Since the summer of 2001, Los Niños Primero has provided educational support and leadership programs to underserved Latino children, youth and families living in the Atlanta community. Los Niños Primero is the only Latina-led nonprofit in Atlanta that provides academic, leadership, arts and cultural enrichment to this constituency. Executive Director, Maritza Morelli, emigrated to Atlanta thirty years ago, from Venezuela. She is keenly aware of the challenges immigrant families face. Maritza understands the delicate balance the families strike to ensure their children thrive in public schools while preserving a meaningful connection to their heritage, culture and language. Throughout her 20-year leadership, Maritza has succeeded in cultivating a harmonious, cohesive and respectful community in which the families can learn, lead and excel. She has led the organization from one site with 17 children in 2001 to six service sites, serving 800 children, youth and families in 2020. Testimony to our longevity of serving the Latino immigrant community, is that we are now educating “second generation” students. Specifically, students from the inaugural class of 2001, are enrolling their own children in our programs. We provide students and their families with 6 distinct programs: academic pre-K, arts and cultural enrichment, early literacy, youth and family leadership, and sports. All educational and leadership programs are provided at no cost to the families. Our Mission: To prepare underserved Latino pre-school children for educational success by providing opportunities to develop their language, cognitive, social, and motor skills. Together educational success by providing opportunities to develop their language, cognitive, social, and motor skills. Together with certified teachers, engaged parents, and trained teen volunteers, we inspire a passion for learning.