ABOUT
Americas Cultural Alliance was founded from a deep belief in the power of cultural and educational exchange to transform individuals and communities across the Americas.
The organization was inspired by the founder’s professional and research experience, which has revealed how cultural institutions can serve as bridges, connecting people across borders, disciplines, and perspectives.
Today, the Americas, and particularly the United States, have become a meeting place for the world. Cultures from across the globe converge here, creating spaces for dialogue that challenge assumptions, expand understanding, and invite new ways of seeing and engaging with one another. Across North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean, we are connected by shared histories, diverse ancestral roots, and powerful cultural expressions. Music, in particular, serves as a unifying force, a heartbeat that resonates across the Americas, deeply rooted in the African Diaspora and carried forward through countless traditions and contemporary forms.
Americas Cultural Alliance exists to nurture these connections. Through cultural and educational exchanges, language learning opportunities, artist residencies, research, and advising, the organization creates pathways for collaboration among artists, students, educators, and professionals. Our programs are designed to promote cross-cultural understanding, strengthen international relationships, and support the development of globally engaged citizens.
The organization is guided by a Board of Directors representing institutions and communities across the Americas, all of whom share a strong commitment to cultural exchange, education, and public service. Together, we believe that meaningful exchange fosters empathy, creativity, and shared responsibility, and that investing in these connections can lead to lasting social and cultural impact.
Americas Cultural Alliance is committed to ensuring that all programs serve the public good. Any program-related fees are modest and reinvested directly into program development, scholarships, and financial assistance to expand access and participation. No portion of the organization’s earnings benefits any private individual.
TEAM
Get to Know Us
Learn more about who we are, what inspires us, and the community we serve.
LUISA MEJIA-GAGNON
Founder and Executive Director
Luisa is originally from Medellín, Colombia, and has spent much of her life moving between Colombia and the United States. This bicultural experience has deeply shaped her commitment to education, cultural exchange, and international collaboration. She holds a BA in Psychology, a master’s in Educational Leadership, and a PhD in Global Studies.
Throughout her career, Luisa has worked at the intersection of education and nonprofit community engagement, serving as a fundraiser, administrator, advisor, teacher, and lifelong learner. Her professional experience has shown her firsthand how educational and cultural exchanges expand perspectives, challenge assumptions, and open pathways that were once accessible only to a privileged few. Thanks to the work of mission-driven organizations, these opportunities are now reaching broader and more diverse communities.
Luisa founded Americas Cultural Alliance to help bridge people, institutions, and ideas across the Americas. At a time when societies are becoming increasingly siloed, she believes that fostering dialogue, collaboration, and mutual learning across cultures is more important than ever. Through this work, she hopes to support meaningful connections that turn shared aspirations into lived realities.
Michael Cooper
Board Member
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Vladimir Betancur
Board Member
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