5 from TT selected for Young Leaders of the Americas Programme

The US Department of State has selected five Trinidad and Tobago nationals for its Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Programme.

A statement from the US Embassy on Tuesday said the 2021 TT cohort was selected out of 2,300 applicants for the three-month virtual fellowship, which will begin on January 11 and end in April 2021.

It said, “During this time, fellows will complete the YLAI Entrepreneurial Leadership Curriculum and will work with a US host organisation for four weeks.

“They will also be paired with a designated mentor and will collaborate with other fellows to address shared foreign policy challenges throughout the exchange.”

The programme brings together 263 young leaders from 37 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada, and is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State.

Participants will engage in live events and cross-cultural activities.

The embassy said the programme is "a collaborative, enriching experience that combines technical entrepreneurship training with leadership development and networking opportunities.”

The 2021 cohort includes president and founder of the League of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs (LXE) Jaysen James Justin Francis; founder of the organic farming company Life Blooms Jenelle Lavern Hills; managing director of Ipsum Technologies Shawn Melville; designer and owner of TJM Designs Triscilla Joseph; and co-founder and market analyst of Natho's Burger Grill Mark Joel Gill.