JA Alumni Clubhouse Recap: February 2026 🌍

A Global Start to the Year for the JA Alumni Community

The February 2026 JA Alumni Clubhouse marked the first global alumni gathering of the year, bringing together alumni from across regions to reconnect, hear updates from the global team, and meet the leaders shaping the next phase of the JA Alumni movement.

Hosted by Dana Khairallah, Global Alumni Community Manager at JA Worldwide, the session provided a comprehensive overview of where the global alumni network is heading in 2026 and beyond, highlighting new opportunities, regional momentum, and exciting upcoming events.

For those who could not attend live, you can rewatch the full session here:

🎥 Watch the recording: https://vimeo.com/jaworldwide/clubhouse-feb-2026

Global Alumni Updates: Vision, Focus Areas, and What’s Ahead

The session opened with an overview of the global direction of the JA Alumni movement, building on the work introduced last year and continuing into 2026.

The community is currently guided by three key pillars:

• Governance – strengthening regional leadership and alumni structures
• Connection – fostering meaningful engagement across the global network
• Innovation – supporting new ideas, collaborations, and alumni-led initiatives

These pillars help ensure that alumni remain an active part of the JA ecosystem while also creating pathways for alumni leadership, collaboration, and global impact.

As JA Worldwide launches its new 2026–2028 strategy, the alumni community is also aligning its focus areas to contribute to this broader vision.

The Clubhouse series will continue to serve as a space where alumni can receive updates, share progress, and stay connected to the evolving global alumni strategy.

Spotlight Opportunity: The De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award

A highlight of the session was an update from Sarah Rapp, Director of Youth Advocacy and People at JA Worldwide, who shared exciting news about the De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award.

This global competition celebrates outstanding JA student companies and supports young entrepreneurs with:

• Additional mentorship and training
• Global recognition
• A $15,000 prize to invest in their venture or future entrepreneurial efforts

The award honors the inspiring journey of Ralph De La Vega, former President and CEO of AT&T Mobility, whose story embodies the power of entrepreneurship to transform lives.

Alumni were invited to tune into the upcoming global event and support the next generation of JA entrepreneurs.

Regional Alumni Leadership: Meet the New Faces

Another key part of the Clubhouse was highlighting the growing leadership structures across regions.

Participants had the chance to meet representatives and hear updates from several Regional Alumni Boards, including:

• Africa
• Asia Pacific
• Americas
• Canada (the newest chapter joining the global alumni movement)

These regional boards play an important role in strengthening alumni engagement locally while contributing to the broader global community.

Through these structures, alumni leaders collaborate with JA offices and fellow alumni to:

• Organize events and initiatives
• Strengthen alumni networks
• Share best practices across regions
• Represent alumni voices in global discussions

Keep an eye out on Gather for upcoming blog posts featuring each region's newly onboarded leaders!

A Community Built by Alumni, for Alumni

One of the core messages of the session was that the JA Alumni movement continues to grow because of alumni leadership and collaboration.

The Clubhouse series remains a space where alumni can:

• Stay informed about global initiatives
• Discover new opportunities
• Connect with alumni leaders worldwide
• Contribute ideas and feedback for the future of the network

Watch the Session

If you missed the live discussion or want to revisit any of the updates, you can watch the full recording below:

🎥 Rewatch the February 2026 JA Alumni Clubhouse:

https://vimeo.com/jaworldwide/clubhouse-feb-2026

💬 We look forward to seeing you at the next JA Alumni Clubhouse in June and continuing to build this global community together!