Strengthening a Thriving Alumni Movement in the Americas

We are proud to spotlight the continued growth and evolution of the Regional Alumni Board of JA Americas, part of the Alumni Leaders Academy Global (ALAG) led by JA Worldwide's Alumni Community Manager, Dana Khairallah.

A region that has rapidly emerged as a leading force in alumni engagement, collaboration, and impact across the global JA network.

From grassroots initiatives to region-wide programs, the Americas alumni movement reflects what is possible when leadership is locally driven, regionally connected, and globally aligned.

🌱 From Momentum to Structure

The JA Americas Alumni Network has experienced remarkable growth over the past year, with 14 active national alumni networks, over 4,000 registered alumni on Gather, and 129 events delivered across the region, engaging more than 4,600 participants. 

This growth—representing a 58% increase in participation—has been driven primarily by alumni-led initiatives, reinforcing the power of community-led action and peer-to-peer leadership.

At the center of this momentum stands the Regional Alumni Board, which has evolved from a small volunteer team into a structured, strategic leadership body guiding the region’s direction. 

🚀 A Region Leading by Example

What sets the Americas apart is not only its scale but its ability to translate vision into action.

In 2025 alone, the region:

• Delivered high-impact leadership experiences through the Alumni Leaders Bootcamp
• Launched the Alumni English Lab, creating inclusive spaces for language learning and connection
• Activated Americas Youth Voices, amplifying young leaders across platforms
• Organized the first-ever JA Americas Alumni Summit “Ignite”, bringing together 50 alumni leaders from across the region, with participation from Europe and Asia Pacific 

These initiatives reflect a clear commitment to:

✨ building not just networks, but experiences that empower, connect, and elevate alumni across the region.

One example of this forward-looking approach can be seen through the Innovation pillar of the Alumni Leaders Academy Global, one of the three pillars guiding the JA Global Alumni Community’s updated focus areas.

Through this pillar, JA Worldwide is working closely with JA Americas to explore how the Alumni English Lab can evolve into a broader global learning opportunity for alumni leaders across regions.

As part of this vision, the initiative is helping create more inclusive spaces for leaders from Latin America and other Spanish-speaking communities, while also encouraging global leaders to build basic Spanish language skills that can strengthen connection, participation, and cross-cultural exchange.

Beyond language learning itself, this reflects a broader commitment to shaping alumni experiences that are innovative, inclusive, and rooted in what it truly means to lead as a global citizen.

🤝 Meet the Leaders

The Regional Alumni Board of JA Americas brings together a diverse group of leaders working alongside the Alumni Coordinator of JA Americas, Federica Pereira, driving strategy, collaboration, and innovation across the network:

• Tobias Iglesias (President) 🇦🇷

A Political Science student and active leader within JA Argentina, Tobias combines academic insight with hands-on experience as a mentor, host, and advocate. As President, he fosters regional collaboration and drives initiatives that promote leadership, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.

• Agustín Piriz (Vice President) 🇺🇾

A marketing professional and digital strategist, Agustín brings strong expertise in communications, automation, and regional coordination. With a background spanning volunteer leadership and professional roles within JA, he focuses on strengthening collaboration and operational excellence across the network.

• Emilia Barrera (Director of Communications) 🇦🇷

Deeply connected to the JA ecosystem from an early age, Emilia brings a unique perspective shaped by years of participation in programs, events, and international forums. She now leads communications efforts across the region, amplifying alumni voices and driving engagement initiatives.

• Roberto Castillo (Director of Events) 🇬🇹
• Giovana Lopes (Coordinator of Educational Contents) 🇧🇷

A creative communicator and actress studying Advertising, Giovana brings a passion for storytelling, cultural exchange, and experience design. Actively engaged in the JA ecosystem since 2019, she contributes to building meaningful learning experiences that connect alumni across the region.

• Esdras Romero (Alumni Consultant) 🇲🇽
• Nelly Cetera (Alumni Consultant) 🇦🇷

A Chevening Scholar at the University of Oxford, Nelly has been a driving force behind the growth of the Americas alumni movement. From co-founding JA Argentina Alumni to shaping regional strategy and launching new chapters, her leadership continues to expand opportunities for young people across the region.

Spanning multiple countries and backgrounds, this team represents a new generation of alumni leadership: one that is collaborative, strategic, and impact-driven.

🔍 Building for Scale and Sustainability

As the region continues to grow, the focus has shifted toward intentional structure and long-term sustainability.

The Regional Alumni Board has introduced new roles and strengthened its strategic approach — ensuring that alumni initiatives are not only impactful, but also scalable and consistent across countries. 

This includes:

• Enhancing training and capacity-building programs
• Strengthening partnerships across sectors
• Supporting national chapter development and expansion
• Creating pathways for alumni leadership at every level

🌐 Part of a Growing Global Movement

The Regional Alumni Board of JA Americas is part of a broader global shift toward stronger alumni leadership structures.

Alongside the Americas, regional boards are also active or emerging across:

• JA Asia Pacific Alumni
• JA Africa Alumni
• JA Alumni Europe

Together, these leaders form a globally connected ecosystem: one that enables collaboration across regions, shared learning, and collective momentum toward a more unified alumni experience worldwide.

✨ Looking Ahead

With the onboarding journey still unfolding and key sessions ahead, this marks the activation of a new layer of leadership within the JA Alumni movement.

One that is not only built to lead only, but to connect, represent, and empower alumni across borders, contexts, and communities.

As these leaders step into their roles, they carry forward a shared responsibility: to shape what alumni leadership looks like today and what it can become tomorrow.