Galeo Latino Community Development Fund Inc

GALEO’s mission is to increase civic participation by educating and empowering the Latino community and to develop Latino leaders through strategic leadership programs throughout the state of Georgia.

Vision: GALEO strives for a better Georgia where the Latino community is engaged civically, and its contributions and concerns are recognized.

GALEO is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization based in Norcross, Georgia but with a strong presence in Metro Atlanta and communities with high Latino populations.  Founded in 2003 by Jerry Gonzalez, Senator Sam Zamarripa, and Representative Pedro Marin, GALEO has grown significantly in recent years.  We strive for a better Georgia where the Latinx community is engaged civically.  GALEO stands on two pillars: increasing civic participation of the Latinx community and developing prominent Latinx leaders throughout Georgia.  By educating, engaging, and empowering this community, the state of Georgia will become conscious of Latinos’ power and influence. 

Our Georgia Latino Vote program supports voter registration and voter engagement efforts throughout the state.   When GALEO was first established, Georgia’s Latino community was not as well represented as it is today, nor was it a viable electoral force; today, there are over 385,000 registered Latino voters in the state, up from just 10,000 in 2003.  There are nearly one million Latinos in Georgia, one of the nation’s fastest growth rates of Latino populations.  

Additionally, GALEO created the GALEO Institute for Leadership (GIL), which focuses on building and connecting future leaders in the Latinx community so that they can aspire to become the next generation of problem-solvers our state desperately needs.  Our GIL graduates are inspired to continue carrying out GALEO’s mission in their daily lives.

With one million Latinos and growing, Georgia has the unique opportunity to build a thriving community with just and necessary legislation. However, there is a lack of representative data that showcases the needs of Georgia Latinos. GALEO and partner organizations, including the Latinx Alliance, will fill this gap by conducting a statewide survey called the Puente Survey.     

The Puente Survey will capture what is needed, wanted, and what is contributed by the Latinx community. By using traditional, grassroots organizing tactics, such as door-to-door canvassing, community house parties, and town hall meetings, in addition to modern organizing methods such as social media and direct-to-contact messaging, GALEO hopes to reach 30,000 responses and submit the compiled data with recommendations to the Georgia Legislature, Governor and local elected officials as appropriate in 2024.