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Common Purpose / 1 October 2024

American Express Leadership Academy Returns to New York with a Cohort of 76 Non-Profit Leaders

76 non-profit leaders will accelerate their development and build new skills to meet the unique challenges that the world is facing today.

Common Purpose and American Express have announced the return of the American Express Leadership Academy to New York City, which will welcome 77 inspiring non-profit leaders from across the Americas from November 12th through 15th. These leaders represent a wide range of causes, from environmental conservation to education and public health, illustrating the expansive impact of the American Express Leadership Academy.

Following successful programs in Sydney and London earlier this year, the New York chapter will cap a year of impactful leadership development across three global regions. The four-day in-person gathering in New York marks the culmination of the six-month virtual leadership development programming designed to help non-profit leaders lead with authority, resilience and purpose. The in-person sessions will include group discussions, training and coaching for leaders to learn how they can drive meaningful change and enhance their skills and expertise. 

"We’re thrilled to welcome the American Express Leadership Academy back to New York this November to enhance our participant’s ability to inspire and effect change while building new connections that will live on far beyond our time together," said Madge Thomas, President of the American Express Foundation and Head of Corporate Sustainability at American Express. “As the third and final American Express Leadership Academy of the year, the Americas cohort underscores our commitment to developing non-profit leaders who are not only equipped to face current challenges but also have the resilience to shape the future.

Adirupa Sengupta, Global Chief Executive of Common Purpose, highlighted the importance of the program, "Our returning to New York signifies not just a continuation, but an enhancement of our commitment to nurturing leadership that makes a tangible difference in our world. The diversity of this cohort enriches the learning experience, enabling leaders to exchange unique insights and forge solutions that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries."

The 2024 program builds on the successes of the 2023 New York Leadership Academy and offers a transformative experience through its curriculum, but also serves as a bridge connecting participants with an inspiring group of alumni. These alumni have continued to drive significant change in their communities, embodying the spirit of resilience and innovation that the American Express Leadership Academy fosters.

This year's Americas cohort, representing 10 countries including Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Brazil, will bring together individuals who are at the forefront of addressing pressing global challenges.

Our 2024 participants across the Americas are:

  1. Kadra Abdi, Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD), United States  

  2. Federico Arellano, Colmena 41, Mexico  

  3. Juan Jose Ayerza, Techo, Chile  

  4. Itay Balely, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, United States  

  5. Karine Barbosa, The Resource Foundation, Brazil  

  6. Danielle Beaton, The Tween Esteem Project, United States  

  7. Letícia Benavalli, Pró-Onça Institute, Brazil  

  8. Guillermo Bernal, Fundación Placemaking México, Mexico  

  9. Darnelle Bernier, Catholic Medical Mission Board, United States  

  10. Cristobal Bisso, Generation, Chile  

  11. Lara Bloom, The Ehlers-Danlos Society, United States  

  12. Dana Bond, First Book, United States  

  13. Jamie Bresnick, EveryMind, United States  

  14. Nicole (Nickie) Brookens, Plan4Success Foundation, United States  

  15. Darcia Bryden-Currie, VIP Community Services Inc, United States  

  16. Cecilia Buzon, Shakti School of Arts for Girls, Argentina  

  17. Eliana Camargo Niño, MasPorTIC, Columbia  

  18. Claudia Castorena, Galilee Center, United States  

  19. Jonas Cayo, Florida Leadership Venture DBA Elevate Orlando, United States  

  20. Joliz Cedeño, Techqueria, United States  

  21. Maysa Costa, JCA Institute, Brazil  

  22. Katiuska "Kat" Delgado Kirkwood, Junior Achievement of Southern California, Brazil  

  23. Pedro Develey, Society for the Conservation of Birds in Brazil - SAVE Brasil, United States  

  24. Sophie Dubuisson, Best Buddies International, United States  

  25. Adriana Eiriz, Accion Opportunity Fund, United States  

  26. Raavin Evans, United Way of Northwest Louisiana, United States  

  27. Adam Faircloth, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, United States  

  28. Tracy Ganti, World Central Kitchen, United States  

  29. Gerardo Gaya, Iluminemas por el Autismo/Love4all, Mexico 

  30. Riyaz Gayasaddin, Camelback Ventures, United States  

  31. Georgene Glass, Dreamsickle Kids Foundation, United States  

  32. Adrienne Hadaway, Junior Achievement of New York, United States  

  33. Sally Hakim, MakeWay, Canada  

  34. Regan Harney, MusiCounts, Canada

  35. Alexis Hartwick, The Andrew Keegan Theatre Company, United States  

  36. Javier Hernandez Morales, The Trevor Project, Mexico

  37. Maria Heskin, Women's Sports Foundation, United States  

  38. Richard Jardiolin, Starlight Children's Foundation, United States  

  39. Donovan Jones, Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, United States

  40. Maxine Knight, York Region Food Network, Canada  

  41. Eugenia (Jane) Levenson, American Museum of Natural History, United States  

  42. Cathy Lin, International Downtown Association, United States  

  43. Brooke Magnusson, Adara Development, United States  

  44. Helen Malone, Institute for Educational Leadership, United States  

  45. Judy Tobin May, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert, United States  

  46. Antonio Merino, YMCA Latin America & Caribbean, Mexico  

  47. Jaime Montes García, Fundación Ser Maestro, Peru  

  48. Craig Montford, Pathways to Education Canada, Canada  

  49. Tyrhee Moore, Soul Trak Outdoors, United States  

  50. Paul Nagle, Stonewall Community Development Corporation, United States  

  51. Douglas Niemela, H2O For Life, United States  

  52. Sally Nnamani, PeacePlayers United States, United States  

  53. Paula Olson, International Medical Corps, United States

  54. Jose Oromi, Horizons National,  United States

  55. Emanuel Pacheco, Fundación Katy Summer, Chile  

  56. Gabriela Paranhos, Generation: You Employed, Brazil 

  57. Kalindi Parikh, Current, United States  

  58. Silvia Paruzzolo, Save the Children US, United States 

  59. Marianely Patlan, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Mexico  

  60. Jaime Perris, Minds Beyond Measure, United States  

  61. Pam Powers-Smith, Rome Floyd Chamber of Commerce, United States  

  62. Sophie Ringel, Clean Miami Beach, United States

  63. Kevin Robinson, 30,000 Feet, United States 

  64. Dustin Rodgers, College Together, United States  

  65. Valerie Rosenberg, Mobility Works Inc, United States  

  66. Paula Simonds, Family YMCA of the Desert, United States  

  67. Paul Steele, Lions Clubs International Foundation, United States  

  68. Peter Sturgeon, John F Kennedy Memorial Foundation, United States 

  69. Karen Taylor, Concern Housing, United States  

  70. Daniela Valdivia Gutiérrez, Huellas & Futuro, Bolivia  

  71. Sarah Vázquez-Pérez, Instituto del Desarrollo de la Juventud, Puerto Rico  

  72. Leah Wade, The Executive Leadership Council, United States  

  73. Elena Wason, Natun Guatemala, Guatemala  

  74. April Wennerström, Keep America Beautiful, United States  

  75. Seri Worden, National Trust for Historic Preservation, United States  

  76. Mariana Zarate, VIVA Vive Valores, Peru  

For more information about the 2024 American Express Leadership Academy please visit: American Express Leadership Academy.

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Common Purpose

Common Purpose is a global non-profit devoted to good leadership. Its mission is to develop people who can cross cultural, social, and institutional boundaries, both at work and in wider society. It does this by delivering compelling, surprising, and powerful leadership programs & workshops. Routed in the real-world. Both in-person and online. Programs where people are having the real, purpose-driven conversations, the types of conversations we need to be having to bring about real change.

Founded in 1989 as a non-profit social enterprise, Common Purpose now runs local programs for leaders in cities across the world and global programmes for leaders from over 100 countries across six continents. Each year, 5,000 leaders become Common Purpose alumni.

Twitter: @CommonPurpose

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American Express

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