On Sept. 22, three Professional Fellows participating in the Young Leaders of Americas Initiative arrived in Kansas City.

Their arrival followed the kick off in Detroit of the YLAI Professional Fellows Program, funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Meridian International Center.

The program welcomes 250 young entrepreneurs and social innovation visionaries from Latin America and the Caribbean to the United States for a four-week fellowship that is geared toward strengthening their capacity to advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to social and economic development in their communities.

Kansas City welcomes three fellows:

• Carlos Martos, a renewable energy executive from Colombia, is working with HCI International, a renewable energy firm.
• Priscilla Ortiz Porras, founder of a veterinary clinic in Costa Rica, is working with Likarda, an animal health company focused on cell therapies and 2015 25 Under 25 Award winner.
• Alejandra Jeugmans, founder of a digital marketing firm in Guatemala, has been placed with Bernstein-Rein, a marketing and communications firm.

“Business and organizational leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean share and learn best practices that they can bring back to their home countries. They also create lasting ties with leaders throughout the Americas, which has contributed to partnerships,” said Maegan Smith, program officer in Meridian International Center’s GlobalConnect Division of program benefits. “U.S. businesses and organizations gain an outside perspective into their own operations, expand into new markets, and can travel to the region to implement a community project.”

YLAI has worked with local partners on placements throughout 20 U.S. cities. Groups Ties KC assisted with the three local placements. In addition to discussing their business plan, fellows attend meetings with the hosting company, work on their pitch, network with others and can contribute to a project or event in Kansas City.

Fellows will conclude the YLAI in Washington D.C. at the end of October.