March Preview...
popcorn, new funding team, ambassadors in action
new team, new connections
The one thing I’m really grateful for as March starts is our new funding team, Isaura, Magdalena, and Aiden. In just one month, we’ve made some really exciting progress in ámaxa’s long-term funding strategy. Aiden even connected us with incredible figure in the nonprofit world (and former NFL player!), Marques Anderson. He has some amazing experience at the intersection between technology and social impact, and he provided us some truly unique mentorship in how we can scale our impact. Be on the lookout for future announcements about DAOs (decentralised autonomous organisations)… 🤖👀
-Lauren McMillen, CEO
ambassador updates & POPCORN
As you may already know, last year we launched the ámaxa ambassador program — a program designed for those students who went above and beyond during their cohort and want to continue the work they started there. We are excited to announce that the 2025 ambassadors will be focusing their efforts on supporting:
Our partner Educate Children and their efforts to improve educational outcomes in Liberia.
AND
Our partner ISNAD, a community center on the West Bank, and specifically, their agricultural projects focused on food security.
Deciding on these focuses was a collaborative process between the ámaxa leadership team and the ambassadors, consisting of lots of conversation, research and strategizing about where we can be the most impactful considering the tools at our disposal and the current state of the world. To get things started, the ambassador group is launching a popcorn fundraiser via Double Good to benefit Educate Children this March. Good food + a good cause = the perfect combination! Stay tuned on our socials (Instagram and LinkedIn) so that you can be the first to get the fundraiser link and order your popcorn!
“Save the Postal Service”
The Atlantic; covered by Isabella Benice
The U.S. Postal Service is more than just a mail carrier—it’s a vital public institution that connects communities, supports small businesses, and ensures that essential goods and information reach people everywhere, regardless of income or geography. As this Atlantic article highlights, the USPS has long been a cornerstone of American infrastructure, yet it faces financial instability due to structural challenges and political neglect. At ámaxa, we understand the power of accessible, community-driven services—whether it’s delivering letters or providing education, environmental action, and humanitarian aid across borders. Just as the USPS plays a crucial role in maintaining social and economic ties, we believe in building networks of support that create lasting impact. Investing in public services, like the Postal Service, is investing in people—and that’s the foundation of real, sustainable change.
¡Celebración Total!
Isaura Hernandez Giraldez
If you travel south to Latin America in the next couple of weeks, you will be greeted by the rhythmic sounds, bright colors, and lively dances of Carnaval. The tradition is widely regarded as celebrating a transition from the harsh winter to the beautiful breezy warm months, hence the lively colors and dances. Historically, the tradition was started in Europe as a Catholic celebration of Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent, a time in which Catholics across Europe were expected to give up revelry in exchange for fasting and prayer to prepare for Easter. When colonization occurred, Europeans brought this tradition to Latin America where Spanish and Portuguese traditions mixed with indigenous and African tribal practices to create the celebrations we see today. Now the tradition has moved away from an extreme religious association and is rather a celebration of the unique culture of each country. Some countries, like the Dominican Republic, celebrate their independence with a large carnaval celebration every February.
The most famous carnaval by far takes place in Brazil, the largest country in South America. Rio de Janeiro hosts the largest parade that features large floats and throngs of dancers who perform samba, the most integral part of the carnaval performance. This performance is known as the Sambodromo, where the top twelve Samba schools in Brazil perform and the winner is decided by the audience’s cheers. Guests from all over the world travel to Rio to be dazzled by the colorful and stylistic performances, and it is an honor as a citizen to be able to participate in the parade. For Americans who can’t travel south to experience this beautiful tradition, many large cities have smaller carnaval celebrations by local Latino communities hoping to bring their traditions to the states that anyone can appreciate.
🍿+✏️
Popcorn fundraiser link coming soon!
Our sister newsletter, Culture & Cause, is accepting submissions for its monthly editions. Any and all student writers can submit a piece to lexi@amaxaimpact.org