Rising Stars: Meet Geovani Ayala of Gwinnett County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Geovani Ayala.

Hi Geovani, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Originally, I was an educator by trade and spent over a decade working in higher education, helping students transition to graduate and professional education. During the pandemic, I had an awakening of sorts, realizing I wanted to focus my talents on community improvement. That led me into the nonprofit space a few years ago, as I got involved with an organization working on intimate partner violence intervention. In 2022, alongside my colleagues, we established Serving At-risk Families Everywhere (SAFE) to address the root causes of persistent community issues such as violence, inequitable resource distribution, and the gender care gap. Ultimately, our goal is to create happy and healthy communities across the South where families can thrive. Today, I remain dedicated to that goal and the belief that our communities can be more than just places of survival.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wish it were a smooth road. I’ve had to overcome several obstacles, both external and internal, including self-doubt, regret, and disappointment. But it is all part of the journey. The way I view things, particularly being here in the Atlanta metro area, a hub of the Civil Rights movement, our heroes, ancestors, and predecessors survived and overcame greater challenges and struggles. During times of struggle and hardship, it’s important to dig deep and stay focused on your goals and dreams. Dr. Matin Luther King Jr. once said that the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Personally, I lean into that thought and continue working towards my goals even when the road gets tough.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the Executive Director of Serving at-risk families everywhere, Inc. which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization conducting human services work in the South. Our programs focus on three areas: violence prevention & intervention, mental & behavioral support, and family & parenthood engagement. One thing I am proud of is our gun violence prevention work in the community. In the past two years, I have trained 413 parents, children, and community leaders on practical methods of gun violence prevention and intervention. Our public education campaign has reached 87,447 individuals, raising awareness on the realities of gun violence and how to keep children and families safe. To me, it is a major accomplishment because it means there are close to 88,000 community members who are now educated on the dangers of gun violence and working to create safer environments for themselves and their loved ones. I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to be flexible and adapt. In an everchanging world with shifting priorities, it’s a strength to be flexible and able to adapt no matter the circumstance or environment.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in North Jersey and had a somewhat normal childhood growing up in the inner city. I’ve always enjoyed school and cared about my education. Growing up, I was into sports, specifically basketball, baseball, and boxing. Sports allowed me to stay busy and out of trouble, which was easy to get into in my neighborhood. Like most kids, my career aspirations changed a million times. There were periods when I wanted to be a teacher, a computer engineer, a state trooper, a detective, and a school principal. Eventually, I found my path in life, and that path brought me down here to Georgia, which is home.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.servingatriskfamilies.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serveatriskfam/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServeAtRiskFam
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com//company/servingatriskfamilies