In the summer of 2016, Georgio found himself exhausted by the mounting sense of crisis across the United States a “state of emergency” manifested in social unrest, racial tension, and policing tragedies. His turning point came when he witnessed the senseless killing of Philando Castile on July 6, 2016 in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Castile, a licensed concealed-carry permit holder, verbally disclosed his firearm to the officer before reaching for his ID and was fatally shot with seven bullets, five of which struck his heart. The livestreamed aftermath, captured by his partner Diamond Reynolds, sparked nationwide outrage and further protests.
Devastated, Georgio prayed for guidance and found his calling: use his voice and talents to build bridges between communities and police. Already working as a photojournalist for City News Newspaper in Cleveland, he had captured powerful, up-close images of take-to-the-streets protests amplifying the raw emotions and demands for justice rooted in cities like Cleveland, where mistrust of the police has deep historical roots.
With a personal network that spanned both military veterans and law enforcement officers his family including serving police and military Georgio understood both sides of the divide. Motivated to strengthen mutual understanding, he began attending “police decree” events in Cleveland: forums, ride-alongs, and dialogue circles, uniting locals, protest leaders, officers, and veterans in shared conversations.
From those experiences emerged GoVia a platform built to foster active empathy, real‑time documentation, mental health support, and two‑way accountability. Georgio envisioned it as a tool that humanizes both sides: spotlighting positive police interactions, enabling transparent incident reporting, and offering immediate resources for anyone in crisis. In his journey from photojournalist and prayer to civic bridge-builder, GoVia was born not from theory, but from the heartbreak of witnessing injustice and the belief that change begins with listening and connection.
