2021 40 Under 40 award recipient: Eleanor Moreno

2021 40 Under 40 award recipient: Eleanor Moreno
Eleanor Moreno. <strong> Courtesy 616 Media </strong>

Eleanor Moreno, 33

Chief operating officer

Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities

Eleanor Moreno is on a mission of putting people first in the same way that others have done for her. 

She is the COO of Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities (GAAH), a place that provided her with stability when she was growing up through its educational programs at the Cook Arts Center and the Cook Library Center.

“The last 10 months here at GAAH have been the most amazing time ever,” she said. “I grew up spending so much time attending both of our facilities, it created a foundation to seek higher education and a professional career. That foundation and support brought me back to join as a board member and then shift to serve as the director at the Cook Arts Center. It was a beautiful moment to then shift into the opportunity to serve as COO.”

As the COO, Moreno manages the teams and facilities at the Cook Arts Center and Cook Library Center, including the Cook Library Summer Clubs, Cook Library After School, Arts Summer Programs, Teen Leaders, After School Arts and Girls Rock! GR.

In addition to her role at GAAH, Moreno, who identifies as queer Afro-Latino, has collaborated with community organizations such as Thirteen Moons Kitchen, Auntie’s House and the Food Liberation Network, which she founded. The organization was awarded $100,000 to focus over the next year on redefining the food system and how it will work for minorities. Plans include hosting BIPOC vendor nights at the Fulton Street Farmers Market and providing five farmers, vendors and producers with licenses to sell their products.