by Kat Friedmann

 

Antonio Molina’s family heritage is one of helping others. But his personal urge to serve did not solidify until terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

 

Molina, a Georgia Perimeter College alumnus, was in his first year of serving in the Navy as an engine turbine tech when the attacks occurred.

           

“9/11 just made everything real. We were finally, actually, really serving our country,” he says.

           

That began a love for service that grew during Molina’s six years in the Navy. After the Navy, Molina decided to attend school full time, and in 2008, he learned about Georgia Perimeter through his sister, who was working toward her degree there. Molina felt unprepared for a four-year institution after being out of school for several years, and GPC seemed to fit.

           

“GPC helped me get back in the mindset that I needed to succeed,” says Molina. “It also opened the doors to be able to work with the student government and the History and Politics Club.”

 

Molina says it was his involvement as a Student Government Association vice president while at GPC that helped him focus his outreach and get involved with his Hispanic community.

           

Molina, a political science major at Georgia Perimeter, graduated in 2011. He continued his studies at Emory University, earning his degree there in May 2013.

 

While studying at GPC and Emory, Molina also worked full time as the business manager for his father’s family medical practice in Chamblee, Consultorio Medico Hispano, whose mission is to serve underprivileged Hispanic families.

 

“When I came to the city to work at my father’s practice and I saw the community that he serves, I think it reinforced that desire to help,” says Molina.

 

He has continued to work at the practice since graduating.

 

As the business manager, Molina handles scheduling and daily operations. He networks and plans outreach events and initiatives. That’s the easy part, he says.

 

Because his father’s practice mainly serves Hispanics with low socio-economic backgrounds, Molina often helps to find resources for patients and to educate them about problems resulting from their living conditions. He’s seen dozens of children have upper respiratory infections because of mold in apartment complexes. He’s even had to call the government when apartment complexes turn a blind eye to unhealthy conditions.

 

“Actually seeing it firsthand–what some families have to go through–just cemented everything for me to get more involved, to see what I could try to do to help,” says Molina.

 

Molina also helps give Hispanics in the community a voice by volunteering with the Georgia Association for Latino Elected Officials (GALEO) and by helping out with constituent services for State Sen. Curt Thompson (D-Tucker). Both are volunteer positions that Molina initiated.

 

As part of GALEO, an organization that pushes for Latino civic engagement, Molina works with advocacy leaders in the local community, bringing to light issues that need attention. He also helps with Latino voter registration and leadership training, and he teaches Latinos how to contact their local representatives and what they can expect from elected officials.

 

Working with Thompson, Molina helps his community understand laws that are being passed and how they can affect the Hispanic community.

 

“One of my mottos is ‘hoping to leave this world better than I found it,’” says Molina.  “Sometimes it just takes encouraging someone who you never expected to do great things. Seeing them succeed in what they’re doing makes everything worth it.”