(NORCROSS, GA) – GALEO is proud to announce that we have recently celebrated the graduation of twenty–eight Latinx change-makers from our GALEO Institute for Leadership (GIL) on November 4th, 2023. The graduates of this year’s cohort engaged in monthly workshops that discussed leadership, civic engagement, and professional development. Throughout this year, GIL cohort members worked in teams on projects that positively affect the Latino community in Georgia.

This year’s cohort members were very diverse, especially in different phases of their careers. We had many established professionals, mid-career professionals, and even college students. We are so happy that GALEO has fostered a sense of community within this diverse group of peers.

Cynthia Padilla-Pearson, owner of Trauma & Conflict Consulting, LLC., served as this year’s keynote speaker. Throughout her address, she highlighted the unexpectedly perfect ways that GIL graduates can be leaders in their communities.

The graduates from the GIL Statewide Cohort 2023 are: 
Adrian Lozano – Cumming, GA
Alec Marierose – Fayetteville, GA
Alison Rivera – Mableton, GA
Aurora Gallegos – Tucker, GA
Carla Romero – Hoschton, GA
Cecilio Ponce – Columbus, GA
Edgar Sanchez – Norcross, GA
Issa Solis – Atlanta, Ga
Ivan Chavez – Lithia Springs, GA
Josephine Nino – Atlanta, GA
Julia Martinez – Snellville, GA
Kisha Marshall – Douglasville, GA
Leslie Quintanar – Mcdonough, GA
Lorena Mora – Duluth, GA
Luis Cuevas – Cumming, GA 
Luis Wences – Buford,GA 
Marcela Penuela – Lawrenceville, GA 
Omar Rodriguez – Kennesaw, GA 
Paola Mejia – Atlanta, GA 
Petar Ivusic – Atlanta, GA 
Rafael Aragon – Atlanta, GA 
Rafael Vargas, Fayetteville
Ramon Mandujano – Acworth, GA
Ramses E. Jimenez – Fairburn, GA 
Raymundo Hernandez-Gonzalez, – Dahlonega, GA 
Silvia Garcia, – Mableton, GA 
Vonda Miles,- Atlanta, GA 
Dani Mustafa-Quintana, – Atlanta,GA 

Thank you to our amazing facilitators for your continuous support. 

Elizabeth Silva, Director for Leadership Development, states that “Programs, like GIL, are vital to our Latino communities in Georgia to empower and uplift our people. Latinos have been on the sidelines for far too long, and we are proud to be the solution to combat the marginalization of our communities by providing Latino leaders with the tools to thrive in any profession and field.”

Have any questions? Contact Marifer Vizcaino, Program Coordinator for Leadership Development at GALEO at mvizcaino@galeo.org.

Applications for the 2024 cohort are OPEN!

Apply here! 

For photos of the graduation ceremony, visit https://bit.ly/gilgraduation2023