We are proud to have a multi-cultural and action-driven staff. Our team comes together for the common goal of serving the needs of the Latinx community in Georgia.
JERRY GONZALEZ
CEO
Jerry Gonzalez is the founding and current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GALEO Latino Community Development Fund, and the GALEO Impact Fund. GALEO, a statewide nonprofit and non-partisan organization, has a mission 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. Gonzalez is a native of Laredo, Texas, and received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1995. He completed his Master of Public Administration at the Andrew Young School of Public Policy at Georgia State University in 2005. Due to his efforts at GALEO, Mr. Gonzalez has been recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia’s 100 Most Influential Georgians for several years. He also dedicates time towards philanthropy, serving on various boards. Gonzalez lives in Atlanta with his husband of over 25 years, Ray, an established and practicing pediatrician, and their dog, Zack. Jerry’s hobbies include photography, travel, hiking, and he considers himself an avid road cyclist.
ELISA COVARRUBIAS
Deputy Director
Elisa Covarrubias (She/Her/Ella) is the Deputy Director of GALEO Latino Community Development Fund and the GALEO Impact Fund.
Elisa Covarrubias, born to a mother of Puerto Rican descent and a father from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, spent her formative years in Miami, Florida. She has worked in non-profit social services for over 20 years with a focus on gender-based violence intervention and prevention over the majority of her career. Before serving as CEO of Men Stopping Violence, she was Chief Operating Officer at LiveSafe Resources, a domestic and sexual violence crisis center.
Elisa served on the committee to develop state standards for Georgia sexual assault centers, the Georgia Sexual Assault Response Team Expert Committee, as an Advisory Board Member for Georgia Latinas Against Domestic Violence, and as Co-Chair of the Fulton County Family Violence Task Force. Elisa is an AmeriCorps National Service Alum and was a 2019 Georgia Women’s Policy Institute Fellow. In 2020, she was awarded the Cobb Young Professionals Next Generation Award and serves as Board Chair for the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Elizabeth Scott
Development Director
Elizabeth Scott (She/Her/Ella) is the Development Director of GALEO Latino Community Development Fund and the GALEO Impact Fund who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Elizabeth graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and the Andrew Young School of Public Policy at Georgia State with a Masters of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management. With over fifteen years of experience, Elizabeth works to create a better world.
Darrick Alvarez
Director for Civic Engagement
Darrick Alvarez (He/Him/Él) is a Peruvian-American Director for Civic Engagement for GALEO. He is from Atlanta, Georgia. Born in Orlando, Florida, Darrick graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration from Georgia Gwinnett College. Darrick has over four years of experience working in the political and social fields as a social advocate and political scientist. Darrick served as President of the Latin American Students organization and formed part of the Presidential Search Committee for the President of Georgia Gwinnett College. But when he’s not fighting for his community, Darrick will be sharpening his drumming and skateboarding skills. He’s a proud alumnus of the GALEO Institute for Leadership and a recipient of The Grizzly Spirit Awards at Georgia Gwinnett College. Darrick has a passion for fighting the system that has disenfranchised communities and a passion for serving, educating, and uplifting the Latino Community.
Issy Jimenez
Program Coordinator for Communications
Issy Jimenez (she/her/ella) Issy is a Pennsylvania-born first-generation Mexican-American, holding a bachelor’s degree in Film and Video with a minor in Sociology from Georgia State University. Growing up with immigrant parents from Jalisco, Mexico, Issy has seen firsthand the need for more community outreach in areas where Spanish speakers don’t have the same resources as their English-speaking neighbors. During her free time, she enjoys graphic design, hiking, and spending time with her family and pets.
