JA Americas Alumni Ignite the Moment
November 25, 2025
Last weekend, JA alumni leaders from across the Americas gathered in Rio de Janeiro for Ignite, the JA Americas Alumni Regional Summit. Designed as a transformative three-day experience, Ignite brought together more than 50 young leaders for a powerful mix of connection, inspiration, and community impact. The event aimed to strengthen leadership skills, build meaningful regional ties, and empower JA alumni to make a difference in their home communities.
Hosted in the vibrant Lado do Boticário area, participants stayed together in shared hostel accommodations, which encouraged stronger bonds and a sense of community from the moment they arrived. The summit followed a three-part structure. Day 1 focused on connection. Alumni took part in networking activities designed to help participants meet peers from across the region, expand their JA networks, and build relationships that will continue long after the summit. Day 2 centered on inspiration and development. The schedule featured leadership workshops, talks from young changemakers, cultural exchange moments, and hands-on skill building. Ignite offered a wide range of activities, including integration exercises, cultural programs, themed dinners, and panels featuring emerging leaders from across the region. The final day emphasized local impact. Participants engaged in a social impact activity, collaborated through impact consulting, and closed the weekend with a celebratory awards ceremony recognizing leadership and contributions made during the summit.
Throughout the weekend, JA Americas alumni leaders explored what it means to lead with purpose, amplify their impact, and return home ready to spark change in their own communities. For many, the energy of Rio created the perfect backdrop for reflection, creativity, and camaraderie. As described in the event’s overview, Ignite invited participants to define their path with passion and return home ready to make a meaningful difference in the world.
Ignite 2025 strengthened the growing JA alumni movement across the Americas and offered an unforgettable shared experience that left participants inspired, connected, and motivated to keep building the future of JA in their region.
In the spirit of continuous learning, JA Worldwide CEO Asheesh Advani—who opened Ignite with a keynote—learned how JA Americas alumni ensure JA events are inclusive for neurodiverse and learning disabled youth from JA Americas President and JA Uruguay alumna Federica Pereira.
On the final day of GLC Rio, JA Americas Alumni received the JA Youth Advocacy and Alumni Impact Award at the GLC Awards Gala. The award celebrates a JA location that co-creates exceptional projects, partnerships, and campaigns with its alumni community to elevate youth voices and leadership. Learn more.