Nury Crawford, the director serving Hispanic students through Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Community-Based Mentoring Program, has been named one of the 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Crawford, who was selected from a pool of more than 450 nominees, says she is humbled and honored to be featured on this list.
“This honor is a reflection of the hard work and effort I put in to lead our Hispanic Mentoring Priority,” she says of the honor. “I promote, engage, and share our program’s vision, mission, and goals every time someone invites me into their space. I am proud to spread the word about the district's commitment to and support of Latino students and families.”
On Sept. 4, Ms. Crawford was among the honorees at a luncheon sponsored by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The event, held at the INFINITI Club Room inside SunTrust Park, coincided with the launch of Los Bravos weekend with the Atlanta Braves, commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month.
According to the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the awards reflect innovators and servant leaders who leave a footprint on education, politics, business, and other areas. When selecting the year’s honorees, the members of the selection committee “carefully analyze the character, impact, and connectivity self-motivated leaders provide in their communities.” The Chamber notes that the list celebrates “‘50 Influential Members’ who have created an impact on our state of Georgia.”
Ms. Crawford launched the Hispanic focus of the district’s Community-Based Mentoring Program in January of 2019. Through her work, she recruits, trains, supports, and retains mentors who work with identified Hispanic students in Gwinnett County Public Schools. She also works with the students and their parents, providing support and resources to help students develop personally, socially, and academically.
Last school year, the Hispanic Boys and Girls Priority led by Ms. Crawford served 81 students, both boys and girls, in one-on-one and small-group mentoring. A total of 65 mentors worked with 6th graders at four middle schools— Berkmar MS, Lilburn MS, Radloff MS, and Sweetwater MS. For 2019-20, Ms. Crawford is working to expand the program to serve 200 students and is seeking additional mentors. (Mentors do not have to be bilingual to serve.) Mentors must be 21 or older, able to commit to a minimum of one year as a mentor, and complete a background check and an application. GCPS provides support and training for mentors. Contact Ms. Crawford by email or call (770) 277-4489 to learn more.
In addition to the important role Ms. Crawford plays in the school district, she is a published author and serves as president of the Georgia Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, and CEO and founder of 1010 Publishing.