APRIL 8-10 , 2024 Day 1 MONDAY

APRIL 8
CLOSING FORUM

7:00-8:45AM BREAKFAST | MAIN BALLROOM

9:00-9:15AM WELCOME REMARKS

Jennifer Fox, Project Director, Young Leaders of the Americas
Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship
Rebecca Bell, Vice President of Global Programs, IREX

9:15-9:25AM U.S. GOVERNMENT WELCOME

Nicholas Geboy, Program Officer, Global Leaders Division, Bureau of
Education and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Scott Wienhold, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of
Education and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State

9:25-9:45AM RECOGNITION OF ALUMNI AND COHORT AMBASSADORS

Alumni Council representatives and Cohort Ambassadors will be
formally introduced to the 2024 Fellows and guests.
Sadie Traylor, Program Coordinator, YLAI Program
Lia Crayne-Dedrick, Program Associate, YLAI Program

9:45-11:00AM STRUCTURED NETWORKING

YLAI Alumni Council will lead a networking session for 2024 Fellows
and guests.

11:00-11:45AM KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Lisandra Rickards, Founder & CEO, Soul Career

11:45AM-1:00PM LUNCH | MAIN BALLROOM

1:00-3:55PM ASU COMMUNITY INNOVATION SUMMIT

Fellows work in teams to develop innovative solutions to the current
business challenges of featured guests.
Eric Heimbecker, Senior Program Manager, Peoria Forward, ASU J.
Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute
Larisa Slacke, Program Manager, Resource Development, ASU J. Orin
Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute

3:55-4:00PM END OF DAY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GROUP PHOTO

Tony Green, Deputy Project Director, YLAI Program

4:15-5:30PM OPTIONAL: FELLOW-LED MASTER CLASSES AND NETWORKING

Master classes will be led by 2024 fellows focusing on skills-based
and sector-specific professional development.
1. Gonzalo Yrigoyen, Peru, Crocodile Tamer Workshop (How to
Connect and Deal with Complex Clients)
2. Che Greenridge, Barbados, The ABCs of Grant Writing
3. Liliana Estigarribia, Paraguay, Unlocking Business Success:
Mastering Data Analytics for Effective Advertising Strategies
4. Priscilla Cherry, Canada, The Oratory Presents: Building Your
Emotional Capacity to Heal through Play!
5. Jazmin Chi, Mexico, Effective Communication Skills for Leaders
6. Pedro Carneiro, Brazil, The founder's checklist: what you need to
know to scale your business
 APRIL 8-10 , 2024 Day 2 TUESDAY
APRIL 9
CLOSING FORUM

7:00-8:45AM BREAKFAST | MAIN BALLROOM

9:00-9:05AM OPENING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Agnes Cazemiro, Program Associate, YLAI Program

9:05-10:45AM SOLUTION PITCH COMPETITION

10 Finalists in the Solution Pitch Competition will present their
pitches before a panel of expert judges. The winner will be named
the 2024 YLAI Ambassador!
Lia Crayne-Dedrick, Program Associate, YLAI Program
Reginald Ladouceur, YLAI 2023 Ambassador

10:45AM- MASTER CLASS BREAKOUT SESSIONS

12:15PM Alumni and program partners will lead workshops for professional
development. Break out sessions will repeat so that Fellows and
guests can attend two sessions.
1. Reginald Ladouceur, YLAI Ambassador 2023, Unlocking
Financial Success by Creating Compelling Offers
2. Lisandra Rickards, Founder & CEO of Soul Career, Using
Psychometric Assessments for Greater Emotional Intelligence
for Entrepreneurs
3. JoMarie Malcom, YLAI Alumni Council, Empower Your Brand,
Master Your Business: Brand Like a Boss
4. Cristina Espiritu and Patrik McDade, YLAI Alumni Council,
Maximizing Business Value: Create Your Blueprint for 2024 &
Beyond
5. JR Calanoc, CEO Dyamico Space, Pitch Deck Basics
6. Michelle Cormier, Director of New Business Development at
Banyan Global, Grant Funding
7. Larissa Harari, Client Engagement Manager at Global Good
Fund, Value Driven Strategic Thinking

12:15-1:30PM LUNCH | MAIN BALLROOM

1:30-3:00PM ALUMNI PANEL

Fellows learn about follow-on YLAI engagement and opportunities,
and hear directly from a panel of alumni on strategies for reentry to
their home communities.
Juan Pablo Vivanco, Program Officer, YLAI Program
YLAI Alumni Council Members

3:00-4:15PM END OF DAY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CITY COHORT MEET-UPS

Fellows meet with their Cohort Ambassador to reflect and share
learning and gratitude for their city-based cohorts.
Jennifer Perdomo, Program Associate, YLAI Program

4:15-6:30PM BREAK

6:30-8:30PM NETWORKING EVENT

YLAI Fellows, Fellowship Alumni, and partners will connect with local
business and organizations, U.S. government representatives, and
other invited guests.
Abby Finkenauer, Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues, Office of
Global Youth Issues, U.S. Department of State
 APRIL 8-10 , 2024 Day 3 WEDNESDAY
APRIL 10
CLOSING FORUM

7:00-8:45AM BREAKFAST | MAIN BALLROOM

9:00-9:15AM WELCOME REMARKS

Roshan Paul, Director of Leadership Practice, IREX
Kerri Hannan, Deputy Assistant Secretary Hannan, Bureau of
Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State

9:15-10:30AM COUNTRY DESK OFFICER ROUND TABLES

Fellows meet Public Diplomacy desk officers in smaller groups to
hear about priorities and to ask questions. Fellows will participate in
the session that corresponds to the region of their home country.

10:45-11:45AM YLAI NETWORK & ALUMNI OPPORTUNITIES

Fellows learn about opportunities available to them through the U.S.
Department of State.
De’Jonnae Boyd, Campaign Manager, Bureau of Western
Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State

11:45AM- CERTIFICATE CEREMONY AND CLOSING REMARKS

12:50PM We celebrate the end of the YLAI Fellowship and welcome
participants as Fellowship Alumni!
Jennifer Fox, Project Director, YLAI Program
Chort Ambassadors from 2024 YLAI cities
Reginald Ladouceur, YLAI 2023 Ambassador
Diana Haber-Daws, Program Officer, YLAI Program
Lia Crayne-Dedrick, Program Associate, YLAI Program

1:00-7:00PM OPEN NETWORKING TIME

Fellows may use this time to arrange strategic informational
meetings in Washington, DC.

7:00-8:30PM OPTIONAL YLAI TALENT NIGHT & CULTURAL CELEBRATION