The Young Leaders of the Americas (YLAI) program of the United States Department of State is recognized as one of the most prestigious consortia in the global arena. This brings together close to 200 entrepreneurial visionaries from the Americas and the Caribbean, an amalgamation of talent and exceptional leadership. This program is invaluable, not only for the educational content, but for the opportunity to network with a robust network of outstanding entrepreneurs.
One year ago, I was selected due to the successful leadership of ITA, our organization focused on promoting culture and education throughout Latin America. After months of preparation, intensive training, and numerous virtual events, we finally converged on Houston, Texas. Immediately, a palpable synergy developed between us, establishing deep and genuine connections. We participate in multiple collaborative work days, seminars and networking-oriented activities with one primary objective: to forge bonds of trust, beyond our business facets.
The program continued with four weeks in Atlanta, a surprisingly diverse and energetic city that hosted 13 fellows of many different nationalities, including me. During this time, I led the creation of a program that reinforced Books for Africa’s mission of distributing books to Spanish-speaking communities. However, the most valuable moments originated in the informal spaces: those talks accompanied by good wine and camaraderie. In these instances, unexpected connections were manifested as a powerful engine of opportunities and learning.
Driving a New Era in Participatory Publishing
Our goal: ten thousand new authors. This ambition emerged after dialogues with authors, educators and community representatives. To materialize it, we forged alliances in a collaborative effort that in less than six months will allow us to publish the stories of young people between the ages of 8 and 17 in print and digital formats, under the auspices of ITA. This large-scale project represents a milestone in collaborations between government, the private sector, and non-profit organizations.
We believe that the contents of the books should contain a relevant sociopolitical component, thus generating spaces to question social and political environments and realities. Education through the formulation of questions in literary reflection exercises is a powerful catalyst for the transformation of communities.
Cross-Border Integration and Strategic Alliances with Canada
ITA is present in almost all Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, with more than 8,000 published authors and a network of more than 120,000 people. Our internationalization and expansion objectives focus on educational communities and cultural agents. Likewise, Latino communities abroad, especially immigrants in Canada, are highly valuable in establishing bridges that allow their voices to be amplified.
The first step in this strategy focuses on the institutional framework and the expansion of networks. Existing organizations, such as Latin American chambers of commerce, embassies, and networking networks, are essential. We often underestimate the value of these organizations and the need to lean on our own communities.
The second component of this first step is the creation and strengthening of networks through social platforms, especially LinkedIn. However, these interactions must be based on concrete proposals that offer value, promote real and meaningful connections, and avoiding superficiality.
There are other additional challenges to address, from technical, legal, business, and marketing requirements, among others, which I will analyze in future editions of this newsletter.
Final thanks
In closing, I wish to express my sincere thanks to a number of individuals who have played an integral role in this journey. Let me acknowledge my esteemed colleagues – although the list is long, I hope I have not left anyone out. If I inadvertently did so, please let me know and accept my apologies in advance:
Diana Duarte Gómez, Andrés Díaz Bedolla, David Rojas Garcés, Andrés Sáenz Peñas, Jeferson Tenorio Sinisterra, Lucas Bravo Reyes, Fernando Luis García Ayola, Federico Lanati, Pavlova Polanco Alvarenga, Patricia Zanella, Lindsey Gantt, Katie K., Marcela Vega, Romano Jalimsingh, Matias Acosta, Alejandra Zuluaga Brieva, Nicholas LaValle, Brianda Lucia Aguilar Bautista…
Your contribution and support have been critical to our collective success. Please accept my deepest thanks.