As the public policy manager for Lyft’s largest market in the country, Larry Gallegos works closely with elected officials and community stakeholders to bridge Lyft’s goal of providing equitable transportation with the needs of the diverse communities in New York state. Through his work, he has delivered significant community initiatives such as the Racial Justice Alliance, comprised of several nonprofits, to provide grants for smaller nonprofit organizations that may not have the bandwidth to apply for grants through traditional methods. When the racially-motivated Tops supermarket shooting occurred in Buffalo, New York, Gallegos worked with local leaders to provide transportation access for residents of that neighborhood to the next closest grocery store while the supermarket, the only supermarket in the area, was closed.
A son of Ecuadorian immigrants Gallegos attended Hunter College for his bachelor’s degree and Queens College for his master’s degree. He has dedicated his professional life to public service, from his time working with youth in foster care in the South Bronx, to work in government affairs at Queens Library, to his time working on the $9 billion LaGuardia Redevelopment Project. While at Queens Library, he was a part of the team that brought six-day library service to New York City. While at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, he led a community outreach team that helped create the LGA Opportunities Scholarship STEM programs and helped the Port Authority meet and surpass their goal of 30% of contracts being given to Minority and Women-Owned businesses.
Words of Wisdom: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
