The New Jersey City University Guarini Institute for International Education and Economic Mobility on Monday announced it was selected as a partner organization of the Young Leaders from the Americas program overseen by the U.S. Department of State.
The aim of the YLAI program is to empower entrepreneurs to strengthen their capacity to launch and advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to social and economic development in their communities.
As such, partner organizations like NJCU’s Guarini Institute serve as the host to Latin American entrepreneurs for four-week fellowships where the fellow will develop a project while collaborating with the host organization.
NJCU has hosted four fellows since last year, including two during an ongoing four-week fellowship this month. Sergio Alonso Tenorio, a fellow from Peru, is working alongside the Fintech & Sports Wagering Innovation Center, while Luis Francisco Ornelas, a Mexican entrepreneur who leads a software development firm and has designed innovative health-related tech products, is completing a fellowship with the Guarini Institute.
Adrián Franco, the executive director of the Guarini Institute at NJCU, highlighted the benefits of the program, saying: “Hosting YLAI fellows represents an invaluable opportunity for NJCU. These young entrepreneurs offer our institution unique expertise and ideas to advance impactful initiatives. They also underscore NJCU’s connection with the Latino and the Latin America community.”
Since 2015, more than 1,000 fellows from Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada have been connected with businesses and organizations across the U.S. through the Young Leaders from the Americas.