Recently retired Georgia State Rep. Pedro “Pete” Marin, a trailblazing Latino legislator, has been awarded the highest honor the government of Mexico offers to those who contribute to the well-being of its citizens abroad.
Mr. Marin, who served 22 years in his Gwinnett district, took home the Ohtli Award during a Mexican independence celebration at Atlanta City Hall Sept. 14.
Ohtli means “path” in the Nahuatl indigenous language of Mexico, and the award is given to those who clear new paths for Mexicans abroad, particularly young people aided in integrating into their communities.
Arriving in Georgia in 1995, Mr. Marin was the first Hispanic elected to the Georgia legislature in 2002, in part reflecting the post-Olympic boom in the state’s Latino population. His tenure also coincided with Gwinnett’s metamorphosis into a majority-minority county with a significant Korean population centered largely in House District 96, as well as a sizable South Asian diaspora.
For that reason, Mr. Marin was a fixture at international community events, championing the growing multiculturalism both in his backyard and the state at large.
The Mexican government saw his work in the State Capitol and beyond as “defending and empowering the Mexican diaspora in Georgia,” Mexican Consul General Javier Diaz de Leon was slated to say in presenting the award.
“His lifelong commitment to education, culture, and justice has left an indelible mark on Georgia and set a legacy of service that inspires future generations,” Mr. Diaz remarks read.
The 12th Ohtli recipient in Georgia, Mr. Marin accepted his award in the presence of three past winners: Alejandro Coss with the Latin American Chamber of Georgia; America Gruner of CLILA, or the Coalición de Lideres Latinos, and Gigi Pedraza with the Latin American Community Fund of Georgia.