Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Nathan.
Hi Sara, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
As a middle school student, I had the opportunity to travel with a youth group for a week to Tijuana, Mexico. Crossing the border from California to Mexico completely opened my eyes to a different language, a different way of life, and culture. This sparked my curiosity and interest in the Spanish language, as well as Latin American travel, culture, and history.
A few years passed after that experience, and I first heard about the nonprofit AMIGOS in school during Spanish class. I signed up once I was old enough to participate, and I embarked on my first AMIGOS volunteering summers in Costa Rica and later Brazil. This love for language and Latin American culture carried into my college career at the University of California, Berkeley, where I received a B.A. in Spanish and Portuguese and a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies, leading me to work in the Dominican Republic and Paraguay for AMIGOS as part of the staff team.
After pursuing an M.S. in International Development from the London School of Economics, I returned to California as the Vice Chair at the Center for Latin American Studies at UC Berkeley. From there, I joined the leadership of AMIGOS at our headquarters in Houston, TX.
It has been around 13 years since I first called Houston home, and it’s been an honor and privilege to see AMIGOS facilitate these life-changing summer experiences for U.S. and Latin American youth. This movement started in Houston, and we are so close to celebrating our 60th anniversary as a nonprofit!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As for many local businesses across different industries, everything changed in March of 2020 as we faced the pandemic and the challenges that came with it. We faced total business interruption for the first time in over 55 years. As we immediately evacuated U.S. AMIGOS volunteers in South America and closed our Houston office for the unforeseeable future – we had to pivot into finding new ways to achieve our mission as an organization.
Since March 2020, AMIGOS immersion and service experiences have gone from all-virtual programming to a careful return of youth volunteers to Latin American communities and host families. Seeing U.S. and Latin American students interact with local communities, organizations, and host families once again has been very special for all of us across our organizations. We all longed for the cross-cultural interactions and special bonds that are experienced during our service projects.
While we are still living through the impact of the pandemic, we are very grateful for the support of our AMIGOS community of alumni, parents, and donors in Houston. These past few years have been challenging, but we are determined to push through and keep offering these life-changing experiences for many generations to come.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
To effectively tackle the world’s most pressing and complex problems, young people must be engaged as lifelong leaders who share responsibility for our global community. At AMIGOS, we prepare youth across the Americas to lead and address the challenges that face us in our communities at home and abroad. These students do not just serve in the moment; they realize a passion for and commitment to giving back to their communities for the rest of their lives. AMIGOS alumni venture into the world with a new perspective and a deeper understanding of what unites us despite our differences. Now 30,000 strong, our alumni impact their communities as doctors, diplomats, business leaders, politicians, and change-makers who are committed to making our world more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable.
Our summer and gap year programs in Latin America provide amazing opportunities for Houston youth (ages 13–22) to work on sustainable community service projects in Latin America alongside local communities. For volunteers, living with Latin American host communities is an authentic cultural and language immersion experience that builds their confidence in Spanish and prepares them for their future by learning to thrive in an unfamiliar environment. Volunteers learn and practice skills that set them up for success in college and throughout their career.
One of the aspects of our program model that we’re most proud of is the involvement of Latin American volunteers, partner organizations, and communities. We hire Latin American staff, work with Latin American partners, and provide fully sponsored positions for Latin American youth to join our programs alongside international volunteers. By collaborating across cultural contexts, AMIGOS volunteers and staff develop the tools they need in order to thrive in an increasingly global and connected world.
The success of our alumni across the Americas demonstrates that young people rise to meet the challenges they face and carry this energy, focus, and perspective into successful careers in college and beyond. We are so proud about this movement and are very grateful for the continued support of our Houston community over the years.
This summer, students are traveling to Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama to work on service projects under themes such as sustainable development, community entrepreneurship and conservation, community health, and much more. Our applications for volunteers and project staff are still open for this summer – so definitely reach out if you are interested and want to learn more!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
It is humbling to reflect on all who have helped AMIGOS reach its 59th year and also who have helped propel me to this leadership role. In Houston, the list is long. A few of the individuals that have had the most impact on me or AMIGOS include Kristin Kaper, then VP of Programs at AMIGOS, for believing in me and recruiting me to the professional team at AMIGOS in 2009. Scott Roberts, board chair when I was new in my role as CEO, has served as an incredible mentor and guide for me. Together he and his wife Cathi – Co-Founder of the Rutherford B.H. Yates Museum – have been instrumental donors to AMIGOS, supporting our efforts to expand our mission to more youth and diversify our programs. Steve and Allyson Cook have each been wonderful connectors and coaches and have supported AMIGOS and me in countless roles since our founding.
In our local Houston Chapter of AMIGOS, Ann Crowley is an extraordinary board member and AMIGOS parent who has worked tirelessly to make the AMIGOS program experience possible for more students from all backgrounds from across the greater Houston metro area. A major influencer (perhaps unbeknownst to him) has been David Weekley, Chairman David Weekley Homes. David is an extraordinary business leader and philanthropic advisor, and his advice has had a great impact on our programs and approach to fundraising. Back in 2016, David encouraged me to look at the Boy Scouts as an example and consider adjacent programs that could serve to expand our impact. Out of these discussions we developed our middle school program, which is now expanding and offering more students a way to join the organization at a younger age. The list could go on!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amigosinternational.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amigos_americas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amigoslink/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amigos-de-las-americas
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMIGOS_Americas
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@amigosdelasamericas
