A proud legacy of supporting education and leadership for Latino families in Atlanta
It all began like this:
A dream, 17 children, and unwavering determination.
In 2001, Maritza Morelli arrived in Atlanta from Venezuela with a clear mission: to transform the future of her new community. Seeing the barriers Latino families faced in accessing necessary resources in public schools, she decided to take action.
With the support of Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church and alongside the visionary Martha Barrios Mead, Maritza planted a seed: a two-week summer program for just 17 children. Those first days of joy, connection, and cultural pride were the beginning of something enormous.
What started in a small church office has grown into a trusted resource for more than 1,700 Latino children, youth, and families across Metro Atlanta each year.
From an initiative to a movement:
Over two decades breaking down barriers
We build on a simple idea: children learn best through play and inquiry, not repetition. Our model gives them room to think for themselves and imagine a future full of possibilities.
Our numbers speak to the power of consistency:
+6400
Real Change:
Children who once sat in our first classrooms are now parents, mentors, and leaders in their own communities.
Growing With Every Family:
We started in early childhood education. Today, we walk alongside Latino families from their child’s first classroom all the way through college.
The Next Twenty-Five Years
We’re encouraging the next generation of Latino leaders because we’ve seen what happens when one family gets the support it needs: the whole community moves forward with them. Twenty-five years in, we’re not slowing down. We’re building the next chapter.
