, NC.
Feb 21: GALEO Institute for Leadership, Understanding Community Leadership session with Pegui Mariduena and leadership panel featuring: David Schaefer, Latin American Association; Brenda Lopez, immigration attorney; Jaime Rangel, Georgia DREAMer from Dalton; and Leonard Gomez, Mayor Pro-Tem of Grantville.
Feb 23: Samuel Aguilar, GALEO, is selected for the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Millennial Advisory Panel.
Feb 23: Students from the Buxton School in Massachusetts visited Atlanta and met with GALEO staff to learn about Georgia’s changing demographics and the political representation of the Latino community.
Feb 24: Meeting with Gainesville’s voting rights committee in order to formalize efforts and assign responsibilities.
Feb 27: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in the Atlanta Beltline Partnership’s strategy planning retreat.
Feb 27: GALEO Institute for Leadership class at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: Conducting Successful Meetings session with Beverly Isegohi.
March 3: Gainesville Voting Rights Committee meeting.
March 4: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, presented on GALEO legislative priorities to the Georgia House Democratic Caucus staff members.
March 10: GALEO Leadership Council meeting at the Latin American Association.
March 13: Voter registration efforts at the Naturalization Ceremony in Rome, GA, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Georgia and the Coalition for the People’s Agenda.
March 13: GALEO Institute for Leadership class at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: Building Communities through Partnership and Collaboration with Beverly Isegohi.
March 14: GALEO Institute for Leadership, Valuing Community Diversity session with Beverly Isegohi and guest speakers Senator Nan Orrock and Senator Curt Thompson.
March 17: Meeting with the Gainesville Voting Rights Committee leadership to develop strategy and plans.
March 18: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, presented to the Anti-Defamation League’s Glass Institute for Leadership on GALEO’s role and legislative priorities.
March 20: Voter registration efforts at the Naturalization Ceremony at the USCIS office in Tucker.
March 23-24: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered to vote New Americans at their naturalization ceremony in Morrow, GA.
March 23: Meeting in Gainesville with Newtown Florist Club.
March 24: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, presented on GALEO’s legislative priorities to the LTA Sorority at the State Capitol.
March 26: GALEO Leadership Council planned and implemented a Lobby Day at the Capitol to discuss with legislators opposition to SB6, ban of access to driver’s licenses for deferred action students, and support for SB44, in-state tuition for deferred action students. We had approximately 12 people that participated and all had conversations with several targeted legislators.
March 27: GALEO Institute for Leadership class at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: Financial Literacy presentation with State Farm Agent Rosa Martinez.
March 28: Samuel Aguilar and Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, presented on civic engagement and registered new voters at the HoPE (Hispanic Organization Promoting Education) youth leadership conference for high-school students.
March 31: Cesar Chavez Day at the Capitol was coordinated and planned by the GALEO Leadership Council. Essay contest winners read their essays and were interviewed by Spanish media.
March 31: Gainesville Voting Rights Committee meeting at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Gainesville.
April 4: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, attends Novice debate tournament at the University of North Georgia to recruit volunteers and spread civic engagement awareness.
April 6: GALEO JOINS MORE THAN 150 CIVIL, LABOR, AND IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS GROUPS ON AMICUS BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF DHS IMMIGRATION ACTIONS.
April 7: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, and leaders of the voting rights committee visit the Gainesville City Council meeting room in order to get understanding of the meeting set-up, standards, and procedures.
April 10: GALEO Institute for Leadership class at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: final community project presentations.
April 10: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered to vote New Americans at their naturalization ceremony in Tucker, GA.
April 10: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, had a meeting with Gainesville’s voting engagement committee at the University of North Georgia.
April 11: GALEO Institute for Leadership, Group Dynamics Module with Greg Bautista.
April 14: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, begun the Gainesville Public Safety Citizens Academy.
April 15: GALEO meeting in Dalton, GA, to discuss the elimination of at-large voting.
April 16: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in the Atlanta Beltline Partnership board meeting.
April 17: GALEO members met with Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens for lunch.
April 18: Georgia State University’s Goizueta Scholars GALEO Institute for Leadership participants went to visit immigrants at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, GA.
April 21: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in Leadership Atlanta’s board meeting.
April 21: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, and the education committee met with Gainesville’s Latino community leaders to discuss the elimination of at-large voting, as part of our efforts to build stronger relations with business owners in the area.
April 22: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, spoke at UNG’s Latin Student Association to recruit support towards the May 5th direct action day at the City Council meeting.
April 23: GALEO participated with the City of Atlanta’s Welcoming Initiative press conference highlighting their strategic partnership with U.S.C.I.S. to promote citizenship within the City of Atlanta.
April 23: GALEO networking social.
April 24: GALEO graduated 25 new leaders from the GALEO Institute for Leadership partnership with Georgia State University and the Goizueta Scholars program with keynote address by Antonio Molina.
April 26: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, and the Gainesville’s voter engagement committee conducts a canvassing day to promote voter turnout in the upcoming local elections.
April 27: Gainesville Voting Rights Committee meeting with allies on the impact of the discriminatory at-large voting process. Business leaders, students and faith leaders attended.
April 28: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered to vote New Americans at their naturalization ceremony in Tucker, GA.
April 29: GALEO Applauds Governor Nathan Deal for another Latino Appointment: Jason Anavitarte, former GALEO Board member, appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the Commission on Equal Opportunity.
May 1: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered to vote New Americans at their naturalization ceremony in Tucker, GA.
May 2: Gainesville community canvassing efforts began with volunteers and canvassers.
May 4: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, attended and interview with “LA RAZA” Spanish radio station in order to promote Gainesville’s city council committee action day for the elimination of at-large voting and to motivate an increase in voter engagement in local elections throughout the state.
May 4: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, and the chair of Gainesville’s city council action committee visit “VIDA” Spanish radio station in order to record a Public Service Announcement to promote Gainesville’s city council committee action day for the elimination of at-large voting and to motivate an increase in voter engagement in local elections throughout the state.
May 5: Gainesville Voting Rights committee organized and lead efforts for public testimony at the City Council meeting in Gainesville, GA, to oppose at-large voting. We had over 60 members of the community show up in support of the elimination of at-large voting and several made statements against at-large voting.
May 8: 12th Annual GALEO Power Breakfast in Peachtree Corners, GA.
May 9: GALEO Board retreat meeting.
May 9: GALEO Institute for Leadership, Effective Communication module with Greg Bautista and Public speaking workshop by Genny Castillo.
May 11: GALEO Joins National Effort: Welcome.us Announces 2nd Annual Immigrant Heritage Month in June.
May 12: GALEO had a meeting with GALEO Members and the Mayor of Dalton regarding the elimination of at-large voting.
May 12: GALEO Leadership Council meeting at the Latin American Association.
May 13: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, hosts a voter registration and civic engagement information table during the Doraville’s Atlanta Street Food Coalition, community celebration and food truck rally.
May 14: Univision 34 Atlanta: Series of Hispanic Leaders in Georgia in partnership with GALEO. Please see videos here: http://2014old.galeo.org/univision-34-atlanta-series-of-hispanic-leaders-in-ga/ .
May 16: GALEO volunteers host a voter registration and civic engagement information table during Gwinnett’s Multicultural Festival.
May 18: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, was invited to a luncheon hosted by the Coca-Cola Company to welcome the President of Costa Rica to Atlanta.
May 18: Meeting with the Voting Rights Committee in Gainesville.
May 22: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered to vote New Americans at their naturalization ceremony in Tucker, GA.
May 26: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, was invited to lunch with Mayor Danny Dunagan, City of Gainesville, to discuss next steps on the elimination of at-large voting.
May 26: Voting Rights Committee meeting in Gainesville with community allies to discuss the issues and discriminatory effects of at-large voting.
May 28: GALEO meeting with Newtown Florist Club to discuss the discriminatory at-large voting in Gainesville.
May 29: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered to vote New Americans at their naturalization ceremony in Tucker, GA.
May 30: GALEO participated in the ProGeorgia retreat.
May 30: Gainesville volunteers efforts to register new voters and Get Out To Vote efforts for Latino voters in the local elections for November led by Diana Vela.
June 1: GALEO summer interns orientation.
June 2: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, and the League of Women Voters of Georgia attended Hall County’s Board of Elections meeting.
June 4: Samuel Aguilar, GALEO, met with 50 international students from Education First to discuss Georgia’s political climate and tour the state capitol building.
June 4: Azteca America hosted GALEO for filming and production of a Public Service Announcement to promote registering to vote and voting in local elections. The PSA was to be developed and to be used by all Spanish media television partners. The PSA also became the basis of a radio PSA that was sent to our Spanish radio partners.
June 5: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered to vote New Americans at their naturalization ceremony in Tucker, GA.
June 9: GALEO Leadership Council meeting at the Latin American Association.
June 10: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, met with Mayor Donna Pitman of Doraville to discuss creating a more welcoming environment for Latinos and immigrants within the City of Doraville.
June 12: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered to vote New Americans at their naturalization ceremony in Tucker, GA.
June 13: GALEO Institute for Leadership, Managing Conflict module with Maria Salazar, Local Government module with Beverly Isegohi and Kelli Persons.
June 14: ProGeorgia nonpartisan Candidate Training session was conducted in Norcross.
June 14: GALEO canvassers and volunteers conducted voter registration and civic engagement efforts during Vida Fest at the Sugar Hill Amphitheater.
June 16: Mayor Kasim Reed Celebrates Immigrant Heritage Month by Launching Office of Immigrant Affairs and New Welcoming Atlanta Website. Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, is an active member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee.
June 17: GALEO member and volunteer from Gainesville, Julio, becomes a U.S. citizen and was registered to vote.
June 18-20: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, attends the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation board meeting in Greensboro, NC.
June 26: 2015 LambdaCon. GALEO presented a workshop on the Latino Vote and the importance of fraternities across the country to get involved with voter engagement. Jerry Gonzalez and Samuel Aguilar conducted the presentation.
June 27: Gainesville voter registration efforts with volunteers and canvassers.
June 29: Black and Brown coalition meeting in Gainesville to demonstrate unity against the discriminatory at-large voting.
June 29: Community education meeting to discuss the reasons why at-large voting harms Latino and African American interests in Gainesville.
July 7: Gainesville Voting Rights committee organized and lead efforts for the second public testimony at the City Council meeting in Gainesville, GA, to oppose at-large voting. We had over 50 members of the community show up in support of the elimination of at-large voting and several made statements against at-large voting.
July 13: Gainesville Voting Rights Committee meeting on strategy.
July 15: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, provided the keynote address to the Social Security Administration at the federal building in downtown Atlanta. The theme was “Together in Perfect Harmony: Diversity & Inclusion”. There were over 200 people in attendance from the following groups: American Indian and Alaska Native Advisory Council (AIANAC), Black Affairs Advisory Council (BAAC), Hispanic Affairs Advisory Council (HAAC), Advisory Council for Employees with Disabilities (NACED), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Advisory Council (NLGBTAC), Women’s Advisory Committee (NWAC), Pacific Asian American Advisory Council (PAAAC), Veterans And Military Affairs Advisory Council (VMAAC).
July 16: GALEO, along with other civic engagement partners, met with Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp to discuss voting process and make recommendations on improvements.
July 16: GALEO Networking Social.
July 17: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, met with a Dalton community leader for update on Dalton’s efforts to eliminate at-large voting.
July 22: GALEO canvassers and volunteers register voters at the Georgia Dome before Mexico soccer match.
July 23: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in the Atlanta Beltline Partnership Board meeting.
July 23: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, conducted voter registration efforts after a naturalization ceremony at Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville.
July 24: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, was on News Talk radio with Pete Combs regarding Donald Trump’s candidacy and the Latino vote.
July 24: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, arranged a meeting between Ruth Brunner, Gainesville’s Ward 5 City Councilmember, Gainesville’s city planner, the water sanitation department and with Mr. Rogelio Umana, the president of “Las Catalinas” Home Owners’ Association, in regards to the neglect endured by majority Latino neighborhoods in Gainesville and to address a persistent bad odor in the neighborhood. Mr. Humana claimed that city officials had neglected his complaints for many years.
July 24: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated on a panel discussion, alongside Georgia State Representative Pedro Marin, at Georgia State University on immigration and legislative efforts for the Humanities in Action.
July 25: Gainesville voter registration efforts with volunteers.
July 26: GALEO canvassers and volunteers conducted a voter registration drive during a soccer tournament at Tadmore Park in Hall County. The Gainesville Times published a story about our civic engagement efforts.
July 27: Community education meeting to discuss the reasons why at-large voting harms Latino and African American interests in Gainesville.
July 29: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, as a member of the Mayor of Atlanta’s Welcoming initiative, attended the board meeting.
July 30: President Obama nominated DeKalb County Judge Dax López, GALEO Board Member, to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, to the seat vacated by Judge Julie E. Carnes, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. His nomination is currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Aug 3: Samuel Aguilar, GALEO, was a member of the launch team for the “GR8 Exchange on Transportation,” an initiative to begin dialogue on Gwinnett County’s transportation systems.
Aug 4: GALEO participated in a Southeastern Voting Rights Conference convened by the Coalition of the People’s Agenda at the Wheat Street Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Aug 5-6: Samuel Aguilar and Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO attended the Make it Work campaign’s Leadership Development “Train the Trainer” workshops in order to ensure GALEO works through a gender lens in all of the work that we accomplish.
Aug 8: GALEO Institute for Leadership, Group Problem Solving and Decision Making module with David Araya and Angela Hurtado, and the Conducting Successful Meetings module with Beverly Isegohi.
Aug 11: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, attended the monthly Hall County Board of Election’s meeting.
Aug 11: GALEO Leadership Council meeting at the Latin American Association.
August 14: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, conducted voter registration efforts of new American citizens after their naturalization ceremony at the Richard B. Russell Federal Courthouse in Atlanta.
Aug 18: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, attended the monthly Hall County Board of Election’s meeting.
Aug 18: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, conducted voter registration efforts of new American citizens after a their naturalization ceremony in Tucker.
Aug 22: Gainesville’s voter engagement committee conducts a canvassing day for voter engagement and GOTV in local elections.
Aug 26: GALEO and ACCESS from the American Jewish Committee hosted an event together at the Latin American Association with another “Charlar and Challah Series: Community Issues in Justice.” Mark Newman, Jennifer Ross, House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, and a representative from Gideon’s Promise had a robust dialogue, moderated by Kent Alexander.
August 26: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, and volunteers attended the Gainesville community town hall meeting hosted by our partner Newtown Florist on community policing.
Aug 29-30: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, hosted a second nonpartisan Candidate Training session for candidates and staff. Over 17 people attended.
Sept 1: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, attended the monthly Hall County Board of Election’s meeting.
Sept 2: Gainesville community meeting with allies to discuss the discriminatory impact of at-large voting against the Latino and African American communities.
Sept 3: GALEO trains volunteers in Cartersville to register voters in their own communities.
Sept 4: Press Release: Members of GALEO’s Board of Directors Are Often Tapped for Presidential and Gubernatorial Appointments (http://2014old.galeo.org/press-release-members-of-galeos-board-of-directors-are-often-tapped-for-presidential-and-gubernatorial-appointments/)
Sept 8: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, attended a special Hall County Board of Election’s meeting dealing with the sudden consolidation of several voting precincts where Latinos and other minorities vote.
Sept 8: GALEO Leadership Council phone conference meeting.
Sept 10: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in a lunch discussion with other prominent local leaders to discuss Atlanta efforts in local innovation. The luncheon was hosted by the National Journal at the Georgia Dome.
Sept 10: Phone banking at the University of North Georgia for Get Out To Vote (GOTV) efforts for the local elections in Gainesville and Doraville.
Sept 11: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, attended the 30th Anniversary luncheon for Georgia Trend magazine.
Sept 11: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, attended a naturalization ceremony in Rome, GA, in order to register new citizens to vote.
Sept 11: GALEO Institute for Leadership at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: Understanding Community Leadership module with Estela Martinez.
Sept 12: GALEO Institute for Leadership participants volunteered for canvassing in Gainesville to register new voters and for promoting voter participation of Latino voters in the local elections and to learn about the implications of the at-large voting process with the Latino community.
Sept 14: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, presented to the Hall County Democratic Party about the efforts to eliminate the discriminatory at-large voting for the City of Gainesville.
Sept 14: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, assisted in registering new voters at a naturalization ceremony conducted in Atlanta City Hall.
Sept 15: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, was interviewed by Polish television news cast regarding the growing Latino electorate and the impact of immigration debate on the 2016 Presidential elections.
Sept 15: Gainesville Voting Rights committee organized and lead efforts for the third public testimony at the City Council meeting in Gainesville, GA, to oppose at-large voting. We had over 40 members of the community show up in support of the elimination of at-large voting and several made statements against at-large voting.
Sept 16: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, attended Telemundo’s “Todos Somos Heroes” award luncheon.
Sept 16: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, and Pastor Frank from Gainesville were interviewed on Vida 96.5 FM Spanish radio to promote new voters and churches to exercise their right to vote and to become more civically engaged.
Sept 17: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, participated in a naturalization ceremony at Turner Field to register new voters once they became U.S. citizens.
Sept 18: GALEO met with Latino leaders in Cartersville and trained them on how to register voters in their own communities and discussed future plans for collaboration.
Sept 19: GALEO, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the LAA hosted the annual Citizenship Day at the Latin American Association where we assisted 85 Legal Permanent Residents process their paperwork to become U.S. citizens.
Sept 21: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in the Atlanta Beltline Partnership board meeting to develop and refine the strategic priorities moving forward.
Sept 22: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, provided a guest lecture to students and staff at Kennesaw State University during Constitution Week activities. The lecture was entitled “Electoral Involvement & Participation: A Latino Perspective.”
September 24: GALEO’s program coordinator trains the personnel of Aurora Theater of Gwinnett county to register voters at their box office.
Sept 24: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, trained the Aurora Theater personnel to register voters at their box office.
Sept 24: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated as a guest speaker on immigration matters for the event hosted by HOLA/CAMINO at Armstrong University in Savannah at the Beach Institute African American Cultural Center to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Sept 25: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, and volunteers attended the Aurora Theater’s opening night of a Latin comedy.
Sept 25: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, conducted voter registration efforts of new American citizens after their naturalization ceremony at the Richard B. Russell Federal Courthouse in Atlanta.
Sept 26: Gainesville voter engagement committee conducted a canvassing day to promoted voter engagement in the local elections.
Sept 28: Samuel Aguilar, GALEO, met with a Republican State Representative to discuss GALEO’s legislative priorities.
Sept 28: Gainesville Voting Rights Committee and the Education Committee conducted another meeting with business owners and community leaders at the University of North Georgia to inform them about the importance of their participation in our efforts to eliminate at-large voting.
Sept 28: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, was invited to have a table in the student center of Kennesaw State University in order to register voters and to encourage civic engagement of college students.
Sept 29: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, attended a reception honoring Rosie Rios, U.S. Treasurer.
Oct 1: GALEO participated in the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute’s press briefing on “Georgia’s Workforce Development, Economy Damaged by Barriers to Higher Education for Undocumented Students.”
Oct 1: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, volunteers, canvassers, and Gainesville committee leaders conducted a voter registration drive at the University of North Georgia, where they registered close to 70 new voters from Hall County and its surrounding areas.
Oct 2-4: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in the American Federation of Teachers International Conference in New Orleans, LA.
Oct 3: Gainesville voter engagement committee conducted a canvassing day to promote voter engagement and GOTV for the local elections.
Oct 5: GALEO conducted a citizenship day review and debrief.
Oct 6: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, attended the monthly Hall County Board of Election’s meeting.
Oct 7: Samuel Aguilar, GALEO, participated in an immigration policy panel at the University of North Georgia alongside Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney.
Oct 9: GALEO Institute for Leadership at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: Valuing Community Diversity module with Beverly Isegohi.
Oct 10: Gainesville volunteers participated in GOTV canvassing efforts.
Oct 10: GALEO Institute for Leadership, Building Communities through Partnerships and Collaboration module with Christian Bello, Kelli Persons and Damian Bedoya, and a Running for Public Office workshop with Christopher Perlera.
Oct 12: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, provided a guest lecture on immigration at LUSO Hispanic Day at University of West Georgia in Carrollton.
Oct 13: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, provided a guest lecture on immigration to the Organization of Latin American Students at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville.
Oct 16: GALEO hosted the 2015 Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast with a keynote address by Marie Marquardt, Author of DREAM Things True. The GALEO Latino Community Development Fund was honored by the Sapelo Foundation with the prestigious Smith Bagley Advocacy Award & grant. GALEO also launched the #IamGALEO social media campaign to promote pride in GALEO’s work across the state.
Oct 17: GALEO Institute for Leadership participants at Georgia State University visited Stewart Detention Center and El Refugio in Lumpkin, GA.
Oct 20: GALEO and the Newtown Florist Club hosted a Candidate Forum at St. Michael’s Church in Gainesville to have the candidates discuss issues of importance to the Latino and African American communities. Giancarlo Cifuentes, Univision 34 Atlanta, moderated the forum and the television station also covered the event.
Oct 21: GALEO participated in the Welcoming Atlanta meeting.
Oct 22-24: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation trustee meeting in Charlotte, NC.
Oct 23: GALEO Institute for Leadership at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: Group Dynamics module with Christian Bello.
Oct 24: Volunteers participated in canvassing efforts to GOTV the Latino vote in Gainesville.
Oct 25 – Nov 1: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, attended a Latino organizer’s training in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oct 27: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, along with other board members, attended a luncheon hosted by Georgia Power to discuss energy issues with Latino leaders.
Oct 27: GALEO volunteers attended a phone banking session for GOTV efforts in local elections for Gainesville and Doraville.
Oct 30: GALEO staff was invited to attend the State of the Region breakfast by the Atlanta Regional Commission.
Oct 30: GALEO staff supported the Latino Student Association at the University of North Georgia in Oakwood as judges for the annual Spanish speaking debate on the issue of the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship.
Oct 30: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, and a representative from the League of Women Voters of Georgia conducted voter protection efforts at Hall County Election’s Office after cases of minority voters having difficulty in casting their ballots for early voting.
Oct 31-Nov 1: GOTV canvassing efforts in Gainesville for GOTV.
Nov 3: GALEO assisted voters for local elections and filed complaints against Hall County Elections office on behalf of some Latino voters that were denied the right to vote.
Nov 4: GALEO & LatinoJustice write letters to both Gwinnett and Hall Counties to urge them to provide Spanish language access to voters protected under the Voting Rights Act, Section 4(e), which primarily protect Puerto Ricans born and educated on the island and living in the mainland.
Nov 6: GALEO Institute for Leadership at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: Effective Communication module with Jaime Rangel.
Nov 9: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, presented about the importance of civic engagement and promotes GALEO’s Institute for Leadership at Georgia State University as well as registering new voters from a Latino fraternity and sorority.
Nov 10: Samuel Aguilar, GALEO, presented on a panel discussion on the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act hosted by Emory University.
Nov 10: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, was part of a panel discussion for the national State Voices convening in Washington DC. Gonzalez spoke about the importance of effective outreach and collaboration with the Latino community.
Nov 10: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, attended an Alliance for Justice training session at the Phillip Rush Center in Atlanta.
Nov 11-Nov 13: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in the Southeastern Council of Foundations annual meeting in Asheville, NC.
Nov 15: GALEO canvassers conducted voter registration and civic engagement efforts during Expo-Mujer at the Infinite Energy Center of Gwinnett.
Nov 16: Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and former GALEO Board member, announced his resignation from his post after many years of service.
Nov 17: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, provided a keynote address at the Georgia Gwinnett College’s Symposium on Democracy in Lawrenceville.
Nov 18: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered voters at their naturalization ceremony in Tucker.
Nov 18: Samuel Aguilar, GALEO, presented on a panel on immigration policy at the state and local level at Georgia Gwinnett College’s Symposium on Democracy in Lawrenceville.
Nov 19: GALEO staff attended the Anti-Defamation League’s 2015 Communities of Respect award ceremony at the Temple in Atlanta.
Nov 20: GALEO Institute for Leadership at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: Leadership panel with Shirley Anne Cruz, Doug Ford and Leri Argueta.
Nov 20: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, was on a panel that discussed “Mapping the Latino Vote and Policy Perspectives” at National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) 13th Annual Legislative Summit in Atlanta, Georgia.
Nov 20: The GALEO Institute for Leadership graduated the Class of 2015 at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. Keynote address was provided by W. Todd Groce, Ph.D., President & CEO of the Georgia Historical Society. Special remarks were provided by Lucy Flores, Candidate for Congress in Nevada.
Nov 22: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, along with other Latino leaders, was invited to dinner with the Consul General of Israel to the Southeast at her home in Atlanta.
Dec 1: GALEO joins 224 organizations nationally and filed an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief, urging the Supreme Court to review the case, Texas v. U.S., that has blocked some of President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. GALEO supports the expansion of DACA and DAPA, given the failure of the U.S. Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Dec 4: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, participated in a working group meeting of Welcoming Atlanta on citizenship.
Dec 4: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, met with one of the newest Latino elected officials, Roger Marmol, City of Snellville.
Dec 4: GALEO Institute for Leadership at Georgia State University Goizueta scholars: Managing Conflict module with Cassandra Johnson and public speaking workshop with Genny Castillo.
Dec 5: Alejandro Ramirez, GALEO, and volunteers attended the HoPe Gala.
Dec 5: GALEO hosted the annual recording day at the StoryCorps recording booth at the Atlanta History Center. This year’s focus was on the struggles, accomplishments, and aspirations of Georgia’s DACA recipients.
Dec 8: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, and LatinoJustice met with Gwinnett County’s Department of Law to discuss expanding Spanish language access for Puerto Rican voters under Section 4(e) of the Voting Rights Act.
Dec 8: Jerry Gonzalez, GALEO, attended Leadership Atlanta’s Holiday Social.
Dec 11: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered voters at a federal naturalization ceremony at the Russell Federal Building in Atlanta.
Dec 14: Tulu Kaifee was awarded the pair of tickets for the Fall GALEO Membership drive.
Dec 15: GALEO attended the Hispanic Heritage Foundation Atlanta Youth Awards at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
Dec 16: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered voters at a naturalization ceremony at the U.S.C.I.S office in Tucker.
Dec 16: GALEO attended a press and community briefing by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute on “Immigrants Help Chart Georgia’s Course to Prosperity” at the Latin American Association in Atlanta.
Dec 17: GALEO, along with ProGeorgia partners, registered voters at a federal naturalization ceremony at the Russell Federal Building in Atlanta.
Dec 19: GALEO staff and voter registration volunteers traveled to Charlotte, NC, to visit the NUEVOlution exhibit at the Levine Museum of the New South. The exhibit explores how the South is shaping Latinos and how Latinos are shaping the South. GALEO and some of the team members are prominently featured in the exhibit. The exhibit will travel to Birmingham in 2016 and eventually come to the Atlanta History Center in 2017.
Dec 29: GALEO meet with volunteers in Calhoun and Dalton to discuss immigration reform and engagement for voter registration and voter turnout for the Presidential Primary election in Georgia. The Dalton meeting was by invitation of the newly elected Latino school boar