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Connect the President: Stronger 2026 Leadership Through Connection

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JCI WHQ

Connect the President is a simple idea with real leadership impact, it creates a direct space for members to engage, share insights, and connect with the 2026 JCI President, Alejandra Castillo.

In a global network as diverse as Junior Chamber International, connection is not just a nice-to-have. It is how we learn faster, transfer best practices, and turn local challenges into shared solutions. That theme is at the heart of President Alejandra’s 2026 direction, which consistently emphasizes connecting people, challenges, and solutions across borders.

Why Connect the President matters in 2026

Leadership grows through connection. That message is not a slogan, it is a leadership practice. Connect the President supports that practice by making access to leadership feel closer, more human, and more useful. It helps members turn curiosity into clarity, and clarity into action.

This initiative also reflects the spirit of 2026, often framed around “Lead. Connect. Evolve.” It signals a year where growth is driven by conversation, collaboration, and shared learning across the movement.

When members can connect directly, three things happen quickly:

  • Better alignment. Members understand priorities, focus areas, and where to plug in.

  • Faster learning. Ideas and lessons travel across countries, not just within a single local context.

  • Stronger belonging. People stay engaged when they feel seen, heard, and connected.

And in a volunteer-led organization, those outcomes are not secondary, they are foundational.

Connect the President is a member-first leadership channel

Connect the President creates space for members to engage and share insights directly with President Alejandra.

That can look like:

  • asking practical questions about the year’s priorities

  • sharing what is working locally, and what is not

  • exploring ways to collaborate across National and Local Organizations

  • surfacing member needs so the global leadership team can respond with better support

It is leadership, made accessible. It is also a reminder that JCI is not only a structure, it is a community.

Meet the 2026 JCI President

Alejandra Castillo serves as the 2026 JCI President, and the JCI Board of Directors reflects this leadership lineup for the year.

Her public messages repeatedly center on the power of connection, including connecting members, challenges, and solutions.

Connect the President is one of the most direct ways to experience that leadership approach, not by reading about it, but by participating in it.

How members can participate

If you are a member, here are simple ways to show up meaningfully:

  1. Bring one real question. Make it practical, make it relevant to your role or project.

  2. Share one insight. Something that worked in your Local Organization, or a lesson learned.

  3. Invite another leader. The value multiplies when more voices and contexts are present.

  4. Follow through. Take one action after the conversation, share it with your team, and keep the connection going.

Connect the President is not just a moment, it is a bridge. The best conversations lead to next steps.

Connect the President and the future of JCI leadership

Member engagement is not built through announcements alone. It grows through trust, repeated touchpoints, and real dialogue.

Connect the President helps build that culture. It also makes the global strategy feel more tangible at the member level, where JCI’s impact actually happens.

Over time, initiatives like Connect the President do something bigger than convene a conversation, they normalize a leadership standard:

  • leaders who listen

  • members who contribute

  • a global network that learns together

That is how leadership evolves in 2026.

Terms and Conditions

JCI Global Youth Summit 2026

By completing your registration for the JCI Global Youth Summit 2026 (“the Summit”), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the following Terms and Conditions.

Code of Conduct Compliance

Participants are expected to comply with the JCI Event Code of Conduct and Harassment Policy at all times and contribute to a safe, respectful, inclusive, and professional environment for all participants, speakers, organizers, and collaborating institutions.

Personal Data and Media Consent

Participants consent to the collection, processing, and use of personal information for Summit-related administrative and operational purposes, including registration, communications, logistical coordination, participant management, and post-event follow-up.

Participants also grant JCI permission to use photographs, video recordings, audio recordings, or other media captured during the Summit for educational, informational, archival, communications, and reporting purposes related to the activities and mission of JCI and the Summit.

Personal data will be processed in accordance with applicable privacy and data protection laws.

Participation and Access

Participation in certain Summit sessions or activities may be subject to security procedures, identification requirements, venue regulations, and capacity limitations.

Participants are expected to comply with all venue access and security requirements communicated by the organizers.

Visa Policy

Participants requiring a visa to attend the Summit are solely responsible for initiating and managing their visa application process in a timely manner and for complying with all applicable immigration requirements.

JCI World Headquarters may provide an official invitation letter upon request for participants who have completed the registration requirements and applicable participation process.

Invitation letters are issued solely to support visa applications and do not guarantee visa approval.

Participant Responsibility

Participants are responsible for arranging and covering their own travel, accommodation, insurance, transportation, and personal expenses unless otherwise expressly stated by the organizers.

Health and Insurance

Participants are strongly encouraged to obtain appropriate travel and health insurance coverage for the duration of their participation in the Summit.

JCI shall not be responsible for medical expenses, travel disruptions, or personal losses incurred during participation in the Summit.

Behavioral Expectations

Participants are expected to maintain respectful and professional conduct throughout the Summit.

Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, disruptive conduct, or behavior inconsistent with the JCI Code of Conduct may result in removal from participation and potential restriction from future JCI activities.

Complaint and Incident Reporting

Participants acknowledge awareness of the procedures available for reporting incidents, concerns, or violations of the JCI Code of Conduct and Harassment Policy.

All reports will be handled with appropriate confidentiality and seriousness.

Third-Party Services and Venues

Certain Summit activities may take place at external venues or involve services provided by third parties, including transportation, accommodation providers, or event facilities.

Such services remain subject to the operational policies and responsibility of the respective third-party providers.

Assumption of Risk

Participants acknowledge that participation in an international event may involve certain inherent risks, including travel disruptions, health-related risks, accidents, security measures, or changes in governmental regulations or entry requirements.

By participating in the Summit, participants voluntarily assume such risks associated with travel and attendance.

Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by applicable law, JCI and collaborating organizations shall not be responsible for personal injury, illness, delay, loss, theft, damage, or other unforeseen circumstances arising from participation in or travel related to the Summit, except where caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Force Majeure

JCI reserves the right to modify, postpone, or cancel the Summit due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, public health emergencies, government restrictions, labor disruptions, security incidents, or other force majeure events.

Acceptance

By completing your registration, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted these Terms and Conditions for participation in the JCI Global Youth Summit 2026.

Connect the President: Stronger 2026 Leadership Through Connection

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Connect the President: Stronger 2026 Leadership Through Connection