Meet AF’s New Community Programs Associate, Ayana Thomas!

Ayana is the Community Programs Associate at America’s Future, where she supports membership, programming, and events. She previously worked at State Policy Network and co-led the AF-Jacksonville. After graduating from Charleston Southern University, she returned to the Jacksonville, FL area where she grew up and is currently pursuing a MPA in Healthcare.

1. What do you enjoy about your career path so far, and why?

I have definitely loved the constant exposure to ideas. I enjoy learning and the potential for greatness. Having the opportunity to work with people who not only   believe in exceptional ideas, but also in what those ideas mean and make possible has been incredible. 

2. Why did you decide to work with America’s Future?

I believe America’s Future is uniquely positioned to professionally and personally brace millennials and Gen Z for the uncertain times ahead. With the national membership program, chapters, and hubs, AF provides several opportunities for community and growth that a lot of people are looking for right now and I wanted to be a part of that. 

3. What are you most excited about in the role?

The opportunity to work with young leaders across the country is what is most exciting about this role. I am passionate about professional development programming and skills building and AF has some great things coming up.

4. What helpful skills do you have that people could ask you for advice on?

I love to talk to people about their ideas that they want to make reality. Whether it is a business, community project, book, research paper, anything, I find working through the ideation process exhilarating, so feel free to reach out to me!

5. Book recommendations?

My all-time favorite is Zero to One by Peter Thiel. It’s written about start-ups, but has ideas and principles that are transferable to many areas of life. Sprint by Jake Knapp is also a good read about testing ideas and failing forward. As far as fiction goes, I recently read The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd, which was excellent. 

6. Coffee order?

My order is very simple: Regular coffee with half and half. Iced in the summer, hot in the winter. 

7. Favorite places to travel?

In the US, I love driving down A1A here in Florida. You get to see some of the most beautiful views and serene towns that the majority of people miss. Internationally, I got to visit Cape Verde in Africa the summer before college. Gorgeous country with an interesting history and economic development story. It definitely tops the list of places I hope to visit again soon.