People! This is a quick note to remind you that the deadline to apply for the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) is coming up fast. This is an “amazing opportunity,” as former YLAI Fellow Latoya West-Blackwood describes it. The link to the online application is here! And the deadline is midnight (Washington time) on Sunday, April 23.
The program was introduced to us by President Barack Obama himself during his visit to Jamaica in April 2015. The program empowers entrepreneurs and innovative civil society leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean to advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to social and economic development in their communities – through a four-week fellowship in the United States that includes training, participation in a three-day conference and much more. On their return from the U.S. (in November 2017) the YLAI Fellows will continue to benefit from collaboration with U.S. counterparts, travel grants and innovation small grants.
Latoya, who is CEO of iPublish Consultancy and currently heads the Book Industry Association of Jamaica, was one of a group of young Jamaican entrepreneurs and creatives who participated in the program last year. She enthused…
It was a life-changing experience – trust me!
So waste no time. Fire up your computer and apply today! If you are having challenges completing your application or have any questions, drop the U.S. Embassy a line at: kingstonexchanges@state.gov
