Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 9 CITY VIEWS July 11, 2025 American Telugu Association Picks Baltimore Convention Center For 2026 Convention; Unveils Nationwide Initiatives T he American Telugu Association (ATA) convened its Board Meeting on June 28, 2025, at the APA Hotel Woodbridge in New Jersey, focus- ing on recent initiatives, upcoming priorities, and strategic collaborations. During the meeting, ATA officially ap- proved the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland as the venue for its 19th ATA Conference and Youth Convention, scheduled for July 31 to August 2, 2026. ATA President Jayanth Challa highlight- ed several recent initiatives undertaken by the organization, including a strategic partnership with IIT Hyderabad to de- velop educational programs for students. He also noted the successful celebration of Mother’s Day andWomen’s Day across 12 U.S. cities, reflecting the organization’s commitment to cultural engagement and empowerment, according to a statement from ATA. Challa further emphasized ATA’s con- tinued focus on community involvement through events such as ATA Days, 5K runs, sports tournaments, yoga sessions, and neighborhood clean-up drives. The association has also hosted a series of educational webinars addressing student issues, immigration, and health aware- ness. New offerings such as SAT prepa- ration courses, IT training programs, and health and fitness expansions are underway across multiple cities. Looking ahead, ATA will host Start-up Cubes competitions in six major cities to encourage innovation and support promising entrepreneurial ventures. The organization is also ramping up its efforts to empower small businesses and women entrepreneurs, especially in non-IT sectors, through awareness semi- nars covering everything from business launch to scalable growth. In addition, ATA is supporting clean water projects designed to engage NRIs in developmental initiatives for their hometowns across Telugu-speaking states. A featured presentation high- lighted Krishivaas, an AI-powered mobile app developed by Agribridge, which aims to enhance agricultural productivity and enable diaspora contributions toward farmer welfare, added the statement. ATA President-Elect Satish Reddy an- nounced the launch of “ATA Seva Days” in December 2025, culminating in the ATA Vedukalu Grand Finale on December 27, at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad. The meeting concluded with acknowl- edgments to the New Jersey team for their “outstanding” coordination and hospital- ity. ATA Secretary Sainath Boyapalli and Treasurer Srikanth Gudipati presented their respective reports, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to transparen- cy and fiscal responsibility. Updates from various standing and special committees were also shared. ATA Board Members and Trustees from across the United States were in attendance, including President Jayanth Challa, President-Elect Satish Reddy, Secretary Sainath Boyapalli, Treasurer Srikanth Gudipati, Joint Secretary Sharada Singireddy, Joint Treasurer Vijay Reddy Thupally, Executive Director Narsi Reddy Gaddikoppula, and Trustees Kashivishwa- nath Kotha, Kishore Guduru, Maheedhar Muskula, Narsimha Reddy Dhyasani, Raghuveer Maripeddi, Raju Kakkerla, RamMattapalli, Ramakrishna Reddy Ala, RV Reddy, Santosh Koram, Sreedhar Kanchanakuntla, Sridhar Banala, Srinivas Dargula, Sudheer Bandaru, Venkatram Reddy Ravi, Vijay Kundoor, Vinod Koduru, and Vishnu Madhavaram. Numerous Regional Coordinators, Standing Committee Members, Advisors, and Past Presidents – many of whom continue to serve the Telugu-American community actively – were also present in large numbers. The next board meeting is scheduled to take place in Baltimore on October 25, 2025. -(Used under special arrangement with SAH) By South Asian Herald PHOTOS:AmericanTelugu Association ATA President Jayanth Challa speaking at the meeting on June 28, 2025.