Long before the presence of organizations such as the Georgia Dreamers Alliance, which lobbies to enact positive change for the Latino community, Teodoro Maus was working diligently to create a better life for Latinos in Georgia.
During his first term as Consul General of Mexico, from 1989 to 1994, Maus tirelessly worked extra hours in favor of immigrants’ rights, never content to just sit back and soak up the perks that often accompany the life of a foreign diplomat.
Maus’s dedication to righting the injustices he saw occurring on a daily basis against the Latino community continued during his second term, from 1995 to 2001. During that time, Maus, who is originally from Mexico and whose background is in painting and architecture, was able to unite business and community leaders –as well as politicians, including former Gov. Roy Barnes– in his fight to support Latinos’ rights.
In 1999, together with fellow activist Adelina Nicholls, Maus founded what is now known as the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights.
Thanks to Maus’s leadership, organizations such as the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, whose mission is to increase civic engagement and leadership of the Hispanic community across Georgia, were formed. In 2002, for instance, Mexican-American Sam Zamarripa made history when he became the first Hispanic Democratic senator of Georgia. That same year, Pedro Marín became the first Hispanic legislator in the Georgia House of Representatives, a position in which the Puerto Rican still serves.
After concluding his consulate work and spending several years in Washington D.C., Maus returned to Atlanta in 2004 to continue his activism.
One of these initiatives is Radio Información 1310 AM, a station with programming focused on topics of importance to the Latino community, such as immigration, legal matters, human rights, education, health and family issues.
Through Radio Información and GLAHR, Maus continues to provide Latinos with political and sociocultural information, as well as motivate the community to join together and work to make their dreams a reality.
“The fight is just beginning. When immigration reform happens, the 14 million immigrants [who are in the United States] must unite and take advantage of the opportunity,” assured Maus.
Last month, a crowd of 150 people gathered at the Holiday Inn, in Chamblee, in order to pay tribute to Maus.
During the celebration, organized by a group called Amigos de Teodoro Maus and led by Zamarripa, a dozen individuals shared how they met Maus and spoke about how their lives have been impacted by the activist’s life and work.
For Barbarella Díaz –wife of local Latino businessman René Díaz, founder and owner of Díaz Foods – Maus has played an important role in her life as well. She met Maus in the 1990’s when she formed part of the executive board of Centro Mexicano de Atlanta, an institution created by Maus with the purpose of promoting Latin American arts and culture.
“His work went beyond that of consul. He affected so many people with his causes in business, culture, art and education. I admire him and I hope to follow his example,” said Díaz.
She is not alone. Over the course of the last 25 years, Maus’s message has reached and inspired many, including Mexican activist América Gruner.
“The Coalition of Latino Leaders of Dalton takes his example as our model,” said Gruner, a member of CLILA.
At 81 years old, Maus hopes to see the day that a child of immigrants becomes a great leader whose work reflects the efforts he himself began back in 1999: for the Latino community to unite, fighting for their rights and dreaming of a better life.
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