House Resolution 582
By: Representatives Roberts of the 52nd, Panitch of the 51st, Lupton of the 83rd, Holland of
the 54th, and Silcox of the 53rd
A RESOLUTION
Congratulating and commending Maritza Morelli for receiving the 2025 Yellow Rose Nikki
T. Randall Servant Leadership Award; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, in 1999, Representative Nikki T. Randall became the first African American
female elected to the General Assembly from middle Georgia, and over her 17 years of
service as a legislator, she held numerous leadership positions, including chair of the Georgia
Women's Legislative Caucus; and
WHEREAS, every year during Women's History Month, the Georgia Women's Legislative
Caucus recognizes outstanding women in Georgia who exemplify the leadership and
inspiration embodied by Representative Randall; and
WHEREAS, Maritza Morelli serves as the executive director and visionary co-founder of
Los Niños Primero, an organization dedicated to uplifting Latino children and families in
Atlanta through culturally rich and inclusive education programs; and
WHEREAS, originally from Venezuela, she founded the organization in 2001 with the
support of Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church and launched the first Los Niños Primero
Summer Program alongside the late bilingual speech pathologist and diagnostician Martha
Barrios Mead, which welcomed 17 young students for two weeks of inspiring learning and
community connection; and
WHEREAS, under her leadership, Los Niños Primero has grown to impact more than 6,200
Latino children, youth, and families through programs that foster academic readiness,
community engagement, and leadership development; and
WHEREAS, Maritza Morelli has been widely recognized for her exemplary efforts,
receiving the Congressional Honor from Congresswoman Lucy McBath in 2022 and being
named one of Georgia's 50 Most Influential Latino Leaders by the Georgia Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this
extraordinary servant leader be appropriately recognized.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body congratulate and commend Maritza Morelli for receiving the 2025
Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award and extend best wishes for her
continued success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to
Maritza Morelli.