BY Bhanu Swargam

Woodridge, NJ: The American Telugu Association (ATA) successfully held its Board Meeting on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the APA Hotel Woodbridge in New Jersey. The meeting opened with a devotional prayer and graceful classical dance performances, setting a vibrant cultural tone for the day.

During the session, ATA President Jayanth Challa highlighted several recent initiatives, including a strategic collaboration with IIT Hyderabad to develop educational programs for students. He also noted the successful celebration of Mother's Day and Women’s Day across 12 U.S. cities, along with widespread community engagement through ATA Days, sports events, 5K runs, yoga sessions, and clean-up drives. ATA has further expanded its impact through webinars on student issues, health awareness, and immigration, as well as launching SAT prep courses, IT training programs, and health and fitness activities across multiple cities.

Looking ahead, ATA will host Start-up Cubes competitions in six cities to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, while also supporting women and small business owners—particularly in the non-IT sector—through seminars covering business setup and scaling. In service initiatives, ATA is supporting clean water projects in Telugu-speaking regions, enabling NRIs to contribute to rural development. A presentation was also given on Krishivaas, an AI-based app developed by Agribridge to help rural farmers improve agricultural productivity, while inviting NRI involvement in supporting farmer livelihoods.

Secretary Sainath Boyapalli and Treasurer Srikanth Gudipati presented organizational and financial updates, with a focus on transparency and committee progress. President-Elect Satish Reddy announced the launch of “ATA Seva Days” in December 2025, culminating in the ATA Vedukalu Grand Finale on December 27 at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad.

A key outcome of the meeting was the unanimous approval to host the 19th ATA Conference and Youth Convention at the Baltimore Convention Center from July 31 to August 2, 2026. Board members emphasized that Baltimore’s central location and accessibility make it an ideal choice. The board also approved the conference budget under the leadership of President Jayanth Challa.

The meeting concluded with appreciation for the New Jersey team’s hospitality and coordination. It was well-attended by ATA leadership, Board of Trustees, Regional Coordinators, Committee Members, Advisors, and Past Presidents from across the country, all committed to ATA’s mission of service and cultural preservation. The next Board Meeting will be held in Baltimore on October 25, 2025.

For more information, visit: www.ataworld.org