The graduates were participating in one of three sites active across the state: Atlanta (English), Dalton (Spanish) and Savannah (Spanish).
GALEO said the "intensive" leadership program prepared them "to confront challenging community issues affecting Georgia, such as poverty, education, domestic violence, worker's rights, immigration and healthcare."
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.
The graduates dedicated more than 30 hours during the last several months to complete eight modules and a group project.
The group projects focused on the Georgia Latino Vote initiative. The projects ranged from voter registration drives, voter education initiatives and also focused upon economic development efforts in Savannah.
Additionally, the GALEO Institute for Leadership (GIL) graduates proposed and implemented GALEO Leadership Councils. The new GALEO Leadership Councils will be forums for these new leaders to continue to engage and also provide an opportunity to engage other GIL alumni to engage based upon location or issue. A GALEO Leadership Council was also formed to be lead by youth, high school and college students.
Rocio Del Milagro Woody, a Latina U.S. citizen from Peru and the President of The Road To Recovery, urged the graduates to continue to work together, challenging them to continue to be "agents for change."
This is the third group of graduates of GALEO's leadership development efforts. Similar to the first graduating class in 2005 and the second in the earlier part of 2007, this graduating class included participants of diverse backgrounds who shared a common interest in working for improvement in their communities.
The GALEO Institute for Leadership is made possible by the American Dream Fund, the Sapelo Foundation, GALEO, AMERIGROUP Foundation, Epstein Becker & Green PC, State Farm Insurance Company, Univision, the University of Georgia- Fanning Institute, and individual donors.
The GALEO Institute for Leadership plans to continue the leadership sessions for the Spring and Fall 2008. Target locations will be Metro Atlanta, Gainesville, Dalton, Savannah & Columbus.
For more information about the GALEO Institute for Leadership and future GALEO leadership development programs, contact Jerry Gonzalez at 404-745-2580 or [email protected].
On the Web: http://www.galeo.org
http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/12/204757