UPCOMING EVENTS
Live from NYC
YANA Town Halls provide an ideal opportunity for mission-driven alums to meet each other and exchange ideas and information to help achieve social impact. These events occur live at the Yale Club in New York City AND are accessible via Zoom. Join us from anywhere!
If attending in person, join us after the program in the Main Lounge to convene and connect over cocktails. You don’t need to be a member of the Yale Club to join us!
Register now for this September event:
From the Congo to Connecticut: Inspiring and Supporting Youth Through Action
Sept. 25 | 6:30pm ET – In-Person (Yale Club of NYC) & via Zoom
Join us at the September Live from New York Town Hall for an inspiring discussion between Jeannot Basima ‘27, founder of the Jeannot Basima Basketball Camp and Foundation (JBF) in Goma, Congo, and Josiah Brown ‘92, executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocacy (CASA).
Jeannot and Josiah will share insights on empowering at-risk youth through sports and advocacy. This conversation will explore how meaningful change is created and how Yalies across generations are collaborating to transform youth development–from the basketball courts of Goma to the courtrooms of Connecticut. Don’t miss this impactful exchange of ideas and inspiring duo!
Alison Cole ‘99, new Yale Alumni Association Executive Director, will join us. Andrew Burgie ‘87, YANA Board Member will be the guest host.
Register Now! The YANA conference is your chance to scale your impact and grow your network while learning about the latest trends and best practices in advocacy, fundraising, strategic planning, AI, and more. Tickets will sell out to this intimate 200 participant event. Register today to reserve your spot.
CONFERENCE PANEL
Staying Ahead of the Curve: AI & Mission Delivery
Join us for a panel discussion on the history, nature, and future of AI, focusing on how nonprofits can leverage this evolving tool. Our experts will explore how AI can enhance operations, fundraising, and program delivery, while addressing ethics, data privacy, and securing board buy-in. This session is essential for Yale alumni in nonprofits and social enterprises looking to amplify their impact through innovation.
Sahil Agarwal PhD ’18, Co-Founder and CEO of Enkrypt AI, earned his PhD in Applied Mathematics from Yale. Prior to launching Enkrypt AI in 2022, he served as the Chief AI Officer at Accrete AI, where he led the development and deployment of AI models for major clients, including the US Department of Defense. Sahil created Enkrypt AI as he is committed to the safe, secure, and reliable adoption of AI in enterprises, ultimately aiming to foster a safer and more prosperous society.
Doug Burger ’91 currently manages Microsoft Research’s worldwide research labs. He spent ten years as a Professor of Computer Sciences at UT-Austin, ten years leading industrial research projects at Microsoft, and five years as an engineering executive building custom AI supercomputers for Microsoft Azure. He co-invented a new AI numeric standard (MX) that will begin shipping worldwide next year. Led the design of Microsoft’s first custom AI-serving infrastructure from 2014-2020 (Brainwave). Well known as a leading researcher in Computer Architecture and AI systems.
Sam Landenwitsch ’06 is the Co-Founder of Chorus AI, a software company that amplifies nonprofit impact through actionable intelligence and content creation. Prior to Chorus AI, he spent 14 years in the nonprofit space, going from grassroots organizer to Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President at The Public Interest Network, and 3 years as the principal of Saidin Strategies, providing management consulting services to nonprofits, campaigns, and businesses. He graduated from Yale College in 2006 and is based in Brooklyn, NY.
Norma Padrón PhD ’12 is the VP of Data & AI at Nayya, where she leads innovative data-driven solutions for employee benefits. She founded EmpiricaLab and has held notable positions at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the American Hospital Association. Norma is also an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Yale Ventures and a board member of Consilium Bots. Her work has been published in leading healthcare and data science journals.
When you register for the conference, you will be able to attend three of the following conference panels:
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- Diversifying Your Income for Financial Stability
- Strategic Planning: Unpacking Best Practices
- Measuring and Conveying Your Impact
- Maximizing Individual Giving: Best Practices for Success
- Advocating for Results: Tools to Encourage Government Response
- Staying Ahead of the Curve: AI and Mission Delivery
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For more information including a conference schedule and speaker information visit our conference website.
Sponsorship opportunities are available and enable you and your organization to play a vital role in fostering positive change.
Thank you to our sponsors, a wonderful group of
big-hearted social impact leaders!
YANA INSIGHTS & CONNECTIONS
Khalid Cannon ‘17: Bringing Sports to Children of Incarcerated Parents
Khalid Cannon ’17 is the President and Chief Program Officer of “Put Me In!” a nonprofit dedicated to helping over 5 million children of incarcerated parents pursue their sports dreams. Inspired by his own experience with an incarcerated parent and the role sports played in his life as an outlet, Cannon excelled in athletics in his home state of Alabama, eventually earning a football scholarship to Yale.
After graduation, Cannon created “Put Me In!” to provide $1,000 annual financial aid packages to cover the costs of sports equipment, league fees, and travel for these children, promoting both athletic participation and personal development. With nearly 200 children currently in the program, “Put Me In!” fosters resilience and growth through new experiences.
Cannon participated in our July nonprofit Board Match event and is currently looking for Board Members to join this growing organization. If you’re interested in learning more about “Put Me In!,” reach out to Khalid at khalid.cannon@putmein.org or learn more here: https://putmein.org/
August Town Hall: The Climate Crisis
Our August town hall, “The Climate Crisis: Local and Urban Solutions to a Global Challenge” was co-hosted by Yale Blue Green, featured Peter Boyd, a Yale lecturer and a leader in the UN’s Race to Zero campaign, and Sarah Charlop-Powers ’09 MEM, Executive Director of the Natural Areas Conservancy.
Ben Hernandez ‘26, the current YANA Campus Chapter President, facilitated the discussion between Boyd and Charlop-Powers. The pair highlighted how urban environments are uniquely positioned to implement impactful climate strategies and solutions.
The event concluded with a networking session over cocktails, allowing attendees to continue the conversation and strengthen community ties. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this important dialogue on creating sustainable urban solutions! If you missed out you can watch the recording on our YouTube Channel.
YANA Chapter Launches at Yale
We’re excited to announce the launch of a new YANA chapter on Yale’s campus, led by former YANA intern Ben Hernandez ’26. The chapter was initiated last semester by YANA intern Sindi Daci ‘24, who is starting her first semester of law school.
This semester, the chapter is ramping up its activities, having already participated in the Yale Student Extracurricular Bazaar on September 1, where they attracted interest from 70 students despite there being more than 400 groups participating. They are currently building their leadership and planning to launch a speaker series in the new year. Many of these enthusiastic students will be at the upcoming Conference and Awards Luncheon at the Yale Club on October 25, so be sure to register for the conference to meet them and learn more about their initiatives!
YALIES IN SOCIAL IMPACT
Tarell Alvin McCraney MFA ’07 Champions Inclusivity: Free Theater Access to Marginalized Communities
Tarell Alvin McCraney MFA ’07, the acclaimed playwright and chair of playwriting at the Yale School of Drama, is making headlines with his innovative initiative at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. McCraney has launched a program offering free theater tickets to populations impacted by incarceration, homelessness, and the foster care system.
McCraney, who co-wrote the Oscar-winning film “Moonlight,” has always been driven by a mission to bring marginalized voices to the forefront. His tenure at the Geffen Playhouse is no exception. “I want the theater to be a place where the marginalized and struggling see themselves onstage,” McCraney said, emphasizing his commitment to inclusivity and representation.
Born in Liberty City, Florida, McCraney’s journey to prominence began at the New World School of the Arts in Miami. He later earned his BFA from DePaul University and an MFA in playwriting from Yale School of Drama, where he was awarded the Cole Porter Playwriting Award. His career has been marked by a series of impactful works, including the Brother/Sister trilogy and the play “Choir Boy,” which earned a Tony Award nomination.
McCraney’s efforts align with YANA’s mission to leverage the power of mission-driven individuals within the Yale community to improve lives. His work not only enriches the cultural landscape but also provides a platform for underrepresented communities to share their stories.